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Background: Surveillance programmes for influenza and other respiratory pathogens are important to generate vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates and to inform vaccine composition. We aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of home‐based testing. Methods: In three out of nine provinces in South Africa, we established a self‐referral system for individuals aged ≥ 18 years with respiratory symptoms of ≤ 10 days duration. Following consent, swab collection material was delivered to participants who also completed a questionnaire including self‐reported vaccination status. Swabs were tested by PCR for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS‐CoV‐2. A test‐negative methodology was used to estimate influenza VE. Results: Of 1456 samples collected between 19 November 2021 and 3 September 2022, 73 (5%) tested positive for influenza, 38 (3%) tested positive for RSV and 394 (27%) for SARS‐CoV‐2. We subtyped 55% (40/73) of the influenza positive specimens; 16/40 (40%) were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09; 10/40 (25%)A(H3N2)) and all 14/40(35%) influenza B were B/Victoria. Only 20% (279/1451) of participants reported influenza‐like illness case definition symptoms of fever and cough. Influenza vaccine coverage was 11% (157/1454). The overall influenza VE was 26% (95% confidence interval: −73%, 69%). Of the completed acceptability questionnaires, 123/127 (97%) participants would make use of the service again; 90% (1306) were recruited via the COVID‐19 testing centre (call in, social media, webpage), and 7% (99/1306) through CoughWatchSA. Conclusions: Home‐based swabbing was feasible and acceptable. We were able to calculate an influenza VE, although a larger sample size and verification of vaccine status may improve the VE estimates in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Establishing a large study network to conduct influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) studies while collecting appropriate variables to account for potential bias is important; the most relevant variables should be prioritized. We explored the impact of potential confounders on IVE in the DRIVE multi‐country network of sites conducting test‐negative design (TND) studies. Methods: We constructed a directed acyclic graph (DAG) to map the relationship between influenza vaccination, medically attended influenza infection, confounders, and other variables. Additionally, we used the Development of Robust and Innovative Vaccines Effectiveness (DRIVE) data from the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons to explore the effect of covariate adjustment on IVE estimates. The reference model was adjusted for age, sex, calendar time, and season. The covariates studied were presence of at least one, two, or three chronic diseases; presence of six specific chronic diseases; and prior healthcare use. Analyses were conducted by site and subsequently pooled. Results: The following variables were included in the DAG: age, sex, time within influenza season and year, health status and comorbidities, study site, health‐care‐seeking behavior, contact patterns and social precautionary behavior, socioeconomic status, and pre‐existing immunity. Across all age groups and settings, only adjustment for lung disease in older adults in the primary care setting resulted in a relative change of the IVE point estimate >10%. Conclusion: Our study supports a parsimonious approach to confounder adjustment in TND studies, limited to adjusting for age, sex, and calendar time. Practical implications are that necessitating fewer variables lowers the threshold for enrollment of sites in IVE studies and simplifies the pooling of data from different IVE studies or study networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence on the effectiveness of influenza vaccine in preventing antibiotic prescriptions for influenza-like illness (ILI) in adults is limited.Methods: A primary care-based case-control study was conducted to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza-like illness (ILI) and antibiotic prescribing for ILI in adults aged ≥40 years. Cases were patients diagnosed with ILI from 1st June to 30th September in each year, 2015-2018; a subset of those with ILI prescribed antibiotics was also defined. Controls were patients attending a practice who did not receive an ILI diagnosis. Generalised estimating equations were used to calculate adjusted VE overall, by age (<65 versus ≥65 years) and comorbidity status.Results: The number of ILI cases varied from 558 in 2018 to 2901 in 2017 and controls from 86618 in 2015 to 136763 in 2017. Over 4 years the pooled estimate of VE was 24% (95%CI, 11% to 34%) against ILI and 15% (95%CI, -3% to 29%) against antibiotic prescription for ILI. Influenza vaccine was effective in reducing ILI with an associated antibiotic prescriptions in patients aged <65 years (VE=23%, 95%CI, 3% to 38%) and if no comorbidities were recorded (VE=22%, 95%CI, 1% to 39%) but not in other subgroups.Conclusions: Influenza vaccine reduced the likelihood of antibiotic prescriptions for ILI in low-risk adults (40-64 years and those without comorbidities). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In 2013, the United Kingdom began to roll‐out a universal annual influenza vaccination program for children. An important component of any new vaccination program is measuring its effectiveness. Live‐attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs) have since shown mixed results with vaccine effectiveness (VE) varying across seasons and countries elsewhere. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in children against severe disease during the first three seasons of the LAIV program in England. Methods: Using the screening method, LAIV vaccination coverage in children hospitalized with laboratory‐confirmed influenza infection was compared with vaccination coverage in 2–6‐year‐olds in the general population to estimate VE in 2013/14–2015/16. Results: The overall LAIV VE, adjusted for age group, week/month and geographical area, for all influenza types pooled over the three influenza seasons was 50.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 31.2, 63.8). By age, there was evidence of protection against hospitalization from influenza vaccination in both the pre‐school (2–4‐year‐olds) (48.1%, 95% CI 27.2, 63.1) and school‐aged children (5–6‐year‐olds) (62.6%, 95% CI 2.6, 85.6) over the three seasons. Conclusion: LAIV vaccination in children provided moderate annual protection against laboratory‐confirmed influenza‐related hospitalization in England over the three influenza seasons. This study contributes further to the limited literature to date on influenza VE against severe disease in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare Workers (HCWs) constitute a major group exposed to influenza. Researchers herein try to determine the influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE). Influenza VE depends on the vaccinated personal characteristics and the closeness of matching between the vaccine and the prevalent strains of the virus. The aim of our research was to identify the 2018–2019 seasonal influenza VE in HCWs. Methods: a record-based study was carried out using the test-negative design from October 2018 to September 2019 to calculate the influenza VE. HCWs with influenza like illness (ILI) were screened to detect the positive cases, and the vaccination status was determined based on vaccination database. VE was assessed from the ratio of the odds of vaccination among positive cases to the odds of vaccination among negative controls. Statistical analysis Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted VE Results: a total of 556 HCWs presented with ILI, 65.6% were females, and 54.1% were nurses, 152 HCWs (27.3%) had laboratory-confirmed influenza, shows two peaks in January and March 2019. VE for all types was 35.0% and rose to 42.0% after adjustment for HCWs age, gender, nationality, and job position, influenza A (H3N2) VE was 78.0%. H1N1 VE was 55.0% but no significant VE for type B was found. Conclusion: Our VE estimates are in agreement with VE estimates published for that season. The use of quadrivalent vaccine with two stains of influenza B is recommended.

