Influenza vaccination is indicated for people age 50 years and older, because it is highly effective in preventing influenza-related pneumonia, hospitalization, and death. Vaccine coverage in the United States is suboptimal. Screening and vaccination of inpatients is recommended, but hospitalization is an underutilized opportunity to provide vaccination to adults.

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• American Lung Association
• National Institue of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - National Institutes of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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• Bartlett JG, Dowell SF, Mandell LA, et al. Practice guidelines for the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;31:347-382.
• Centers for Disease Control. Prevention of Influenza. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. April 2002;51(No.RR-02):1-36.
• Fedson DS, Houck PM, Bratzler D. Hospital-based influenza and pneumococcal vaccination: Sutton’s Law applied to prevention. Infect Control Hosp Epi. 2000;21:692-699.
• Kissam S, Gifford DR, Patry G, et al. Is signed consent for influenza or pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination required? Arch Intern Med 2004; 164:13-16.
• Mandell LA, Bartlett JG, Dowell SF, et al. Practice guidelines for the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;37:1405-1433.
• Niederman MS, Mandell LA, Anzueto A, et al. Guidelines for the management of adults with community-acquired pneumonia. American Thoracic Society. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001;163:1730-1754.

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