This ecological study was developed to evaluate the patterns in hospital morbidity due respiratory diseases among people over 60 years old residing in the State of Paraná, before and after the implementation of vaccination campaigns against influenza. The data about hospitalizations in the 1995-2005 period were obtained from the Hospital Information System and grouped according to health center macro-regions, month of occurrence, gender and age group. The data was submitted to Analysis of Variance and Tukey statistical tests, and showed a decreasing tendency in hospitalizations in both genders after the vaccinations started, with different levels among age groups, gender, months of the year and health center macro-regions. The risk for hospitalization was higher for males and for older patients, from June to October, and in macro-region number 3, followed by regions 4, 5, 6, 2 and 1.
influenza vaccines; mass immunization; influenza, human; respiratory tract diseases; morbidity; aged; health of the elderly
