Frequency of adverse reactions to influenza vaccine in the elderly. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial |
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Authors: | K L Margolis K L Nichol G A Poland R E Pluhar |
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Affiliation: | Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415. |
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Abstract: | Concern about side effects constitutes a major deterrent to patient compliance with influenza vaccination, yet there is a paucity of data about the occurrence of adverse reactions in the population targeted for immunization. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial to compare the frequency of adverse reactions following administration of 1988-1989 trivalent split-antigen influenza vaccine and saline placebo. Outpatient veterans 65 years of age or over (n = 336) were recruited by mail and were randomly assigned to receive vaccine followed 2 weeks later by placebo injection or placebo followed 2 weeks later by vaccine. There was no significant difference between influenza vaccine and placebo with respect ot the proportion of subjects reporting disability or systemic symptoms. |
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