[The monitoring of influenza vaccination programs in Poland and European Union].
Every year approximately 100,000 millions of cases of influenza are registered all over the world. In the United States of America from 20,000 to 40,000 people die due to influenza and its complications every year. Vaccination is the best way of protection against this disease and its serious complications. The clinical efficacy and economic benefits of influenza vaccination is well proved and substantiated. Each year the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), WHO, Atlanta, USA publishes recommendations for influenza vaccinations indicating which groups of people and patients should be vaccinated for clinical reasons and which of them--for epidemiological reasons. Depending on the country, vaccination policies for influenza vaccinations are different. In Poland vaccination against influenza is recommended for all groups mentioned in ACIP document. Nevertheless, there is no reimbursement system for influenza vaccinations in our country, even only for high-risk groups. Desite this, from year to year more and more people are getting immunized. National campaign carried out by the National Influenza Center, Warsaw resulted in over 200-fold increase of number of doses of influenza vaccines distributed in the epidemic season 2001/2002 when compared with the season 1992/93. This fact shows the importance and efficacy of educational activities together with scientific studies for positive changes in patients' and physicians' attitude to influenza vaccinations.
Brydak
Lidia B
LB
lbrydak@pzh.gov.pl
D005062:European Union; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
D007252:Influenza Vaccines