1. Vaccine-associated attenuation of subjective severity among outpatients with influenza
- Author
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Jessie R. Chung, Sara S. Kim, Brendan Flannery, Michael E. Smith, Kayan Dunnigan, Chandni Raiyani, Kempapura Murthy, Manjusha Gaglani, Michael L. Jackson, Lisa A. Jackson, Todd Bear, Krissy Moehling Geffel, Mary Patricia Nowalk, Richard K. Zimmerman, Emily T. Martin, Lois Lamerato, Huong Q. McLean, Jennifer P. King, Edward A. Belongia, Mark G. Thompson, and Manish Patel
- Subjects
Hospitalization ,Infectious Diseases ,General Veterinary ,General Immunology and Microbiology ,Influenza Vaccines ,Influenza, Human ,Outpatients ,Vaccination ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Humans ,Molecular Medicine ,Seasons - Abstract
Influenza vaccines can mitigate illness severity, including reduced risk of ICU admission and death, in people with breakthrough infection. Less is known about vaccine attenuation of mild/moderate influenza illness. We compared subjective severity scores in vaccinated and unvaccinated persons with medically attended illness and laboratory-confirmed influenza. Participants were prospectively recruited when presenting for care at five US sites over nine seasons. Participants aged ≥ 16 years completed the EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale (VAS) at enrollment. After controlling for potential confounders in a multivariable model, including age and general health status, VAS scores were significantly higher among 2,830 vaccinated participants compared with 3,459 unvaccinated participants, indicating vaccinated participants felt better at the time of presentation for care. No differences in VAS scores were observed by the type of vaccine received among persons aged ≥ 65 years. Our findings suggest vaccine-associated attenuation of milder influenza illness is possible.
- Published
- 2022
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