Learn more Flu prevention articles and policies
View research studies and data, journal articles and AOA statements and policy focused on flu prevention and vaccination.
In order to best serve patients, it is important that osteopathic physicians and their teams keep up to date on influenza data and studies. Below are influenza articles and recent data highlighting the importance of vaccinations for all populations and age groups.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data
The following CDC resources provide informative data regarding flu prevention:
Burden of Disease and Cardiovascular Impact
Disparities
- Grandhi GR et al. Sociodemographic Disparities in Influenza Vaccination Among Adults With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the United States. JAMA Cardiology. 2021;6(1):87–91. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2020.3978.
- Sperling LS, Albert MA, Koppaka R. Disparities in Influenza Vaccination-Opportunity to Extend Cardiovascular Prevention to Millions of Hearts. JAMA Cardiology. 2021 Jan 1;6(1):11-12. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2020.3983. PMID: 32902564.
- Al Rifai M, et. al. Racial and geographic disparities in influenza vaccination in the U.S. among individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: Renewed importance in the setting of COVID-19. Am J Prev Cardiol. 2021 Mar;5:100150. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpc.2021.100150. Epub 2021 Jan 23. PMID: 33521756; PMCID: PMC7826080.
- Kini A, Morgan R, Kuo H, Shea P, Shapiro J, Leng SX, Pekosz A, Klein SL. Differences and disparities in seasonal influenza vaccine, acceptance, adverse reactions, and coverage by age, sex, gender, and race. 2021 Apr 28:S0264-410X(21)00448-5. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.04.013. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33933316.
- Maurer J, Harris KM, Uscher-Pines L. Can routine offering of influenza vaccination in office-based settings reduce racial and ethnic disparities in adult influenza vaccination? J Gen Intern Med. 2014 Dec;29(12):1624-30. doi: 10.1007/s11606-014-2965-z. Epub 2014 Aug 26. PMID: 25155638; PMCID: PMC4242874.
- Mahmud S, Xu L, Hall DL, Puckrein G, Thommes E, Loiacono M, Chit A. Effect of race and ethnicity on influenza vaccine uptake among older US Medicare beneficiaries_ a record linkage cohort study. Lancet 2021.
- Street A, Maynou L., Gilbert T., Stone T., Mason S., Conroy S. The use of linked routine data to optimise calculation of the Hospital Frailty Risk Score on the basis of previous hospital admissions: a retrospective observational cohort study, Lancet Healthy Longev 2021; 2: e154–62 Published Online February 23, 2021.
- Bardenheier BH, Baier RR, Silva JB, Gravenstein S, Moyo P, Bosco E, Ogarek J, van Aalst R, Chit A, Zullo AR. Persistence of Racial Inequities in Receipt of Influenza Vaccination among Nursing Home Residents in the United States. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Sep 29:ciaa1484. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1484. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32990309.
AOA Resources
AOA Policy
H442-A/16 INFLUENZA VACCINE: The American Osteopathic Association will work with the appropriate federal government agencies to assure that physicians receive timely deliveries of flu vaccine in order to assure that high risk patients are provided their vaccinations and thereby protect the most vulnerable patients as a public safety measure; and will encourage its members to actively promote and provide influenza flu and other appropriate vaccinations to their patients. 2005; reaffirmed 2010; reaffirmed 2011; 2016
H214-A/19 INFLUENZA VACCINATION PROGRAMS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOLS The American Osteopathic Association recommends and supports that all osteopathic medical schools have an ongoing influenza vaccination program for students. 2009; reaffirmed 2014; 2019
H306-A/19 INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND EDUCATORS The American Osteopathic Association strongly supports and recommends influenza vaccinations for all health care workers and educators according to current guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009; reaffirmed as amended 2014; reaffirmed 2019
H429-A/16 MANDATORY INFLUENZA VACCINE OF HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL The American Osteopathic Association recommends mandatory seasonal Influenza vaccination of all healthcare personnel and that medical exemptions to required influenza immunization (e.g., life threatening allergic reaction after receiving an influenza vaccine or severe allergy to a vaccine component) should be kept at a minimum to ensure high coverage rates and granted only on an individual basis. 2016