title: [Study on the adverse effects and protective effects of influenza vaccine among elderly individuals vaccinated through the public system in the municipality of Tubarão, State of Santa Catarina].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of adverse effects and protective effects from influenza vaccine among elderly individuals who were vaccinated through the public healthcare system in the municipality of Tubarão, State of Santa Catarina.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was conducted between May and September 2008. A group of 341 patients was recruited, among whom 289 had been vaccinated through the public system (VSUS) and 52 had not been vaccinated (NV). The incidence of protective effects was observed by comparing the VSUS and NV groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that 22.5% of the vaccinated subjects exhibited at least one adverse effect. Comparing the VSUS and NV groups in relation to the incidence of flu symptoms presented during the winter, at least one symptom was observed in 47% and 28.8% (RR = 1.11; 1.02-1.22; p = 0.0156), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate that the incidence of adverse effects was low. The high incidence of flu symptoms in the VSUS group, in comparison with NV, may be related to the profile of subjects who are in the habit of getting vaccinated against influenza.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Medicina, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Tubarão, SC.
authors.forename: Talita Siemann Santos
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Aracelli Tavares
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.forename: Alixandre Dias
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: Gregório Wrublevski
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Carine Raquel
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Blatt
authors.forename: Alessandra Abel
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017150:Public Sector
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines