Mechnikov Research Institute for Vaccines and Sera, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia
The data of literature on the evaluation of the medical consequences of influenza and the role of vaccinal prophylaxis are presented and analyzed. The causes of differences in the characteristics of delayed lethality in influenza are noted. The fact was substantiated that delayed death in influenza may be essentially decreased if patients belonging to the group of risk (mainly persons over 65 years) were vaccinated before the begi
ing of the seasonal rise of infection. Vaccination against influenza was shown to decrease the frequency of hospitalization for pneumonia and influenza by 20-40%. In the group of vaccines the number of lethal outcomes due to infarctions and insults decreased by 48-50%, the risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases decreased by 19% and that for disturbances of cerebral circulation, by 16%. The conclusion was made that the modern strategy of vaccination against influenza was aimed at the protection of the groups of risk and the prevention of complications appearing in the course of development of this infection (the exacerbation of chronic pathology, hospitalization, delayed death).
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2004, No. 2, P. 95—99