scholarly journals Influenza Vaccination and COVID19 Mortality in the USA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Zanettini ◽  
Mohamed Omar ◽  
Wikum Dinalankara ◽  
Eddie Luidy Imada ◽  
Elizabeth Colantuoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Propensity Scores ◽  
Influenza Infection ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
County Level ◽  
Individual Level

ABSTRACTCOVID-19 mortality rate is higher in the elderly and in those with preexisting chronic medical conditions. The elderly also suffer from increased morbidity and mortality from seasonal influenza infection, and thus annual influenza vaccination is recommended for them.In this study, we explore a possible area-level association between influenza vaccination coverage in people aged 65 years and older and the number of deaths from COVID-19. To this end, we used COVID-19 data until June 10, 2020 together with population health data for the United States at the county level. We fit quasi-Poisson regression models using influenza vaccination coverage in the elderly population as the independent variable and the number of deaths from COVID-19 as the outcome variable. We adjusted for a wide array of potential confounding variables using both county-level generalized propensity scores for influenza vaccination rates, as well as direct adjustment.Our results suggest that influenza vaccination coverage in the elderly population is negatively associated with mortality from COVID-19. This finding is robust to using different analysis periods, different thresholds for inclusion of counties, and a variety of methodologies for confounding adjustment.In conclusion, our results suggest a potential protective effect of the influenza vaccine on COVID-19 mortality in the elderly population. The significant public health implications of this possibility point to an urgent need for studying the relationship between influenza vaccination and COVID-19 mortality at the individual level, to investigate both the epidemiology and any underlying biological mechanism.

scholarly journals Influenza Vaccination and COVID-19 Mortality in the USA: An Ecological Study

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 427
Author(s):  
Claudio Zanettini ◽  
Mohamed Omar ◽  
Wikum Dinalankara ◽  
Eddie Luidy Imada ◽  
Elizabeth Colantuoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
County Level ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Individual

The COVID-19 mortality rate is higher in the elderly and in those with pre-existing chronic medical conditions. The elderly also suffer from increased morbidity and mortality from seasonal influenza infections; thus, an annual influenza vaccination is recommended for them. In this study, we explore a possible county-level association between influenza vaccination coverage in people aged 65 years and older and the number of deaths from COVID-19. To this end, we used COVID-19 data up to 14 December 2020 and US population health data at the county level. We fit quasi-Poisson regression models using influenza vaccination coverage in the elderly population as the independent variable and the COVID-19 mortality rate as the outcome variable. We adjusted for an array of potential confounders using different propensity score regression methods. Results show that, on the county level, influenza vaccination coverage in the elderly population is negatively associated with mortality from COVID-19, using different methodologies for confounding adjustment. These findings point to the need for studying the relationship between influenza vaccination and COVID-19 mortality at the individual level to investigate any underlying biological mechanisms.

Coverage and Timing of Influenza Vaccination Among Privately Insured Pregnant Women in the United States, 2010-2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 003335492110267
Author(s):  
Kai Hong ◽  
Megan C. Lindley ◽  
Fangjun Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
The United States ◽  
Metropolitan Statistical Area ◽  
Provider Education ◽  
Vaccination Uptake ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Privately Insured

Objective Pregnant women are at increased risk of serious complications from influenza and are recommended to receive an influenza vaccination during pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess trends, timing patterns, and associated factors of influenza vaccination among pregnant women. Methods We used 2010-2018 MarketScan data on 1 286 749 pregnant women aged 15-49 who were privately insured to examine trends and timing patterns of influenza vaccination coverage. We examined descriptive statistics and identified factors associated with vaccination uptake by using multivariate log-binomial and Cox proportional hazard models. Results In-plan influenza vaccination coverage before delivery increased from 22.0% during the 2010-2011 influenza season to 33.2% during the 2017-2018 influenza season. About two-thirds of vaccinated women received the vaccine in September or October during each influenza season. For women who delivered in September through May, influenza vaccination coverage increased rapidly at the beginning of influenza season and flattened after October. For women who delivered in June through August, influenza vaccination coverage increased gradually until February and flattened thereafter. Most vaccinated women who delivered before January received the vaccine in the third trimester. Increased likelihood of being vaccinated was associated with age 31-40, living in a metropolitan statistical area, living outside the South, enrollment in a consumer-driven or high-deductible health plan, being spouses or dependents of policy holders, and delivery in November through January. Conclusions Despite increases during the past several years, vaccination uptake is still suboptimal, particularly after October. Health care provider education on timing of vaccination and recommendations throughout influenza seasons are needed to improve influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women.

scholarly journals Considerations for a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Targeting an Elderly Population

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 624
Author(s):  
Laura M. Stephens ◽  
Steven M. Varga
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Susceptible Population ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Tract Infections

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is most commonly associated with acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children. However, RSV also causes a high disease burden in the elderly that is often under recognized. Adults >65 years of age account for an estimated 80,000 RSV-associated hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths in the United States annually. RSV infection in aged individuals can result in more severe disease symptoms including pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Given the large disease burden caused by RSV in the aged, this population remains an important target for vaccine development. Aging results in lowered immune responsiveness characterized by impairments in both innate and adaptive immunity. This immune senescence poses a challenge when developing a vaccine targeting elderly individuals. An RSV vaccine tailored towards an elderly population will need to maximize the immune response elicited in order to overcome age-related defects in the immune system. In this article, we review the hurdles that must be overcome to successfully develop an RSV vaccine for use in the elderly, and discuss the vaccine candidates currently being tested in this highly susceptible population.