Background Evidence for vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza-associated pneumonia has varied by season, location, and strain. We estimate VE against hospitalization for radiographically identified influenza-associated pneumonia during 2015–2016 to 2017–2018 seasons in the US Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN). Methods Among adults aged ≥18 years admitted to 10 US hospitals for acute respiratory illness (ARI), clinician-investigators used keywords from reports of chest imaging performed during 3 days around hospital admission to assign a diagnosis of "definite/probable pneumonia." We used a test-negative design to estimate VE against hospitalization for radiographically identified laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pneumonia, comparing reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction–confirmed influenza cases with test-negative subjects. Influenza vaccination status was documented in immunization records or self-reported, including date and location. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to adjust for age, site, season, calendar-time, and other factors. Results Of 4843 adults hospitalized with ARI included in the primary analysis, 266 (5.5%) had "definite/probable pneumonia" and confirmed influenza. Adjusted VE against hospitalization for any radiographically confirmed influenza-associated pneumonia was 38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17–53%); by type/subtype, it was 74% (95% CI, 52–87%) influenza A (H1N1)pdm09, 25% (95% CI, −15% to 50%) A (H3N2), and 23% (95% CI, −32% to 54%) influenza B. Adjusted VE against intensive care for any influenza was 57% (95% CI, 19–77%). Conclusions Influenza vaccination was modestly effective among adults in preventing hospitalizations and the need for intensive care associated with influenza pneumonia. VE was significantly higher against A (H1N1)pdm09 and was low against A (H3N2) and B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vaccination is the primary strategy to reduce influenza burden. Influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) can vary annually depending on circulating strains. Methods We used a test-negative case-control study design to estimate influenza VE against laboratory-confirmed influenza-related hospitalizations among children (aged 6 months–17 years) across 5 influenza seasons in Atlanta, Georgia, from 2012–2013 to 2016–2017. Influenza-positive cases were randomly matched to test-negative controls based on age and influenza season in a 1:1 ratio. We used logistic regression models to compare odds ratios (ORs) of vaccination in cases to controls. We calculated VE as [100% × (1 – adjusted OR)] and computed 95% confidence intervals (CIs) around the estimates. Results We identified 14 596 hospitalizations of children who were tested for influenza using the multiplex respiratory molecular panel; influenza infection was detected in 1017 (7.0%). After exclusions, we included 512 influenza-positive cases and 512 influenza-negative controls. The median age was 5.9 years (interquartile range, 2.7–10.3), 497 (48.5%) were female, 567 (55.4%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 654 (63.9%) children were unvaccinated. Influenza A accounted for 370 (72.3%) of 512 cases and predominated during all 5 seasons. The adjusted VE against influenza-related hospitalizations during 2012–2013 to 2016–2017 was 51.3% (95% CI, 34.8% to 63.6%) and varied by season. Influenza VE was 54.7% (95% CI, 37.4% to 67.3%) for influenza A and 37.1% (95% CI, 2.3% to 59.5%) for influenza B. Conclusions Influenza vaccination decreased the risk of influenza-related pediatric hospitalizations by >50% across 5 influenza seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Behavioral changes among Japanese, along with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, may affect the seasonal influenza epidemic in Japan and change influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE). Methods: This single-center, test-negative case-control (TNCC) study estimated influenza VE in children for the first influenza season (2019/20) to overlap the COVID-19 epidemic in. Effects of prior influenza infection and vaccination in children were assessed for the 2019-2020 season. Results: Among 386 children, adjusted VE was significant for influenza A/H1N1 (45.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0-69.7) and influenza B (66.7%; 95% CI: 35.9-82.7). Among patients aged 0-6 years, adjusted VE was significant for influenza A (total: A/H1N1+A/H3N2) (65.0%; 95% CI: 22.2-84.3), influenza A/H1N1 (64.8%; 95% CI: 16.9-85.1) and influenza B (87.4%; 95% CI: 50.5-96.8). No VE was observed in patients aged 7-15 years. Administration of two vaccine doses tended to decrease incidences of influenza A (total) and influenza A/H1N1 in patients aged 0-6 years. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of influenza B infection in patients, who had influenza during the previous season, were significantly lower among all participants (0.29; 95% CI: 0.11-0.78) and patients aged 7-15 years (0.34; 95% CI: 0.12- 0.94). The adjusted ORs of influenza infections were not significant in patients vaccinated during the previous season. Conclusions: TNCC-based estimates of influenza VE were consistent despite the overlapping COVID-19 epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence on influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing mortality and morbidity in the elderly is weak. Our aim was to measure the VE against severe outcomes in the elderly. Methods: We conducted a multicentre hospital-based test-negative design (TND) case-control study, during the 2017/18 season, in four Italian hospitals. The study population included individuals aged ≥65 years hospitalized with Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI). Patients were classified as cases and controls based on the results of the PCR influenza testing. We estimated VE by virus subtypes and specific VE for the trivalent adjuvanted vaccine (TIVadj). Results: 502 patients with SARI were enrolled: 118 (23.5%) tested positive (cases) and 384 (76.5%) tested negative (controls) for influenza. The adjusted VE of 48.5% for all vaccines was comparable to the adjusted VE for the TIVadj vaccine (48.3%). Adjusted VE for the TIVadj vaccine was 67.5% for A(H1N1)pdm09 and 44.5% for B viruses. Conclusion: We show a moderate adjusted VE of the TIVadj against all viruses, a good adjusted VE against A(H1N1)pdm09 strains and a moderate adjusted VE against B strains, despite a mismatch between the B circulating lineage and the lineage included in the vaccine. This is likely due to the cross-protection among B strains induced by the TIVadj in elderly patients.

