The information network of senior citizens in Geneva, Switzerland, and progress in flu vaccination coverage between 1991 and 2000.

Switzerland has lagged behind other industrialized countries in increasing vaccination coverage against flu in the elderly population. The information campaign "United against Flu", started in Geneva in 1993, gradually extended to other French and Italian speaking cantons in Switzerland and indirectly affected German-speaking cantons. Activities developed include the production of TV spots, press conferences, information forwarded to health professionals, an Internet site and information material such as leaflets and posters to risk groups.

Immunogenicity of trivalent subunit versus virosome-formulated influenza vaccines in geriatric patients.

The safety and immunogenicity of a commercial trivalent subunit influenza vaccine and an experimental virosome-formulated influenza vaccine were evaluated among geriatric patients in a double-blind, randomized manner. The virosome vaccine was produced by incorporating hemagglutinin (HA) into the membrane of liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine. Both vaccines elicited a significant (P < 0.

[Vaccination against influenza in Switzerland].

Influenza is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality in our country. The yearly vaccination of the population at risk is always the best method of prevention and for the limitation of health care costs. Today the protection of elderly people and health care professionals by vaccination is not sufficient.

Community-acquired pneumonia in older patients.

Objectives: To document the prevalence of Legionella sp., Mycoplasma Pneumoniae and Influenza A and B in older patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) of nursing-home acquired pneumonia (NHAP) and to determine risk factors associated with fatal outcome or prolonged hospital stay.

Design: Prospective clinical and serological study.

[Side effects of influenza vaccination in patients over 60 years of age].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the various factors affecting the incidence of adverse reactions after influenza immunization with either a subunit or an inactivated whole-virus vaccine. A total of 1,959 nursing home residents in Geneva (mean age: 84 +/- 8 years, sex ratio: 3F/1M) were randomly allocated to the two vaccine groups. Results showed that the incidence of local adverse reactions could be reduced by using the subunit vaccine injected into the buttock or the internal aspect of the thigh, in preference to the deltoid muscle.