[Use of influenza vaccine in Norway]

Following the 1993/94 influenza season a questionnaire study was carried out to evaluate the use of influenza vaccine among at-risk groups. 275,000 doses of influenza vaccine were provided free of charge by the National Institute of Public Health to about 500 municipal health care units. 104 of 150 randomly selected units responded to our questionnaire. A majority correctly estimated the vaccine efficacy to be 70-80%, and 90% of the persons who were vaccinated belonged to the defined target groups. Two of three respondents were in favour of the government's support. Influenza among the target groups was mainly regarded as an individual problem, but considered to be a community issue for the general public. The strain on public health budgets for treatment of the old and infirm during influenza epidemics is obviously not fully appreciated.