Abstract Background This report describes the results of recruitment efforts and the subsequent participation of pregnant women in study activities in a 2010–2012 observational study focused on influenza illness and vaccination in California and Oregon, USA. Methods Socio-demographic and health characteristics extracted from electronic medical records were compared among pregnant women who enrolled in the study, refused to participate, or were never reached for study invitation. These characteristics plus additional self-reported information were compared between women who enrolled in two study tracks: a prospective cohort vs. women enrolled following an acute respiratory illness (ARI) medical encounter. The characteristics of women who participated in weekly ARI surveillance (cohort enrollees, year one) and a 6-month follow-up interview (all enrollees) were also examined. Results In year one, we reached 51% (6938/13,655) of the potential participants we tried to contact by telephone, and 20% (1374/6938) of the women we invited agreed to join the prospective cohort. Women with chronic medical conditions, pregnancy complications, and medical encounters for ARI (prior to pregnancy or during the study period) were more likely to be reached for recruitment and more likely to enroll in the cohort. Twenty percent of cohort enrollees never started weekly surveillance reports; among those who did, reports were completed for 55% of the surveillance weeks. Receipt of the influenza vaccine was higher among women who joined the cohort (76%) than those who refused (56%) or were never reached (54%). In contrast, vaccine uptake among medical enrollees in year one (54%; 53/98) and two (52%; 79/151) was similar to other pregnant women in those years. Study site, white race, non-Hispanic ethnicity, and not having a child aged

The constantly changing pattern in the dominance of viral strains and their evolving subclades during the seasons substantially influences influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE). In order to further substantiate the importance of detailed data of genetic virus characterization for IVE estimates during the seasons, we performed influenza virus type and subtype specific IVE estimates. IVE estimates were assessed using a test-negative case-control design, in the context of the intraseasonal changes of the heterogeneous mix of circulating influenza virus strains for three influenza seasons (2016/17 to 2018/19) in Austria. Adjusted overall IVE over the three seasons 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19 were −26, 39, and 63%, respectively. In accordance with the changing pattern of the circulating strains a broad range of overall and subtype specific IVEs was obtained: A(H3N2) specific IVE ranged between −26% for season 2016/17 to 58% in season 2018/19, A(H1N1)pdm09 specific IVE was 25% for the season 2017/18 and 65% for the season 2018/19 and Influenza B specific IVE for season 2017/18 was 45%. The results obtained in our study over the three seasons demonstrate the increasingly complex dynamic of the ever changing genetic pattern of the circulating influenza viruses and their influence on IVE estimates. This emphasizes the importance of detailed genetic virus surveillance for reliable IVE estimates.

The constantly changing pattern in the dominance of viral strains and their evolving subclades during the seasons substantially influences influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE). In order to further substantiate the importance of detailed data of genetic virus characterization for IVE estimates during the seasons, we performed influenza virus type and subtype specific IVE estimates. IVE estimates were assessed using a test-negative case-control design, in the context of the intraseasonal changes of the heterogeneous mix of circulating influenza virus strains for three influenza seasons (2016/17 to 2018/19) in Austria. Adjusted overall IVE over the three seasons 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19 were −26, 39, and 63%, respectively. In accordance with the changing pattern of the circulating strains a broad range of overall and subtype specific IVEs was obtained: A(H3N2) specific IVE ranged between −26% for season 2016/17 to 58% in season 2018/19, A(H1N1)pdm09 specific IVE was 25% for the season 2017/18 and 65% for the season 2018/19 and Influenza B specific IVE for season 2017/18 was 45%. The results obtained in our study over the three seasons demonstrate the increasingly complex dynamic of the ever changing genetic pattern of the circulating influenza viruses and their influence on IVE estimates. This emphasizes the importance of detailed genetic virus surveillance for reliable IVE estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2013/14 saw the start of the introduction of a new live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) programme for children in England. 2018/19 saw co-circulation of both A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2), when LAIV was offered to all healthy children 2–9 years of age. LAIV effectiveness against influenza hospitalisation is not well described. This paper presents the 2018/19 end-of-season adjusted vaccine effectiveness (aVE) against laboratory confirmed influenza related hospitalisation in children aged 2–17. The test negative case control approach was used to estimate aVE by influenza A subtype and vaccine type. Cases and controls were selected from a sentinel laboratory surveillance system which collates details of individuals tested for influenza with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on respiratory samples. Vaccine and clinical history was obtained from general practitioners of study participants. There were 307 hospitalised cases and 679 hospitalised controls. End-of-season influenza aVE was 53.0% (95% CI: 33.3, 66.8) against influenza confirmed hospitalisation; 63.5% (95% CI: 34.4, 79.7) against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 hospitalisation and 31.1% (95% CI: −53.9, 69.2) against influenza A(H3N2). LAIV aVE was 49.1% (95% CI: 25.9, 65.0) for any influenza and 70.7% (95% CI: 41.8, 85.3) for A(H1N1)pdm09, whereas for those receiving quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (QIV), aVE was 64.4% (95% CI: 29.4, 82.0) and 44.4% (95% CI: −51.9, 79.6) respectively. We provide evidence of overall significant VE for both LAIV and QIV against influenza associated hospitalisation in children 2–17 years of age, most notably against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, with non-significant protection against A(H3N2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Influenza vaccines are updated every year to match the vaccine strains with currently circulating viruses; consequently influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) has to be assessed annually. Research design and methods: A test-negative case-control study was conducted within the context of the Italian sentinel influenza surveillance network to estimate IVE by age group, virus subtype, and vaccine brand in medically attended laboratory-confirmed influenza. Results: In Italy, the 2018/19 influenza season was characterized by the co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses. The adjusted IVE estimate in preventing influenza was moderate (44.8%, 95% CI: 18.8 to 62.5) against A(H1N1)pdm09, whereas there was no evidence of effectiveness (1.8%, 95% CI: −37.8 to 30.1) in persons affected by A(H3N2). IVE against A(H1N1)pdm09 decreased with age ranging from 65.7% to 13.1% among children/adolescents and elderly, respectively; moreover results suggest that Vaxigrip Tetra® was more effective against A(H1N1)pdm09 compared to Fluarix Tetra® [62.5% (95% CI: 34.3 to 78.6) vs 24.5% (95% CI: −40.6 to 59.6)]. Low effectiveness (35.2%, 95% CI: −50.8 to 72.1) against A(H3N2) was detected only in the elderly immunized with Fluad®. Conclusions: Findings suggest that influenza vaccines were low to moderately effective, probably due to a mismatch between circulating and vaccine strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza season started in Italy during the month of October 2018, approaching the epidemic peak in January 2019. This report aim to explore the mid-term virologic surveillance data of the 2018–2019 influenza season in Sicily and to estimate the effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine (VE) against A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) influenza viruses. A test-negative design was used to evaluate influenza VE. In Sicily, almost all influenza infections were sustained by influenza type A viruses, of which 62.3% were A(H3N2) and 36.3% A(H1N1)pdm09. A reduction of