The Kaiser Permanente study suggests that hospitalized patients treated with flu vaccine are at low risk of hospital readmission. The Mayo Clinic Proceedings published the study. It also suggests that vaccinating hospitalized patients were not on risk of assessments for infection. The study suggested that the patients who did not vaccinate during their hospital admission remained unvaccinated during flu season.
Sara Y. Tartof, one of the authors of studies commented on the low vaccination rates. Concerns over the completion of the healing process or risk of long stays in the hospital are responsible for low vaccination rates. Non-vaccinated patients have missed their opportunity for getting vaccines during their hospital stay. About 28% of the patients are non-vaccinated for now after the hospital stays due to flu.
Previous research suggested that surgical patients after vaccinations of flu have lowered the risks of complications and discharge procedures.
What is the Flu?
Flu is a contagious respiratory infection that leads to serious complications and hospitalization. Older people, children, and patients are at the high risk of getting flu infection. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend flu vaccination for more than 6 months to the older person.
Specific findings in the research:
The study observed the electronic health records of 250,000 patients hospitalized in Kaiser Permanente hospital, California from 2011 to 2014.
- 71% of patient vaccinated before the day of discharge
- 74% of patients remain unvaccinated
- Vaccinated people were at low risk of hospital readmission
Many physicians backed this data. The physicians claimed that vaccination while hospitalization is easy and convenient unless there are complications and contraindications.