scholarly journals Trends, Coverage and Influencing Determinants of Influenza Vaccination in the Elderly: A Population-Based National Survey in Spain (2006–2017)

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 327
Author(s):  
Silvia Portero de la Cruz ◽  
Jesús Cebrino
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Public Health

Influenza is a significant public health problem and the elderly are at a greater risk of contracting the disease. The vaccination coverage of the elderly is below the Spanish target of 65% for each influenza season. The aims of this study were to report the coverage of influenza vaccination in Spain among the population aged ≥65 years and high-risk groups for suffering chronic diseases, to analyze the time trends from 2006 to 2017 and to identify the factors which affect vaccination coverage. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted including 20,753 non-institutionalized individuals aged ≥65 years who had participated in the Spanish National Health Surveys in 2006, 2011/2012, and 2017. Sociodemographic, health-related variables, and influenza vaccination data were used. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the variables associated with influenza vaccination. Influenza vaccination coverage was 60%. By chronic condition, older people with high cholesterol levels and cancer had the lowest vaccination coverage (62.41% and 60.73%, respectively). This coverage declined from 2006 to 2017 in both groups. Higher influenza vaccination was associated with males, Spanish nationality, normal social support perceived, polypharmacy, worse perceived health, participation in other preventive measures, and increasing age and the number of chronic diseases.

scholarly journals Livestock production and antibiotic resistant pneumonia in the elderly population of the United States

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
K. Howell ◽  
G.A. Beresin ◽  
G. Jeffries ◽  
A. Liss ◽  
E. Naumova
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant

scholarly journals Strategies to Improve Vaccination among At-Risk Adults and the Elderly in Italy

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 358
Author(s):  
Giovanna Elisa Calabrò ◽  
Alessia Tognetto ◽  
Elettra Carini ◽  
Silvia Mancinelli ◽  
Laura Sarnari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Pneumococcal Vaccination ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Target Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vaccination Recommendations

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC), and the immunization guidelines of many countries issue vaccination recommendations for adults and the elderly. However, the uptake of vaccination in these groups is generally low due to several reasons. The present study aimed to identify strategies implemented in Italy in unconventional settings to promote vaccination against influenza, pneumococcal, and herpes zoster virus (HZV) infections among these subjects, i.e., the at-risk adult population and the elderly. We conducted a literature review and a survey of experts. The literature search yielded seven strategies; all of these concerned influenza vaccination, while three also addressed pneumococcal and HZV vaccination. The survey of experts identified 15 strategies; 10 regarded influenza vaccination, while four regarded pneumococcal vaccination and one regarded HZV vaccination. Most of the strategies were implemented in hospital clinics and rest homes. Regarding influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, the target population mainly comprised at-risk adults, while the elderly represented the main target population for HZV vaccination. Our results show that, in Italy, there are initiatives aimed at promoting vaccination in unconventional settings, but further efforts are required to assess their effectiveness and to further extend them.

scholarly journals Noninvasive Testing for Diagnosis of Stable Coronary Artery Disease in the Elderly

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 6263
Author(s):  
Sergey G. Kozlov ◽  
Olga V. Chernova ◽  
Elena V. Gerasimova ◽  
Ekaterina A. Ivanova ◽  
Alexander N. Orekhov
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Exercise Stress ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Artery Disease

Efficient diagnostic approaches to detect coronary artery disease (CAD) in elderly patients are necessary to ensure optimal and timely treatment. The population of suspected CAD patients older than 70 years is especially vulnerable and constantly growing. Finding the optimal diagnostic approach is challenging due to certain features of this population, such as high prevalence of comorbidities, existing contraindications to exercise tests or cognitive decline, which hinders correct assessment of the patient’s situation. Moreover, some symptoms of CAD can have variable significance in the elderly compared to younger adult groups. In this review, we present current recommendations of the United States (US) and European cardiologists’ associations and discuss their applicability for diagnostics in the elderly population. Exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) and exercise stress echocardiography (SE) tests are not feasible for a substantial proportion of elderly patients. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) appears to be an attractive alternative for such patients, but is not universally applicable; for instance, it is problematic in patients with significant calcification of the vessels. Moreover, more studies are needed to compare the results delivered by CTA to those of other diagnostic methods. Future efforts should be focused on comparative studies to better understand the limits and advantages of different diagnostic methods and their combinations. It is possible that some of the currently used diagnostic criteria could be improved to better accommodate the needs of the elderly population.

New Directions in Health Insurance Design: Implications for Public Policy and Practice

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (S4) ◽  
pp. 60-62
Author(s):  
Karen Pollitz ◽  
Donna Imhoff ◽  
Charles Scott ◽  
Sara Rosenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Private Health Insurance ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
United States Public Health ◽  
Healthcare Spending ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Insurance System

This is a volatile time for health insurance policy. Medicare and Medicaid are in turmoil, as is the private health insurance market. Public and private health insurance costs constitute eighty percent of healthcare spending in the United States. Public health professionals depend on the insurance system to behave in ways that are responsive to public health in prevention and crisis management.Seventy-five percent of the American population, excluding the elderly, has coverage through the private health insurance system. Ninety percent of this group receives their insurance through employer-sponsored programs, and the remaining ten percent buy their own coverage. Approximately ten percent of the non-elderly population has insurance through a government program, and fifteen percent of the non-elderly population, almost forty-one million Americans, is uninsured.

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