laboratory confirmed influenza cases in Sicilian population immunized against influenza were observed. In particular, an overall significant protective values were observed for any influenza A viruses (Adj-VE = 44.0%; 95%CI: 11.2–64.7%), especially among 15–64 years old age group (Adj-VE = 59.5%; 95%CI: 0.03–83.1) and among the elderly (Adj-VE = 73.6%; 95% CI: 29.4–90.2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence on influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing mortality and morbidity in the elderly is weak. Our aim was to measure the VE against severe outcomes in the elderly. Methods: We conducted a multicentre hospital-based test-negative design (TND) case-control study, during the 2017/18 season, in four Italian hospitals. The study population included individuals aged ≥65 years hospitalized with Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI). Patients were classified as cases and controls based on the results of the PCR influenza testing. We estimated VE by virus subtypes and specific VE for the trivalent adjuvanted vaccine (TIVadj). Results: 502 patients with SARI were enrolled: 118 (23.5%) tested positive (cases) and 384 (76.5%) tested negative (controls) for influenza. The adjusted VE of 48.5% for all vaccines was comparable to the adjusted VE for the TIVadj vaccine (48.3%). Adjusted VE for the TIVadj vaccine was 67.5% for A(H1N1)pdm09 and 44.5% for B viruses. Conclusion: We show a moderate adjusted VE of the TIVadj against all viruses, a good adjusted VE against A(H1N1)pdm09 strains and a moderate adjusted VE against B strains, despite a mismatch between the B circulating lineage and the lineage included in the vaccine. This is likely due to the cross-protection among B strains induced by the TIVadj in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza B was derived separately for Victoria and Yamagata lineages across 8 seasons (2010–2011 to 2017–2018) in Canada when trivalent influenza vaccine was predominantly used. VE was ≥50% regardless of lineage match to circulating viruses, except when the vaccine strain was unchanged from the prior season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) and identification of relevant influencing factors are the current priorities for optimizing vaccines to reduce the impacts of influenza. To date, how the difference between epidemic strains and vaccine strains at genetic scale affects age-specific vaccine performance remains ambiguous. This study investigated the association between genetic mismatch on hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes and A(H1N1)pdm09 VE in different age groups with a novel computational approach. We found significant linear relationships between VE and genetic mismatch in children, young adults, and middle-aged adults. In the children’s group, each 3-key amino acid mutation was associated with an average of 10% decrease in vaccine effectiveness in a given epidemic season, and genetic mismatch exerted no influence on VE for the elderly group. We demonstrated that present vaccines were most effective for children, while protection for the elderly was reduced and indifferent to vaccine component updates. Modeling such relationships is practical to inform timely evaluation of VE in different groups of populations during mass vaccination and may inform age-specific vaccination regimens.

Every season, circulating influenza viruses change; therefore, vaccines must be reformulated each year. We aimed to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against severe influenza infection for the 2018/19 season in Italy. We conducted a test-negative design case-control study at five Italian hospitals. We estimated influenza VE against severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) requiring hospitalisation overall, and by virus subtype, vaccine brand, and age. The 2018/19 season was characterised by A(H1N1)pmd09 and A(H3N2) influenza viruses. Vaccine coverage among

Abstract The 2016/17 influenza season in Japan was characterized by a predominance of influenza A (H3N2) activity; with H3N2 accounting for 85% of all detected influenza virus infections. We assessed the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of an inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4) in adult patients, using a test-negative case-control design study based on the results of a rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT). Between November 2016 and March 2017, a total of 1048 adult patients were enrolled: including 363 RIDT positive for influenza A, 9 RIDT-positive for influenza B, and 676 RIDT-negative. During the 2016/17 season, the overall adjusted VE was 28.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.3–46%). The adjusted VE against influenza A was 27.4% (95%CI: 4.4–45%). The VE against influenza B could not be estimated because of the very low number of influenza B patients. Twenty-nine patients were hospitalized due to influenza-associated illness-during the present study, all of whom were infected with influenza A virus. The adjusted VE, determined using a case-control study, for preventing hospitalization for influenza A infection was 72.6% (95% CI: 30.7–89.1%). In addition, the VE for preventing hospitalization of influenza patients with comorbidities was 78.2% (95% CI: 41.1–92%). Our study showed that, during the 2016/17season, IIV4 was effective for preventing both the onset of influenza and influenza-associated hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both traditional case-control studies (TCCSs) and test-negative case-control studies (TNCCSs) are commonly used to assess influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE). To compensate for the fact that observational studies are susceptible to bias, we combined both methods to assess VE in one geographical area during the 2015/2016 season, when influenza A (H1N1)pdm was dominant. Our TNCCS covered 331 children aged 6 months to 15 years who visited our hospital with fever, including 182 with influenza, and our TCCS covered 812 pediatric outpatients aged 6 months to 15 years, including 214 with influenza. Influenza infection and vaccination history were reviewed, and VE was calculated as (1 - odds ratio) × 100. In the TNCCS, VE against influenza A was 68% (95% CI 47-81) overall, and 70% (48-83) for those given two doses; against influenza B, VE was 37% (- 12-64) overall and 49% (2-74) for two doses. In the TCCS, VE against influenza A was 44% (15-63) overall and 44% (13-64) for two doses, and VE against influenza B was 24% (- 19-52) overall and 41% (3-64) for two doses.Conclusion: Both studies confirmed significant VE against influenza A, significant two-dose VE against influenza B, and better two-dose VE than one-dose VE. What is Known: • Influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) varies from year to year. • Observational studies are conventionally used for VE assessment. However, they are inherently susceptible to bias and confounding. What is New: • This is the first report of influenza VE assessment using more than one observational study and performed in a specific area during the same season. • VE estimates obtained in our traditional case-control study were lower than those in our test-negative case-control study, but both studies found significant VE against influenza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the pooled vaccine effectiveness (VE) in children over five winters through data linkage of two existing surveillance systems. Methods: Five test-negative case–control studies were conducted from November to February during the 2004/2005 to 2008/2009 seasons. Sentinel physicians from the Viral Surveillance Network enrolled children aged 6–59 months with influenza-like illness to collect throat swabs. Through linking with a nationwide vaccination registry, we measured the VE with a logistic regression model adjusting for age, gender, and week of symptom onset. Both fixed-effects and random-effects models were used in the meta-analysis. Results: Four thousand four hundred and ninety-four subjects were included. The proportion of influenza test-positive subjects across the five seasons was 11.5% (132/1151), 7.2% (41/572), 23.9% (189/791), 6.6% (75/1135), and 11.2% (95/845), respectively. The pooled VE was 62% (95% confidence interval (CI) 48–83%) in both meta-analysis models. By age category, VE was 51% (95% CI 23–68%) for those aged 6–23 months and 75% (95% CI 60–84%) for those aged 24–59 months. Conclusions: Influenza vaccination provided measurable protection against laboratory-confirmed influenza among children aged 6–59 months despite variations in the vaccine match during the 2004/2005 to 2008/2009 influenza seasons in Taiwan.

