Does pneumococcal vaccine reduce influenza morbidity in humans?
A retrospective study was conducted to verify the possibility that people immunized with pneumococcal vaccine (PV) show lower morbidity not only for pneumonia but also for influenza. A total of 450 individuals were enrolled between 1999 and 2003 and allocated to one of the following groups: (A) not vaccinated; (B) immunized with PV during 1999; (C) immunized with anti-influenza vaccine (Flu-V) each year; and (D) immunized with PV once in 1999 and Flu-V every consecutive year. People from group B showed significantly lower percentage of influenza-related diseases during the year 2000 in comparison with those from group A (p<0.01), whereas in the course of 2001 the morbidity of patients from group B was lower compared with the other groups (p<0.01). The results point to a way to decrease the morbidity of influenza-related diseases by immunization with PV only, at least for 2-3 years, avoiding Flu-V administration and permitting considerable saving for health care providers. Therefore, it is concluded that PV can reduce the morbidity of influenza at a greater rate than the Flu-V.
Blay
A
A
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Netania, Israel.
Bessler
H
H
Lahad
A
A
Waitman
D A
DA
Djaldetti
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines