Influenza immunization of chronically ill children in pediatric tertiary care hospitals.

Despite a publicly funded immunization program and continuous promotional efforts, vaccine uptake for seasonal influenza in Quebec (Canada) remains under its goal of 80%. Missed opportunities can explain the low influenza vaccine rates among chronically ill children. To address that, demonstration projects using the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) were implemented in 3 pediatric tertiary care hospitals to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of implementing influenza immunization of chronically ill children in hospitals' outpatient clinics.

[Influenza prevention, surveillance, and control in long term care facilities].

Objective: Describe the implementation of various activities suggested in the guide entitled Prevention, surveillance et contrôle de l'influenza en milieu d'hébergement et de soins de longue durée (CHSLD) au Quebec, distributed in 2000 to Montréal-area CHSLD.

Method: The study was conducted in 2001 among 57 CHSLDs (39 public institutions and 18 private institutions under agreement) in Montréal. A self-administered questionnaire collected data on the characteristics of the centres and main activities recommended in the guide.