title: Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination of the elderly in Taiwan.
abstract: In 1998, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to provide free influenza vaccination to high-risk groups, mainly the elderly. The purpose of this study is to determine: (1) the annual mortality rate from influenza and pneumococcal-related illnesses such as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema and asthma and (2) the effectiveness of and adverse events associated with the influenza vaccination. In the elderly, influenza vaccination caused the annual death rate due chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, and asthma to decline steadily but had no effect on the annual pneumonia death rate. The only adverse effect of concern was vertigo (in approximately 2-3%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, No. 325, Section 2, Chen-Kung Road, Nei-Hu, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. lcc8224@giga.net.tw
authors.forename: Yeong-Hwang
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Saou-Hsing
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Chih-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Wen-Lin
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ching-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Shih-Ha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines