Vaccination against seasonal influenza in diabetic patients

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Influenza is a contagious disease and its course is usually mild. But possible side-effects cause significant clinical issue. Side-effects prophylaxis includes vaccination in higher risk groups (including diabetes mellitus patients). The aim of the study was to analyze the frequency of vaccination against influenza in diabetic patients and to reveal the reasons which lead to resignation from being vaccinated.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. A questionnaire was performed within 151 patients with diabetes and 151 students of medicine as a control group. Sex, age, residence, education and presence of sideeffects were taken into consideration. Frequency of physicians’ recommendations to the vaccine and patients’ intentions for vaccination in the future were examined.
RESULTS. 24% of patients with diabetes have ever been vaccinated. 24% of patients get recommendation from their doctor to be vaccinated. 20% of patients declare to get vaccinated next year. The commonest reasons of not being vaccinated are: the lack of confidence that the vaccine is effective and the fear of suffering from influenza when vaccinated (43% and 16% unvaccinated patients respectively). Only 19% of patients with elementary education and 44% with higher education declare to be vaccinated at some point of their life.
CONCLUSIONS. A large majority of patients with diabetes mellitus do not obey diabetes associations’ recommendations to annual vaccination against influenza. Doctors recommend vaccines rarely. Patients think the vaccine is not effective and they are afraid of suffering with influenza when vaccinated.
(Diabet. Prakt. 2011; 12, 2: 65–70)