Strikas Raymond A, Kozarsky Phyllis E, Reed Christie, Kapella Brian K, Freedman David O
National Vaccine Program Office, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC 20201, USA.
J Travel Med. 2008 Nov-Dec;15(6):442-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2008.00254.x.
Influenza is the most common vaccine-preventable disease in travelers. It circulates year-round in the tropics, November to March in the northern hemisphere (NH), and April to October in the southern hemisphere (SH). In 2005, approximately 8.5 million US adults aged 18 years and older traveled to the Caribbean. A similar number traveled to the tropics and the SH. SH formulation of influenza vaccine is not available in the United States. We surveyed International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) members to ask if they would use SH influenza vaccine if available.
We electronically mailed a survey in December 2006 to 1,251 ISTM members in the United States. We asked if respondents would use SH vaccine for patients traveling to the SH or tropics, how many such patients per week they see, and their practice location.
We received 157 responses for a response rate of 12.5%. Of these, 129 (82%) stated that they would be interested in having SH influenza vaccine available. Of those indicating interest, 73 (60%) reported seeing >10 patients traveling to the SH or tropics each week. Respondents reported practice settings in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Respondents requested more information about the likely cost of SH influenza vaccine, ordering conditions, vaccine use guidelines, comparability with NH vaccine, and approval of SH vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration.
Many travelers to the SH are at risk for influenza infection. Although only a limited number of ISTM members responded, respondents indicated considerable interest in availability of SH influenza vaccine for their patients. More data from travel medicine and other practitioners are needed on this topic. Inquiries are being made of influenza vaccine manufacturers about licensing SH influenza vaccines in the United States. Adding SH influenza vaccine to the vaccines available to NH clinicians could help mitigate the morbidity of influenza in travelers.
流感是旅行者中最常见的可通过疫苗预防的疾病。它在热带地区全年传播，在北半球（NH）为11月至次年3月，在南半球（SH）为4月至10月。2005年，约850万18岁及以上的美国成年人前往加勒比地区旅行。前往热带地区和南半球的人数与之相近。美国没有南半球配方的流感疫苗。我们对国际旅行医学协会（ISTM）成员进行了调查，询问他们如果有南半球流感疫苗是否会使用。
2006年12月，我们通过电子邮件向美国的1251名ISTM成员发送了一份调查问卷。我们询问受访者是否会为前往南半球或热带地区的患者使用南半球疫苗、他们每周接待多少此类患者以及他们的执业地点。
我们收到了157份回复，回复率为12.5%。其中，129份（82%）表示他们会对有南半球流感疫苗感兴趣。在表示感兴趣的人中，73份（60%）报告每周接待超过10名前往南半球或热带地区的患者。受访者来自34个州和哥伦比亚特区的执业机构。受访者要求提供更多关于南半球流感疫苗可能的成本、订购条件、疫苗使用指南、与北半球疫苗的可比性以及食品药品管理局对南半球疫苗的批准情况等信息。
许多前往南半球的旅行者有感染流感的风险。尽管只有有限数量的ISTM成员回复，但受访者表示对为其患者提供南半球流感疫苗相当感兴趣。关于这个主题，旅行医学和其他从业者需要更多数据。正在就美国许可南半球流感疫苗一事向流感疫苗制造商进行咨询。为北半球临床医生增加南半球流感疫苗可能有助于减轻旅行者流感的发病率。
