Mohamad, R., Adhahi, S., Alwadai, I., Alshehri, W., Alhakami, S., Alatawi, M., Atawi, N., Atawi, M., Althobaiti, A., Khubrani, M., Mohammed, S. (2023). Flu vaccination effectiveness in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 90(1), 738-742. doi: 10.21608/ejhm.2023.279855
Rofayda Mansour Ahmed Mohamad; Salem Khalil Adhahi; Intisar Alwadai; Waheed Ali Alshehri; Shatha Talal Alhakami; Manal Muhsen Alatawi; Nadia Salaman Atawi; Mona Salem Atawi; Abdulla Saeed Althobaiti; Mohammed Ali Khubrani; Sakeina Saleem Haroon Mohammed. "Flu vaccination effectiveness in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia". The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 90, 1, 2023, 738-742. doi: 10.21608/ejhm.2023.279855
Mohamad, R., Adhahi, S., Alwadai, I., Alshehri, W., Alhakami, S., Alatawi, M., Atawi, N., Atawi, M., Althobaiti, A., Khubrani, M., Mohammed, S. (2023). 'Flu vaccination effectiveness in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia', The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 90(1), pp. 738-742. doi: 10.21608/ejhm.2023.279855
Mohamad, R., Adhahi, S., Alwadai, I., Alshehri, W., Alhakami, S., Alatawi, M., Atawi, N., Atawi, M., Althobaiti, A., Khubrani, M., Mohammed, S. Flu vaccination effectiveness in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2023; 90(1): 738-742. doi: 10.21608/ejhm.2023.279855
Flu vaccination effectiveness in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia
Background: There are controversies about vaccination effectiveness of seasonal influenza and its wide variation across seasons and countries. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination among adult population in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This prospective cohort study included residents aged 18 years or older. 532 participants were divided regarding vaccination status into two equal groups: the first (vaccine group) received the current influenza vaccine, and the other (control group) received nothing. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire. The vaccine effectiveness was estimated based on self-reported data regarding the incidence of chest infection or flu-like illness (FLI) after the vaccination, duration of the FLI, ability to do the normal daily activity, seeking medical care, need for visiting a clinic, taking medications, and hospital admissions. Results: The rate of chest infection after vaccination showed no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.879). The incidence of FLI in winter following vaccine intake was significantly higher in the vaccine group compared to the control (p=0.038). The FLI affected the daily life activities of 36 subjects (13.5%) belonging to the vaccine group compared to 28 subjects (10.5%) in the control group (p=0.286). Seeking medical service for the FLI was recorded in 7.5% and 4.5% of the vaccine and the control groups, respectively, with no significant difference (p=0.145). Conclusions: The seasonal flu vaccine lacked significant effectiveness among adult population in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. Regularly improving the immunogenicity and efficacy of influenza vaccines seems a necessity.