Flu Shots at Mizzou

Nationally, over 36,000 deaths are attributed to influenza. Of these, a majority are preventable with the influenza vaccine. In the state of Missouri, 1,500 to 3,000 deaths per year are attributed to influenza and pneumonia. During the 2007-2008 influenza season, the number of cases of influenza in the state reached its highest level since 1975, an increase over the previous four influenza seasons. Of these cases, 56.2% occurred among people aged 25 and below (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, 2007).

Immunization levels in the United States are identified as one of the Leading Health Indicators of Healthy People 2010. The 2010 target for non-institutionalized adult influenza immunization levels for those over age 65 is 90%; for adults 18-64 with high risk conditions (including asthma, bronchitis, cancer, or heart problems to name a few) the target is 60% (Centers for Disease Control). Yet only 69% of adults in Missouri over age 65 were immunized against influenza in 2007, placing the state in the lowest quartile of states as identified by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Population density or crowding has often been thought to be a contributing factor in the spread of the influenza virus. Dormitories, classrooms and the large number of public places on campuses allow for increased crowding.

Individual immunization percentage for college students at the University of Missouri are higher than the national average of 29.2%, however, they remain low at 29.8% (Haines, Michael). While this population does not have high mortality rates from influenza, large numbers of school and work days are missed leading to decreased overall productivity.

This video was created as a class project for FCM 8420 Principles of Epidemiology and Journ 7236/4236 Psychology of Advertising, Spring 2009. This video was produced by Whitney Kertz, Chris Miller, Molly O'Connell, Kelsey Ruse. Supporting information for this video was generously provided by the Student Health Center. The content of this video does not necessarily represent the official views of the University of Missouri.

References Cited:

1) Center for Disease Control. Influenza Vaccination Levels. http://www.cdc.gov

2) Center for Disease Control. Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage. http://cdc.gov

3)Drummond,Jane. 2007 Annual Report. Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. http://www.dhss.mo.gov

4) Haines, MS, Michael and Jenny Haubenreiser MA et al. National College Health Assesment. http://studenthealth.missouri.edu

Category:

Education

Tags:

• FCM 8420
• Spring 2009
• Flu Shots at Mizzou

[MrJim2910]

you need help ,go see your metal quack

[thetruthergirls]

70% did NOT get the flu shot? Hey, that's pretty good. Good for you, kids, say no to being injected with foreign animal proteins, unknown animal viruses and neurotoxic metals!

[SuperBigGulps]

The review follows on the heels of a study that looked at three decades' worth of data and found that vaccines for the elderly are not as effective as previously thought. And contrary to conventional medical wisdom, vaccines do not seem to reduce flu-related deaths in elderly people.

[SuperBigGulps]

Flu vaccines provide virtually no benefit to children. That's the conclusion of a new review of all relevant studies. Interestingly, the news comes at a time when some health officials have begun to recommend the vaccination of all children in order to prevent them from passing on the flu to their elderly relatives.

[SuperBigGulps]

Vaccines expose you to the virus or bacteria usally without getting you sick so you actually already had the flu when you got the shot thats why you did not get "sick". Basically you just went and got the flu virus before it could be passed to you. Since so many people die from vaccines. Ill take my chances w/o it.

[SuperBigGulps]

When I say normal I mean healthy...

[SuperBigGulps]

Did you know that the statistics about the flu are inflated because what they dont tell you is most of those deaths are of infants and old people who are sick in the hospital, they try to make it seem like a normal person can die from the flu easily....