Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 54, 184-188, 2001
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Epidemiological Report
Evaluation of a Mass Influenza Vaccination Campaign
Hiroshi Takahashi*, Yayoi Tanaka1, Takaaki Ohyama, Tomimasa Sunagawa2, Kazutoshi Nakashima2, George P. Schmid3 and Nobuhiko Okabe
Infectious Disease Surveillance Center and 1Field Epidemiology Training Program, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, 2Department of International Medicine, Kawaura Town Hospital, Kumamoto 863-1215, Japan and 3World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
(Received April 5, 2001. Accepted October 2, 2001)
SUMMARY: Kawaura, a rural town in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, population approximately 6,800, started a mass influenza vaccination campaign in the 1999-2000 season for all residents ≧3 years of age. The town provided free vaccinations to children ≦13 years and the elderly ≧65 years. Only 900 yen (US$8.80) was charged to the other residents for two vaccinations. In the 1999-2000 season, a total of 5,563 doses of vaccine were administered to 2,952 residents. Over 90% of the vaccinees received two doses. The program resulted in a vaccination rate of 43% of all residents. The vaccination rates for females and males were 40.7% and 36.8%, and for those of 3-14 years, 15-64 years, and ≧65 years population were 75%, 31%, and 55%, respectively. The town spent a total of 5.78 million yen (US$56,700) for the campaign. The per-shot cost was estimated as 1,683 yen (US$16.50). From December 1999 through March 2000, a total of 233 town residents (15-101 years old, median 72) were admitted to the town hospital. Of the 233 inpatients, 22 (66-98 years old, median 78) developed respiratory illness, with 4 fatal outcomes. Of these 22 cases, 3 had been vaccinated twice, while 19 had not been vaccinated at all. The relative risk of vaccinees' hospitalization due to respiratory illness decreased to 0.13 compared with that of non-vaccinees (3/1,203 versus 19/1,003, vaccine efficacy = 0.87). Likewise, the relative risk of vaccinees death due to respiratory illness decreased to 0.28 compared with that of non-vaccinees (1/1,203 versus 3/1,003). The results of the Kawaura town's initiative should be helpful for better modeling of mass influenza vaccination campaigns.
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