title: School-based influenza vaccine delivery, vaccination rates, and healthcare use in the context of a universal influenza immunization program: an ecological study.
abstract: Influenza vaccines are universally funded in Ontario, Canada. Some public health units (PHUs) vaccinate children in schools. We examined the impact of school-based delivery on vaccination rates and healthcare use of the entire population over seven influenza seasons (2000-2007) using population-based survey and health administrative data. School-based vaccination was associated with higher vaccination rates in school-age children only. Doctors' office visits were lower for PHUs with school-based vaccination for children aged 12-19 but not for other age groups. Emergency department use and hospitalizations were similar between the two groups. In the context of universal influenza vaccination, school-based delivery is associated with higher vaccination rates and modest reductions in healthcare use in school-age children.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Room G1 06, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada. jeff.kwong@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rosella
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maaten
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guttmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D012574:Schools; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines