Evaluation of Standard and High Dose Influenza Vaccines in Veterans Over the Age of 65 in a VA Health Care System Alex Cremer, Nicole Harris Salisbury VA Medical Center - Salisbury, NC
Background/Purpose: Up to 70% of influenza related hospitalizations and 85% of deaths are estimated to occur in adults 65 years of age and older. A high-dose vaccine is approved and recommended for patients 65+ years of age, but the CDC recommends not delaying vaccination to use a specific product if another (i.e. standard-dose) is available. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to assess outcomes in patients 65 years of age and older that received either the standard-dose or high-dose influenza vaccine in the Salisbury VA Health Care System (SVAHCS) to help inform recommendations regarding product selection and vaccine administration in the SVAHCS during future flu seasons.
Methodology: Retrospective, quality improvement chart review. Patients 65 years of age and older who received a flu vaccine in the SVAHCS between September 1st, 2015 and March 31st, 2016 or between September 1st, 2016 and March 31st, 2017 were identified using vaccination history information from the electronic medical record system. A subset of randomly selected patients will have a chart review completed to document influenza related outcomes, including influenza infection, hospitalization, and death.
Presentation Objective: Describe influenza related outcomes in patients over 65 who received the standard- or high-dose influenza vaccine in the SVAHCS.
Self-Assessment: How might the information presented affect your recommendations regarding the use of high-dose influenza vaccines?
