Search

Abstract: Special mass influenza vaccination programs of elementary school-aged children (ESAC) in some or all Maryland Counties were conducted during the falls of 2005–2007. From 3% to 46% of ESAC received live attenuated influenza vaccine during these county programs, which were in addition to routine influenza vaccination efforts conducted in county medical offices. Anonymous, all cause public school absentee data for all grades was available from 11 of Maryland''s 24 counties. Binomial regression was used to estimate associations between the percentage of children vaccinated in each county and the degree of increase in absenteeism rates during influenza outbreaks. We estimated that, for every 20% increase in vaccination rates for ESAC during these special programs, a 4% decrease in the rise in absentee rates occurred during influenza outbreak periods in both elementary and upper schools (P <0.05). These results suggest both direct and indirect benefits of influenza vaccination of young children. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Special influenza vaccination programs of elementary school-aged children (ESAC) in some or all of Maryland Counties were conducted during the falls of 2005–2007. Rates of emergency department (E.D.) visits and hospitalizations for medically attended acute respiratory illnesses (MAARI) as well as deaths due to pneumonia and influenza for county residents were determined. The degree to which these rates were modulated during intense influenza outbreak periods (IIOP) in counties who vaccinated a greater percentage of ESAC was estimated using Poisson regression. Notably, for every 20% increase in vaccination rates, MAARI related E.D. visits during IIOP decreased by 8% (95% C.I., 5–12%) in children aged 5–11 years and by 6% (95% C.I., 3–8%) in adults aged 19–49 years (p <0.001), which suggests both a direct and indirect benefit of the vaccination programs. In contrast, MAARI related hospitalizations increased during IIOP by 4% (95% C.I., 3–9%) in adults aged >50 years for every 20% increase in vaccination rates (p <0.023) for which we have no plausible biologic explanation. No significant changes in deaths were noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Recombinant baculovirus-expressed hemagglutinin (rHA [FluBlok®]) influenza vaccine is unique in avoiding production in eggs and its rapid production capability. Objective: Compare the safety and immunogenicity of trivalent FluBlok to egg-grown trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) in children. Methods: Healthy children were randomized to receive two doses of study vaccines. TIV (7.5μg HA/antigen), FluBlok-22.5 (22.5μg rHA/antigen), or FluBlok-45 (45μg rHA/antigen) were given to 115 children ages 6–35 months. TIV (15μg HA/antigen) or FluBlok-45 was given to 41 children ages 36–59 months. Safety and reactogenicity data were collected post-vaccination. Serum hemagglutination-inhibition antibody (HI) titers were measured before and 28 days after vaccination. Results: No serious vaccine-related adverse events occurred and reactogenicity events to equal volumes of TIV or FluBlok were generally similar. However, in the younger children, selected local and systemic symptoms were recorded significantly more frequently to 0.5mL FluBlok-45 than to 0.25mL doses of either the FluBlok-22.5 or 7.5μg TIV vaccines. In the younger children, the immunogenicity to TIV was generally significantly superior to FluBlok. Serologic responses to FluBlok were higher in the older children than the younger group, but were still somewhat lower compared to TIV. Conclusion: These data suggests that FluBlok is as safe but less immunogenic than similar volumes of TIV, particularly in the youngest children. The immunogenicity data is the converse of what has been observed in adults. Further studies examining the immunogenicity of FluBlok in older children are warranted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]