Older adults are at high risk for serious complications of influenza illness and loss of vaccine-mediated protection. It is increasingly recognized that in addition to age, multiple chronic conditions and associated frailty contribute to the decline in vaccine effectiveness in this population. However, observational studies have been fraught with issues of confounding related to the degree of frailty and functional decline, measures of which are not included in standard administrative health care databases that are used to calculate vaccine effectiveness. This issue has led to the identification of confounding by indication or from “healthy vaccinee” bias, which respectively lead to underestimates or overestimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the criteria used to define influenza-like illness declines with increasing age due to atypical presentations of illness and the inability to distinguish between influenza and other respiratory viruses. The test-negative case:control design has emerged as a method to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness by comparing vaccination rates in those with laboratory-confirmed influenza to those with other acute viral respiratory illnesses. This review provides a perspective on how test-negative case:control study designs and new insights into mechanisms of protection have considerably strengthened influenza vaccination policy decisions for older adults that have historically been undermined by the conclusions of observational studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) of an inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine in adult patients, in our test-negative case-control design study based on the results of a rapid influenza diagnostic test. During the 2015/16 season in Japan, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus and influenza B virus were epidemic. The overall adjusted VE was 44% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.6%-63.7%). The adjusted VE was 52.9% (95%CI: 20%-72.3%) against any influenza virus among those < 65 years of age and −5% (95%CI: 136%-53.5%) among the elderly ≧ 65 years of age. The adjusted VE against influenza A was 49.1% (95%CI: 13.9%-69.9%). Although the VE was 55.5% (95%CI: 14.8%-76.8%) among those <65 years of age, it was only 15.3% (95%CI: 120%-67.4%) among the elderly ≧ 65 years of age. The adjusted VE against influenza B was 33.8% (95%CI: 25%-64.8%) among adult patients (≧16 years of age) and 46.8% (95%CI: 13%-75%) among those < 65 years of age, the VE against influenza B could not be estimated in those ≧65 years of age because of the low number of elderly patients with that virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pierre-Olivier Lang1,2, Aline Mendes1, Jennifer Socquet1, Noémie Assir1, Sheila Govind2, Richard Aspinall21Department of Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, University Hospitals and Medical School of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; 2Translational Medicine Research Group, Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Cranfield, EnglandAbstract: Foremost amongst the diseases preventable by vaccination is influenza. Worldwide, influenza virus infection is associated with serious adverse events leading to hospitalization, debilitating complications, and death in elderly individuals. Immunization is considered to be the cornerstone for preventing these adverse health outcomes, and vaccination programs are timed to optimize protection during the annual influenza season. Trivalent inactivated influenza virus vaccines are believed to be both effective and cost-saving; however, in spite of widespread influenza vaccination programs, rates of hospitalization for acute respiratory illness and cardiovascular diseases have been increasing in this population during recent annual influenza seasons. From meta-analyses summarizing estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness from available observational clinical studies, this review aims to examine how effective current influenza vaccine strategies are in the aging and older adult population and to analyze which are the most important biases that interfere with measurements of influenza vaccine effectiveness. Furthermore, consideration is given to strategies that should be adopted in order to optimize influenza vaccine effectiveness in the face of immune exhaustion.Keywords: influenza vaccine effectiveness, influenza virus infection, immunosenescence, hemagglutinin activity inhibition, innate immunity, hemagglutinin inhibition, older adults

Background In the elderly, traditional influenza inactivated vaccines are often only modestly immunogenic, owing to immunosenescence. Given that adjuvantation is a means of enhancing the immune response, the trivalent inactivated vaccine adjuvanted with MF59 (MF59-TIV) was specifically designed to overcome this problem. Considering that, for ethical reasons, the absolute effectiveness of an influenza vaccine in the elderly cannot be demonstrated in placebo-controlled studies, the present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of MF59-TIV in preventing influenza-related outcomes in the elderly. Methods We conducted a systematic review of observational studies aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of MF59-TIV against influenza-related outcomes. Results of single studies were pooled whenever possible. Results Of the 1993 papers screened, 11 (6 case-control, 3 cohort and 2 prospective case-control) studies were identified. Hospitalization due to pneumonia/influenza and laboratory-confirmed influenza were reported in more than one study, while other outcomes (influenza-like illness, cardio- and cerebrovascular accidents) were investigated only by one study each. Pooled analysis of four case-control studies showed an adjusted MF59-TIV effectiveness of 51% (95% CI: 39–61%) against hospitalizations for pneumonia/influenza among community-dwelling seniors. Pooled results of the adjusted vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza were also high (60.1%), although the 95% CI passed through zero (−1.3 to 84.3%). Other single community-based studies showed very high effectiveness of MF59-TIV in preventing hospitalizations for acute coronary [87% (95% CI: 35–97%)] and cerebrovascular [93% (95% CI: 52–99%)] events. MF59-TIV proved highly effective [94% (95% CI: 47–100%] in reducing influenza-like illness among institutionalized elderly. Furthermore, MF59-TIV displayed greater efficacy than non-adjuvanted vaccines in preventing hospitalizations due to pneumonia/influenza [adjusted risk ratio 0.75 (95% CI: 0.57–0.98)] and laboratory-confirmed influenza [adjusted odds ratio 0.37 (0.14–0.96)]. Conclusions Our results suggest that MF59-TIV is effective in reducing several influenza-related outcomes among the elderly, especially hospitalizations due to influenza-related complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The test-negative design (TND) to evaluate influenza vaccine effectiveness is based on patients seeking care for acute respiratory infection, with those who test positive for influenza as cases and the test-negatives serving as controls. This design has not been validated for the inpatient setting where selection bias might be different from an outpatient setting.Methods: We derived mathematical expressions for vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations and used numerical simulations to verify theoretical results exploring expected biases under various scenarios. We explored meaningful interpretations of VE estimates from inpatient TND studies.Results: VE estimates from inpatient TND studies capture the vaccine-mediated protection of the source population against laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations. If vaccination does not modify disease severity, these estimates are equivalent to VE against influenza virus infection. If chronic cardiopulmonary individuals are enrolled because of non-infectious exacerbation, biased VE estimates (too high) will result. If chronic cardiopulmonary disease status is adjusted for accurately, the VE estimates will be unbiased. If chronic cardiopulmonary illness cannot be adequately be characterized, excluding these individuals may provide unbiased VE estimates.Conclusions: The inpatient TND offers logistic advantages and can provide valid estimates of influenza VE. If highly vaccinated patients with respiratory exacerbation of chronic cardiopulmonary conditions are eligible for study inclusion, biased VE estimates will result unless this group is well characterized and the analysis can adequately adjust for it. Otherwise, such groups of subjects should be excluded from the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Older adults are at increased risk of influenza-associated complications, including hospitalization, but influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) data are limited for this population. We conducted a case-control study to estimate VE to prevent laboratory- confirmed influenza hospitalizations among adults aged ≥50 years in 11 US Emerging Infections Program hospitalization surveillance sites. Methods. Cases were influenza infections (confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) in adults aged ≥50 years hospitalized during the 2010-2011 influenza season, identified through Emerging Infections Program surveillance. Community controls, identified through home telephone lists, were matched by age group (±5 years), county, and month of hospitalization for case patients. Vaccination status was determined by self-report (with location and date) or medical records. