Influenza vaccination of health care workers in long-term-care hospitals reduces the mortality of elderly patients. J Infect Dis 175:1–6

Vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) is recommended as a strategy for preventing influenza in elderly patients in long-term care. However, there have been no controlled studies to show whether this approach is effective. During the winter of 1994-1995, 1059 patients in 12 geriatric medical long-term-care sites, randomized for vac.cination of HCWs, were studied. In hospitals where HCWs were offered vaccination, 653 (61%) of 1078 were vaccinated. Vaccination of HCWs was associated with reductions in total patient mortality from 17 % to 10 % (odds ratio [OR], 0.56; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.80) and in influenza-like illness (OR, 0.57; 95 % CI, 0.34-0.94). Vaccination of patients was not associated with significant effects on mortality (OR, 1.15; 95 % CI, 0.81-1.64). Results of this study support recommendations for vaccination against influenza of HCWs in long-term geriatric care. Vaccination of frail elderly long-term-care patients may not give clinically worthwhile benefits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and departments of health in the United Kingdom (UK) strongly recommend influenza vaccination for elderly people who have chronic disease or who are resident in long