A hospital-based influenza immunization program, 1977-78.

An influenza immunization program on General Medicine inpatient and outpatient units immunized a greater proportion of patients than did physicians on medical subspecialty units. Many patients hospitalized with influenza and other respiratory conditions had been discharged earlier in the year or seen in outpatient clinics. Previous hospital care may be a useful marker for identifying many high-risk patients who could receive influenza vaccine in organized programs for hospital-based immunization. (Am J Public Health 1983; 73:442-445.)