RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The protective effect of influenza vaccine in a mixed influenza A and B epidemic in a boys' boarding school
JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
JO J R Coll Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 28
OP 31
VO 27
IS 174
A1 J. H. D. Briscoe
YR 1977
UL http://bjgp.org/content/27/174/28.abstract
AB A mixed influenza A and B epidemic, which affected 30 per cent of the boys in a boarding school during the early part of 1976 is described. Virological findings indicate that most cases were due to influenza viruses similar to A/Victoria/75. The incidence of influenza was similar in all blocks in the school, but very variable in the boys' houses. The four-day half-term holiday helped to limit the epidemic. Eighty-six per cent of the boys had received an influenza vaccine containing the A/Scotland and A/Port Chalmers antigens. Influenza vaccination was of definite value, giving a protection rate among vaccinated boys of 36 per cent. Vaccinated boys who developed influenza had a shorter illness than unvaccinated boys.