Study: Cardiologists best for flu vaccine

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A University of Michigan study finds that more heart patients get flu vaccine when vaccinations are available at their cardiologists.

Recommendations from cardiologists that they get the vaccine are also effective.

People with cardiovascular disease are the largest group of non-elderly adults at high risk for influenza, researchers say.

Dr. Matthew Davis used mathematical models to decide which of several alternatives would be more effective in getting the vaccine to heart patients. He said that a combination of the doctor's recommendation and having the vaccination there has the greatest effect.

But Davis said that a recent study by the University of Michigan and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that only half of cardiology practices have flu vaccine on hand.