A COST - COMPARISON OF THE USE OF INFLUENZA VACCINE IN OLD AGE HOME RESIDENTS IN JOHANNESBURG

[摘要] Residents of old age homes are at increased risk for the complications ofinfluenza. Studies in developed countries have consistently shown that influenzavaccination of old age home residents and staff can significantly decreasemorbidity and mortality rates and that influenza vaccination is one of the most costeffective interventions possible in this population. No studies have been done onthe cost benefit of using influenza vaccine in old age home residents in SouthAfrica. The aim of this study was to evaluate the costs of treating influenza andinfluenza-like illnesses in old age home residents, and to compare the costs inpeople who had received the influenza vaccine to those who had not.The study population comprised 151 people residing in two old age homes inJohannesburg, namely Sandringham Gardens and Nazareth House. The studypopulation was divided into two groups- those who received influenza vaccine andthose who had not been vaccinated. The residents of Nazareth House who gaveconsent had all been vaccinated. The subjects at Sandringham Gardens weresub- divided into two groups, namely: 'Residents” and 'Frail care / wards” section.The general health of the 'Frail care” people was poorer than that of the'residents”.Medical records were reviewed, and details of the number of doctor consultations,medication and physiotherapy prescribed, special investigations performed andhospital referrals related to influenza and influenza-like infections were recorded.The costs were then calculated using 'medical aid rates”. There were nosignificant differences in the treatment costs, comparing those who had beenvaccinated to those who had not been vaccinated. There are a number of possibleexplanations for this. These include, most importantly, a low to moderate epidemicactivity of influenza in the season that the study was conducted. Otherexplanations are low patient numbers, the use of symptoms for diagnosis and theuse of over the counter therapy.Despite the findings in the present study, the international literature supports theview that influenza vaccination is a cost-effective intervention in the older adultpopulation, particularly those at higher risk. These findings have beenimplemented in the official guidelines of many countries, including the SouthAfrican Adult Influenza Vaccination Guideline.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand