title: Influenza vaccination in Brazil: rationale and caveats.
abstract: Mass vaccination campaigns against influenza in the elderly have been conducted in Brazil since 1999. A search of the literature on influenza in Brazil indicated that data on disease burden are still scarce and inaccurate. Published data seem to indicate that vaccination has produced some impact in the southern and southeastern regions but not in other regions of Brazil. A discussion of the technical and scientific rationale for mass immunization against influenza is presented and it is argued that the current strategy has not taken into account potential differences in disease occurrence in different areas. It is suggested some epidemiological surveillance actions needed to address major concerns regarding mass influenza vaccination and its impact in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Souza
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: Luiz Antonio B
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: Andréia Costa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Inês
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dourado
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines