Inschool Influenza Vaccine Delivery Reduces Absenteeism

Background:
In August of 2007 free LAIV was offered to local LHJ's willing to gather information on using nasal influenza vaccine. In anticipation of the change to an all child influenza vaccine recommendation the immunization clinic of the children's hospital and the local LHJ designed a study to look at the effect of inschool influenza vaccine delivery on school absenteeism.

Objectives:
1. To determine the effect of inschool influenza vaccine delivery on school absentee rates.

Methods:
Eight inner city elementary schools were chosen with two intervention schools and six control schools. Schools were weighted for percentage of free school lunches. All parents were offered the opportunity to have their child recieve free influenza vaccine. LAIV and TIV were used. Students ranged from age 3 to 11 years old. School absences were reported weekly during the 2006-2007 influenza season.

Results:
The schools with the inschool influenza vaccine intervention showed a statistically significant reduction in absenteeism.

Conclusions:
Giving influenza vaccine at school can reduce school absences during influenza season.