Comparison of Side Effects of the 2015-2016 High-Dose, Inactivated, Trivalent Influenza Vaccine and Standard Dose, Inactivated, Trivalent Influenza Vaccine in Adults ≥65 Years.

Background: High-dose, inactivated, trivalent influenza vaccine (HD) is associated with higher rates of side effects than standard dose (SD) vaccine, which may represent a barrier to use.

Methods: We surveyed subjects ≥65 years who received either HD or SD vaccine at the Minneapolis Veteran Affairs Health Care System clinics on October 27, 28, or 29, 2015. Research assistants conducted a 17-item telephone survey of influenza vaccine recipients to inquire about self-reported health and symptoms experienced the week after vaccination.

Deciding to restrain medical patients.

To determine when and why patients are placed in mechanical restraints, we surveyed the nurse and physician caring for each of 102 restrained patients from the general medical floors of an acute-care hospital. Ninety-three percent of the questionnaires were completed. Nursing questionnaires indicated that over half of patients were restrained during the evening shift.

Mechanical restraints on the medical wards: are protective devices safe?

We prospectively identified 102 mechanically restrained hospital patients and determined their hospital course. The cohort was elderly, cognitively impaired with multiple chronic diseases. The in-hospital mortality was 21 percent.