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted VE (aVE) estimates (100 × [1 - adjusted odds ratio]), adjusting for sex, race, socioeconomic factors, smoking, chronic medical conditions, recent hospitalization for a respiratory condition, and functional status. Results. Among case patients, 205 of 368 (55%) were vaccinated, compared with 489 of 773 controls (63%). Case patients were more likely to be of nonwhite race and more likely to have ≥2 chronic health conditions, a recent hospitalization for a respiratory condition, an income <$35 000, and a lower functional status score (P < .01 for all). The aVE was 56.8% (95% confidence interval, 34.1%-71.7%) and was similar across age groups, including adults ≥75 years (aVE, 57.3%; 15.9%-78.4%). Conclusions. During 2010-2011, influenza vaccination was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of laboratoryconfirmed influenza hospitalization among adults aged ≥50 years, regardless of age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The 2014-2015 influenza season was severe, with circulating influenza A (H3N2) viruses that were antigenically drifted from the vaccine virus. Reported vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates from ambulatory care settings were markedly decreased. Methods. Adults, hospitalized at 2 hospitals in southeast Michigan for acute respiratory illnesses, defined by admission diagnoses, of ≤10 days duration were prospectively enrolled. Throat and nasal swab specimens were collected, combined, and tested for influenza by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. VE was estimated by comparing the vaccination status of those testing positive for influenza with those testing negative in logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, hospital, calendar time, time from illness onset to specimen collection, frailty score, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Results. Among 624 patients included in the analysis, 421 (68%) were vaccinated, 337 (54%) were female, 220 (35%) were age ≥65 years, and 92% had CCI > 0, indicating ≥1 comorbid conditions. Ninety-eight (16%) patients tested positive for influenza A (H3N2); among 60 (61%) A (H3N2) viruses tested by pyrosequencing, 53 (88%) belonged to the drifted 3C.2a genetic group. Adjusted VE was 43% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4–67) against influenza A (H3N2); 40% (95% CI, -13 to 68) for those <65 years, and 48% (95% CI, -33 to 80) for those ≥65 years. Sensitivity analyses largely supported these estimates. Conclusions. VE estimates appeared higher than reports from similar studies in ambulatory care settings, suggesting that the 2014-2015 vaccine may have been more effective in preventing severe illness requiring hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The predominant strain during the 2013-2014 influenza season was 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus (A[H1N1]pdm09). This vaccine-component has remained unchanged from 2009.Methods: The US Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network enrolled subjects aged ≥6 months with medically attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI), including cough, with illness onset ≤7 days before enrollment. Influenza was confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We determined the effectiveness of trivalent or quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) among subjects ages ≥6 months and the effectiveness of quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) among children aged 2-17 years, using a test-negative design. The effect of prior receipt of any A(H1N1)pdm09-containing vaccine since 2009 on the effectiveness of current-season vaccine was assessed.Results: We enrolled 5999 subjects; 5637 (94%) were analyzed; 18% had RT-PCR-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09-related MAARI. Overall, the effectiveness of vaccine against A(H1N1)pdm09-related MAARI was 54% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46%-61%). Among fully vaccinated children aged 2-17 years, the effectiveness of LAIV4 was 17% (95% CI, -39% to 51%) and the effectiveness of IIV was 60% (95% CI, 36%-74%). Subjects aged ≥9 years showed significant residual protection of any prior A(H1N1)pdm09-containing vaccine dose(s) received since 2009, as did children <9 years old considered fully vaccinated by prior season.Conclusions: During 2013-2014, IIV was significantly effective against A(H1N1)pdm09. Lack of LAIV4 effectiveness in children highlights the importance of continued annual monitoring of effectiveness of influenza vaccines in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In the first five I-MOVE (Influenza Monitoring Vaccine Effectiveness in Europe) influenza seasons vaccine effectiveness (VE) results were relatively homogenous among participating study sites. In 2013–2014, we undertook a multicentre case-control study based on sentinel practitioner surveillance networks in six European Union (EU) countries to measure 2013–2014 influenza VE against medically-attended influenza-like illness (ILI) laboratory-confirmed as influenza. Influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses co-circulated during the season. Methods Practitioners systematically selected ILI patients to swab within eight days of symptom onset. We compared cases (ILI positive to influenza A(H3N2) or A(H1N1)pdm09) to influenza negative patients. We calculated VE for the two influenza A subtypes and adjusted for potential confounders. We calculated heterogeneity between sites using the I 2 index and Cochrane's Q test. If the I 2 was <50%, we estimated pooled VE as (1 minus the OR) × 100 using a one-stage model with study site as a fixed effect. If the I 2 was >49% we used a two-stage random effects model. Results We included in the A(H1N1)pdm09 analysis 531 cases and 1712 controls and in the A(H3N2) analysis 623 cases and 1920 controls. For A(H1N1)pdm09, the Q test ( p = 0.695) and the I 2 index (0%) suggested no heterogeneity of adjusted VE between study sites. Using a one-stage model, the overall pooled adjusted VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm2009 was 47.5% (95% CI: 16.4–67.0). For A(H3N2), the I 2 was 51.5% ( p = 0.067). Using a two-stage model for the pooled analysis, the adjusted VE against A(H3N2) was 29.7 (95% CI: −34.4–63.2). Conclusions The results suggest a moderate 2013–2014 influenza VE against A(H1N1)pdm09 and a low VE against A(H3N2). The A(H3N2) estimates were heterogeneous among study sites. Larger sample sizes by study site are needed to prevent statistical heterogeneity, decrease variability and allow for two-stage pooled VE for all subgroup analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. There are few estimates of effectiveness influenza vaccine in preventing serious outcomes due to influenza in older adults. Methods. Adults aged ≥50 years who sought medical care for acute respiratory illness were enrolled. A nose/ throat swab was tested for influenza virus by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Clinical and demographic data were collected, including verification of receipt of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccination (IIV-3). Adjusted odds ratios were estimated by multivariable logistic regression models with an L1 penalty on all covariates except vaccination status. Results. A total of 1047 subjects were enrolled from November through April during 5 influenza seasons during 2006-2012, excluding the 2009-2010 season. Of those enrolled, 927 (88%) had complete influenza virus testing, vaccination status, and demographic data obtained. Of 86 (9.3%) influenza virus-positive patients, 47 (55%) were vaccinated. Of 841 influenza virus-negative patients, 646 (76.8%) were vaccinated. Over 5 influenza seasons, IIV-3 was 58.4% effective (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.0%-75.6%) for the prevention of medically attended laboratory-confirmed influenza illness in adults aged ≥50 years and 58.4% effective (95% CI, 7.9%-81.1%) in adults aged ≥65 years. Conclusions. Influenza vaccine was moderately effective in preventing influenza-associated medical care visits in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the significance of laboratory-confirmed illness for an effective estimation of influenza vaccine in older adults in many countries worldwide. An overview on the observational studies on the result of influenza in the U.S., is provided. Challenges in Cochrane methods for influenza vaccine analysis, is also cited.

