ABSTRACT
Introduction: Influenza epidemics are of higher risk at the extremes of life and in people with comorbidities. Effective vaccination prevents the occurrence of serious cases and decreases mortality. Objective: To describe deaths from influenza with a history of timely vaccination, from the 2010 to the 2018 season in Mexico. Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive study where the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance System database was used. Results: From 2010 to 2018, 65 vaccinated individuals died from influenza, from which 55% of cases (n = 36) were due to type A (H1N1), 51% (n = 33) were females, median age was 57 years, 21 % (n = 14) did not meet the operational definition of influenza-like illness or severe acute respiratory infection, 83% (n = 54) had at least one comorbidity, with the most common being diabetes mellitus and hypertension (32% each); 55% (n = 36) of deaths received antiviral treatment and only 8% (n = 5) had no comorbidities and received treatment with oseltamivir. Conclusions: Deaths from influenza with timely vaccination represent a very low percentage of the totality. Vaccination against influenza has been a specific prevention strategy that decreases disease burden.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage , Immunization/mortality , Influenza, Human/mortality , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Time Factors , Comorbidity , Population Surveillance , Cross-Sectional Studies , Immunization/statistics & numerical data , Influenza, Human/virology , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Mexico/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Background: Completeness and timeliness of immunization ensures optimal immune response and protection from vaccine-preventable diseases. This study aimed at assessing completeness and timeliness of immunization among children aged 12 to 23 months in Alakahia, Rivers State. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study amongst 440 children selected using cluster sampling technique. A validated structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) held with 14 purposively selected mothers of study participants using a topic guide. Descriptive statistics involved frequency and percentages for categorical, and mean and standard deviation for continuous variables. Inferential statistics was done using chi-square with p-value of < 0.05 accepted as significant. Thematic content analysis was done for the FGDs. Results: Mean age of participants was 20 months (± 6 months). A total of 232 (52.7%) and 128 (29.1%) mothers had secondary and tertiary education, respectively. Coverage was highest for BCG 405 (92.1%) and lowest for measles and yellow fever vaccines 322 (73.2%). Out of 215 children whose cards were seen, 164 (76.3%) were completely immunized. Pentavalent-1 was the most timely immunization 267 (67.3%) while measles and yellow fever were the least-timely 130 (40.4%). Mother's education was a significant factor associated with timeliness (p<0.001). Lack of adequate knowledge about immunization and absence of social and economic resources emerged as major barriers. Conclusion: High immunization rates do not necessarily imply timeliness of vaccination. The researchers advocate for interventions improving access to information, maternal education and other identified barriers to immunization timeliness and completeness