Características del adulto mayor que acepta ser vacunado contra la influenza en San Luis Tlaxialtemalco-2004

Abstract

Influenza is a high respiratory tract viral acute disease able to bring about potentially fatal complications in elderly patients. The annual vaccination is the most important health  intervention for decreasing the flu impact.

There  are several factors influencing the vaccine application acceptance or rejection. This study aims determining characteristics of the population that accepts the influenza vaccine and identifying in-risk population groups in the event they don’t receive it within San Luis Tlaxialtemalco area. It was a descriptive transversal study with  a no probabilistic sample including 48 people, 60 or more years old. A structured survey with 25 question and different scales. Regarding outcomes, 84.48% accepted the influenza vaccine application. The 81.3% are not familiar with influenza disease, 77.1% believes the flu is grave, 64.6% is not familiar with the influenza vaccine, 97.9% believes the are taking preventive action for the influenza, and 85.4% thinks the influenza vaccine will not cause them any problems, which is influencing on the vaccine acceptance. Regarding the person who recommended them the influenza vaccine, 31.3% said was the nurse and 43.8% said nobody did.