[Effectiveness of influenza vaccine in health-care workers]

We examined the effectiveness of trivalent influenza vaccine in reducing illness, absenteeism, and health care use among health-care workers (HCW) of Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital from December 1999 through March 2000. In recipients of vaccine (n = 132), the numbers of febrile illness, severe illness, febrile upper respiratory tract illness were significantly reduced compared with HCW without vaccination (n = 595). Use of prescription antibiotics and over-the-counter medications was also reduced. Influenza vaccine also reduced the reported days of work absence. These data support a policy of annual influenza vaccination of HCW.