Purposes To assess the accuracy of estimates using statistical databases of influenza-associated morbidity and mortality, and precisely measure influenza vaccine effectiveness. Principal results Laboratory testing of influenza is incomplete. Death certificates under-report influenza. Statistical database models are used as an alternative to randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to assess influenza vaccine effectiveness. Evidence of the accuracy of influenza morbidity and mortality estimates was sought from: (1) Studies comparing statistical models. For four studies Poisson and ARIMA models produced higher estimates than Serfling, and Serfling higher than GLM. Which model is more accurate is unknown. (2) Studies controlling confounders. Fourteen studies mostly controlled one confounder (one controlled comorbidities), and limited control of confounders limits accuracy. Evidence for vaccine effectiveness was sought from (1) Studies of regions with increasing vaccination rates. Of five studies two controlled for confounders and one found a positive vaccination effect. Three studies did not control confounders and two found no effect of vaccination. (2) Studies controlling multiple confounders. Of thirteen studies only two found a positive vaccine effect and no mortality differences between vaccinees and non-vaccinees in non-influenza seasons, showing confounders were controlled. Key problems are insufficient testing for influenza, using influenza-like illness, heterogeneity of seasonal and pandemic influenza, population aging, and incomplete confounder control (co-morbidities, frailty, vaccination history) and failure to demonstrate control of confounders by proving no mortality differences between vaccinees and non-vaccinees in non-influenza seasons. Major conclusions Improving model accuracy requires proof of no mortality differences in pre-influenza periods between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups, and reduction in influenza morbidity and mortality in seasons with a good vaccine match, more virulent strains, in the younger elderly with less immune senescence, and specific outcomes (laboratory-confirmed outcomes, pneumonia deaths). Proving influenza vaccine effectiveness requires appropriately powered RCTs, testing participants with RT-PCR tests, and comprehensively monitoring morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hypothetical influenza infection-induced non-specific immunity may reduce the risk of subsequent non-influenza respiratory virus (NIRV) infection and bias the influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates in test-negative designs (TNDs). We conducted a simulation study using a simple TND model and explored the degree of bias in the VE estimates. The bias was marginal during the usual seasons and most of the time during pandemics; the bias only became large when the influenza infection attack rate increased to pandemic levels (>50%), the true VE was low to moderate, and the non-specific immunity almost completely protected from NIRV infections and lasted at least half the influenza season. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalisations for influenza like illness (ILI) in children. Methods We conducted a test negative case-control study during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 influenza seasons. Eleven paediatric hospital/wards in seven Italian regions participated in the study. Consecutive children visiting the ED with an ILI, as diagnosed by the doctor according to the European Centre for Disease Control case definition, were eligible for the study. Data were collected from trained pharmacists/physicians by interviewing parents during the ED visit (or hospital admission) of their children. An influenza microbiological test (RT-PCR) was carried out in all children. Results Seven-hundred and four children, from 6 months to 16 years of age, were enrolled 262 children tested positive for one of the influenza viruses (cases) and 442 tested negative (controls). Cases were older than controls (median age 46 vs. 29 months), though with a similar prevalence of chronic conditions. Only 25 children (4%) were vaccinated in the study period. The overall age-adjusted vaccine effectiveness (VE) was 38% (95% confidence interval -52% to 75%). A higher VE was estimated for hospitalised children (53%; 95% confidence interval -45% to 85%). Discussion This study supports the effectiveness of the seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing visits to the EDs and hospitalisations for ILI in children, although the estimates were not statistically significant and with wide confidence intervals. Future systematic reviews of available data will provide more robust evidence for recommending influenza vaccination in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine effectiveness may wane with increasing time since vaccination. This analysis used the Victorian sentinel general practitioner (GP) network to estimate vaccine effectiveness for trivalent inactivated vaccines in the 2012 season. A test-negative design was used where patients presenting to GPs with influenza-like illness who tested positive for influenza were cases and noncases were those who tested negative. Vaccination status was recorded by GPs. Vaccine effectiveness was calculated as (1-odds ratio) × 100%. Estimates were compared early versus late in the season and by time since vaccination. Virus isolates were assessed antigenically by hemagglutination inhibition assay in a selection of positive samples and viruses from healthy adults who experienced a vaccine breakthrough were analyzed genetically. The adjusted vaccine effectiveness estimate for any type of influenza was 45% (95% CI: 8,66) and for influenza A(H3) was 35% (95% CI: −11,62). A non-significant effect of waning effectiveness by time since vaccination was observed for A(H3). For those vaccinated <93 days of presentation vaccine effectiveness was 37% (95% CI: −29,69), while for those vaccinated ≥93 days before presentation it was 18% (95% CI: −83,63). Comparison of early versus late in the season estimates was very sensitive to the cut off week chosen for analysis. Antigenic data suggested that low vaccine effectiveness was not associated with poor vaccine match among the A(H3) viruses. However, genetic analysis suggested nucleotide substitutions in antigenic sites. In 2012, the trivalent influenza vaccine provided moderate protection against influenza and showed limited evidence for waning effectiveness. Antigenic and genetic data can provide additional insight into understanding these estimates. J. Med. Virol. 