  People with diabetes
Potential benefits in specific high-risk groups
During influenza outbreaks, mortality in people with diabetes may rise by
5-15%, particularly in those with complications such as cardiac and
renal disease.25,26 The increased risk of morbidity and mortality in
people with diabetes may be influenced by concomitant cardiovascular
disease or older age, but the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis and an
impaired immune response to influenza virus and Staphylococcus aureus
suggest that diabetes itself is a risk factor for serious
complications.25 People with diabetes may have an abnormality of their
immune system that makes them more susceptible to infection, but they
appear to generate the necessary immune response to vaccination.26
Observational studies suggest that influenza vaccination reduces
hospitalisation and death associated with influenza in people with
diabetes during the period immediately preceding an epidemic,10,11
however, randomised controlled data in this area are lacking.
Implications for Australian
practice
|
Contraindications to influenza
vaccination1
-
Severe allergy to eggs, causing
an anaphylactic reaction.
-
Severe allergy to any of the
products in the vaccines, causing an
anaphylactic reaction.
-
An illness with fever over
38.5°C. Flu vaccine can be given once the fever
and symptoms of the illness have settled down.
Flu vaccine can also be given to people if they
have a minor illness without a fever.
-
History of Guillain-Barre
Syndrome which first appeared around the time of
a flu vaccination.
Please review the product
information before prescribing any influenza
vaccination. |
