( healthcare provider appointments) and ...)Data Show FluMist May Reduce Seasonal Influenza Burden Among,,,Children in School, Daycare Settings,Health

An analysis comparing control school households to target school households showed that the target school homes reported statistically significant reductions in ILI, child office visits, medications and work and school absenteeism in the peak flu week. In a per-household economic analysis of the data, it was projected that costs related to immunizing children were largely recouped through reduced healthcare use and fewer work absences compared to those in the control schools.

Lower Absenteeism for School-Aged FluMist Recipients in Vaccination Program

After the conclusion of the 2005-2006 flu season, researchers in a Maryland county examined the impact on school absenteeism rates of immunizing eligible students against influenza. In the study, more than 5,300 (44 percent) of the county's elementary school children at 21 public schools received FluMist. While absenteeism rates increased during the school-based vaccination program, researchers found that the rates rose less during the season among the FluMist intervention group. In elementary schools, the increase in absenteeism was three times greater in the control group than the intervention group (1.78 vs. 0.61 percent increase, p = 0.032). In addition, even though only elementary school children received vaccinations, researchers found an impact on absenteeism rates in middle and high schools as well. In middle schools, the rise in absenteeism in the control group was nearly three times that of intervention-group schools (1.84 vs. 0.61 percent increase, p = 0.12). In high schools, the increase in absenteeism was five times higher in control schools (1.80 vs. 0.32 percent increase, p = 0.003). This study was conducted as part of a public health initiative by t
'"/>