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Flu shots for staff cut death rates in nursing homes

Respiratory Care Weekly, December 6, 2006

Nursing home residents are less likely to die of influenza-related illnesses when employees get their flu shots, according to a study published November 30 by the British Medical Journal. Immunizing staff cut resident flu deaths even in facilities where most residents got flu shots themselves.

The study took place in 44 British nursing homes from 2003-2005. Vaccine coverage among full-time staff in nursing homes where researchers promoted flu shots was 48.2% in 2003-2004 and 43.2% in 2004-2005, compared with 5.9% and 3.5% in nursing homes that did not encourage vaccinations. During the 2003-2004 influenza season, levels of illness, death, and doctor visits due to flu were significantly lower in intervention homes compared with control homes. No significant differences were found in 2004-2005, when national influenza rates were substantially below average, according to the Journal.

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