Influenza Vaccination

Breaking news and emerging research on the COVID-19 pandemic dominated headlines this year. However, there were other important updates that impact practice.

High-dose vs. low-dose flu vaccine effect on cardiopulmonary events in high-risk patients.

Routine use of a molecular point-of-care test-and-treat strategy for influenza improved detection and other outcomes in patients admitted to the hospital, according to results of the FluPOC trial.

Healio’s live coverage of the virtual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions dominated the top stories in cardiology for the second week in a row.

In 2018, about one-quarter of adults aged 18 to 34 years with CVD received a flu shot and in those with a history of MI only about 20% were vaccinated, researchers reported at the virtual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

Injection of a high-dose influenza vaccine did not affect all-cause death, cardiac or pulmonary hospitalization compared with a lower dose in patients with prior MI or HF hospitalization, according to findings from the INVESTED trial.

Influenza infection during pregnancy is associated with late-term pregnancy loss and reduced birth weight, according to study findings published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Data recently presented during IDWeek showed that last season’s influenza vaccine provided substantial protection for children. It was the top story in infectious disease last week.

Up to a third of women hospitalized with influenza in recent years were pregnant, according to research presented at this year’s virtual IDWeek.

Physicians are facing considerable challenges in 2020 that could contribute to increased burnout, according to U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH.