Re: Flu Vaccine Linked To Reduced Illness, Impairment Of Academic Performance Among College Students

[Guest guest]

I heard this on the radio recently: " Here's another reason to get your flu

shots--better grades! "

Now, where in here did it survey the students about their grades? Here's my

article, based on this one:

Lower Rates of Flu in Students who Shun Flu Shots

Recent studies found that overall, 69.8 percent of college students surveyed

were not vaccinated, and 75.9 percent

did not experienced any flu-like illness during flu season. Those who were not

vaccinated were significantly less likely to develop such an illness than those

who were vaccinated.

Our findings highlight the kinds of benefits that could accrue to the nearly 18

million college and university

students in this country if they were not vaccinated.

Winnie, Roving Vaccine Reporter

Flu Vaccine Linked To Reduced Illness, Impairment Of

Academic Performance Among College Students

undisclosed-recipients@...

> No vested interest on the part of the lead author then...

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> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081201162034.htm

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> Flu Vaccine Linked To Reduced Illness, Impairment Of Academic

> PerformanceAmong College Students

>

> ScienceDaily (Dec. 2, 2008) — College students who are

> vaccinated against

> influenza appear less likely to develop flu-like illnesses,

> require related

> health care visits or experience impairments in academic

> performance during

> flu season, according to a new report.

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> An estimated 9 percent to 20 percent of college and university

> studentsdevelop illness related to the influenza virus each

> year, according to

> background information in the article. " Some reports of

> influenza outbreaks

> on college and university campuses have documented even higher

> rates of

> illness among the students, " the authors write. " Undoubtedly,

> influenza is

> common among college and university students, and its prevention

> might have

> an important impact on their health and well-being. "

>

> L. Nichol, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., and colleagues at the

> VA Medical

> Center and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, studied 12,975

> students on

> two campuses and over four separate flu seasons between 2002 and 2006.

> Participants completed an initial questionnaire about

> demographic and health

> characteristics during October, and then monthly follow-up

> surveys between

> November and April regarding influenza-like illnesses and their

> effects on

> daily life. Vaccination status was assessed at the last follow-

> up survey.

>

> Overall, 30.2 percent of the students were vaccinated, and 24.1

> percentexperienced at least one flu-like illness during flu

> season. Those who were

> vaccinated were significantly less likely to develop such an

> illness than

> those who were not vaccinated. " Vaccination was also associated with

> significant reductions in influenza-like illness–associated

> provider visits,

> antibiotic use, impaired school performance and numbers of days

> of missed

> class, missed work and illness during the influenza seasons, "

> the authors

> write.

>

> When averaged over all the seasons, flu vaccination was

> associated with a

> reduction of one-half day of illnesses, so that one day of

> illness was

> prevented for every two students who were vaccinated. In

> addition, for every

> 17 students vaccinated, one day of missed class was prevented; 11

> vaccinations prevented one day of missed work; and six vaccinations

> prevented one day spent in bed.

>

> " Current recommendations for the prevention and control of influenza

> encourage vaccination for all persons 6 months and older who

> wish to reduce

> their risk of influenza illness. Our findings highlight the

> kinds of

> benefits that could accrue to the nearly 18 million college and

> universitystudents in this country if they were vaccinated. "

>

> This was an investigator-initiated study that was supported in

> part by

> unrestricted grants from Aventis Pasteur and MedImmune. Dr.

> Nichol received

> other research funding from or served as a consultant to Sanofi

> Pasteur,GlaxoKline, MedImmune, CSL and Novartis.

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> Journal reference:

>

> Nichol et al. Influenza Vaccination Among College and University

> Students: Impact on Influenzalike Illness, Health Care Use, and

> Impaired School Performance. Archives of Pediatrics and

> Adolescent Medicine, 2008; 162 (12): 1113 DOI:

> 10.1001/archpedi.162.12.1113

>

>