Authors
  Nichol KL.  Lind A.  Margolis KL.  Murdoch M.  McFadden R.  Hauge M.
  Magnan S.  Drake M.
Institution
  Section of General Internal Medicine (1110), Veterans Affairs Medical
  Center, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
Title
  The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy, working
  adults [see comments].
Comments
  Comment in: N Engl J Med 1995 Oct 5;333(14):933-4, Comment in: N Engl J
  Med 1996 Feb 8;334(6):402-3; discussion 403-4, Comment in: N Engl J Med
  1996 Feb 8;334(6):403; discussion 403-4, Comment in: ACP J Club 1996
  Mar-Apr;124(2):52
Source
  New England Journal of Medicine.  333(14):889-93, 1995 Oct 5.
Local Messages
  Held at BMA Library
Abstract
  BACKGROUND. Although influenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality
  in all age groups, current recommendations emphasize annual immunization
  for people at high risk for complications of influenza. We conducted a
  double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vaccination against influenza in
  healthy, working adults. METHODS. In the fall of 1994, we recruited
  working adults from 18 to 64 years of age from in and around the
  Minneapolis-St. Paul area and randomly assigned them to receive either
  influenza vaccine or placebo injections. The primary study outcomes
  included upper respiratory illnesses, absenteeism from work because of
  upper respiratory illnesses, and visits to physicians' offices for upper
  respiratory illnesses. The economic benefits of vaccination were analyzed
  by estimating the direct and indirect costs associated with immunization
  and with upper respiratory illnesses. RESULTS. We enrolled a total of 849
  subjects. Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. During
  the follow-up period, consisting of the 1994-1995 influenza season
  (December 1, 1994, through March 31, 1995), those who received the vaccine
  reported 25 percent fewer episodes of upper respiratory illness than those
  who received the placebo (105 vs. 140 episodes per 100 subjects, P <
  0.001), 43 percent fewer days of sick leave from work due to upper
  respiratory illness (70 vs. 122 days per 100 subjects, P = 0.001), and 44
  percent fewer visits to physicians' offices for upper respiratory
  illnesses (31 vs. 55 visits per 100 subjects, P = 0.004). The cost savings
  were estimated to be $46.85 per person vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS.
  Vaccination against influenza has substantial health-related and economic
  benefits for healthy, working adults.

I read the paper - typical American overkill and maybe too good to be true
(70% of all the trial volunteers had had a flu-jab in the past).  However,
since then I've always had the jab and had just as many colds as ever
before - Ahh, c'est la vie!

Johnathan Cobb
Sheffield, UK
--------------------------



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%