Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.06.1982, Page 55

42
VACCINATION AGAINST ACUTE VIRAL RESPIRATORY SYNDROMES
W.J. Kaipainen
Oulu University Central Hospital, Oulu, Finland
The vaccination of hospital personal against A^ influenza 1968
was successful in group (A) which was vaccinated twice with 4
weeks intervals with monovalent vaccineas compared with group
(3) which was vaccinated once and a group (C) given
placebo. The absence from work was 2% for group A, 19% for
group B and 3o% for group (C). The vaccination against influ-
enza is recommended by the Medical board in Finland for
individuals who are considered to be at special risk during
the winter. Because of the large number of different viruses
circulating each year simultaneously the decision of vaccine
has been difficult for the individual doctor. Secondly the
changes in the antigenic structure of the virus makes the
selection of the appropriate vaccine a dilemma. The third
problem is that the positive results of laboratory diagnosis
of viruses is around 15% only. Influenza vaccines available
are usually trivalent and the composition varies each year.
The significance of the annual routine administration of some
of these compositions for patients with chronic heart disease
and diabetes is still unsolved. Each year we are able to see
older patients both vaccinated and unvaccinated infected by
unknown viruses two-three times during the same winter
causing acute respiratory syndromes. We think that the
recommendation of annual vaccination against "winter" is not
indicated. A general guidance may be vaccination of key
personal such as doctors, nurses and ambulance men who are
at special risk when an epidemic is approaching.