86:1017-1025, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: On February 17–18, 2011, the World Health Organization convened the 7th meeting on “The Evaluation of Pandemic Influenza Vaccines in Clinical Trials” to review the progress made on pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 vaccines and the evaluation of their effectiveness in the field, especially in children less than 3 years of age and in pregnant women. Other topics to be addressed included a comparison of egg- and cell culture-based influenza vaccines, technical issues related to vaccine strain development and vaccine potency, and the status of development of prototype influenza vaccines using new technologies. Pandemic A (H1N1) vaccines were safe in young children, pregnant women and immunocompromized individuals. Overall effectiveness of inactivated A (H1N1) vaccines for all ages was found to vary between 72% and 100% in different countries and with different vaccine preparations. Effectiveness of pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 live attenuated vaccine was estimated to be approximately 80% in pediatric populations in the USA. A single dose of inactivated vaccine adjuvanted with AS03, MF59 or AF03 induced protective immunity in young children and pregnant women. However, unadjuvanted vaccines as well as low dose adjuvanted vaccines (1.9μg HA) required two doses to elicit protective antibody levels in these populations. Clinical trials of influenza vaccines developed using new technologies showed they were well tolerated and induced antibody and/or T cell immune responses to viral proteins. Further studies are warranted to validate novel immunological criteria for evaluation and licensing of such new influenza vaccine concepts. On the regulatory side, work should be undertaken to harmonize the results of serological tests used to evaluate the immunogenicity of traditional influenza vaccines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Vaccination policies in most high-income countries attempt to reduce the adverse impact of influenza targeting people aged at least 60 years. However, while it is widely believed that the current immunization strategy saves many lives, influenza infection still remains a severe burden in aged individuals leading to a wide debate on the exact magnitude of the benefit of vaccination in this population. The first aim of the present review is to examine how effective current influenza-vaccine strategies are in aged adults, by analysing which are the most important factors modulating the interpretation of study results in this population. Furthermore, consideration will be given to how immune factors influence the measurement of vaccine efficacy/effectiveness, where advancing age leads to deleterious changes in the adaptive immune system, resulting in less than optimal responses to infectious agents and vaccination. Finally this review concludes with possible strategies to improve the ability of the senescent immune system to respond to vaccination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Annual evaluation of influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) is needed to assess ongoing impact of immunization efforts in the setting of antigenic drift and periodic vaccine reformulation. Optimal methodology for determining VE remains unclear. We compared influenza VE generated from prospective enrollment and rRT-PCR testing (active surveillance group) with VE based on clinician-ordered diagnostic tests (clinical testing group) in a defined population over four seasons. VE was calculated as (1 – adjusted OR) for vaccination in cases vs. test-negative controls. VE based on clinical testing underestimated VE based on active surveillance and testing with rRT-PCR by 5–33% depending on season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2014/15 influenza season started earlier than usual, and intense activity was reflection of circulation of antigenically-drifted and vaccine-mismatched dominant A(H3N2) viruses. Although inpatients and health-care workers (HCWs) had a high influenza vaccination coverage rate well prior to the beginning of influenza season, numerous outbreaks of influenza A(H3N2) infection with fatal cases were reported in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Japan during 2014/15 influenza season. In January 2015, we were given opportunity to conduct outbreak investigation of influenza A at facility A (LTCF attached with hospital) in Western part of Japan. We evaluated overall and occupation-stratified influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) among HCWs at facility A using a retrospective cohort design. Overall VE, occupation-stratified VE and adjusted VE (AVE) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the following formula: (1-relative risks (RR) or 1-adjusted RR) × 100%. Overall vaccine coverage rate among HCWs was 85%. Overall VE for HCWs was 28% (95% CI: −70 to 67) and overall AVE was 3% (95% CI: −34 to 30). Although there was no severe cases, our results indicated that even with high vaccination coverage rate with appropriate vaccination timing, the VE was low for HCWs, which echoes with previously reported VE from other northern hemisphere countries. However, rehabilitation group who had high awareness against influenza as a group and carried out intensive precautions from early influenza season had no cases. We conclude that multiple preventive measures in addition to high vaccination rate is necessary for preventing influenza of HCWs working at LCTFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study, done during the 2002–2003 season among children <6 years of age to investigate influenza vaccine effectiveness and confounding factors, involved 2913 children (1512 vaccinees, 1401 non-vaccinees) recruited from 54 paediatric clinics. Between December 2002 and April 2003, parents reported their children''s maximum body temperatures weekly. Influenza-like illness (ILI) was defined as an acute febrile illness (≥38.0°C) during the peak epidemic period. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for ILI were obtained using a logistic regression model. In analysis for total subjects, the ORs were significantly decreased for vaccinees (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.66–0.88) and significantly increased for younger age groups, including children aged 2.0–3.9 years (1.42, 1.18–1.72) and those <2.0 years (2.02,1.61–2.54), compared to those between 4.0 and 5.9 years. ORs were significantly increased for children who visited a physician within the last 6 months for a cold (1.27, 1.08–1.50), attended preschool (1.72, 1.45–2.04), and had ≥3 siblings (1.42, 1.15–1.74). These confounding factors are suggested to be considered in estimating vaccine effectiveness among young children. In subgroup analysis by age groups, significantly decreased ORs were seen in 2.0–3.9-year-old (0.59, 0.47–0.74) and 4.0–5.9-year-old (0.75, 0.58–0.98) vaccinees; no significant vaccine effectiveness was detected for those <2.0 years (1.07, 0.80–1.44). Thus, among very young children vaccine effectiveness could not be demonstrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Twice a year, the World Health Organization recommends the composition of the influenza vaccine depending on the strains which circulate several months before the beginning of the epidemic. Therefore, it is important to assess the field vaccine effectiveness (FVE) yearly. Thanks to data on vaccine coverage and data on influenza like illness cases collected by the French Sentinel Network, we are able to estimate the FVE few weeks after the beginning of the yearly influenza epidemic. In this paper, we have analysed the estimates obtained for the last 10 epidemic seasons for people over and under 65. Making the assumption that the vaccine coverage is stable from 1 year to another, we are able to assess the level of the FVE few weeks after the beginning of the epidemic and we should detect a lack of effectiveness of the vaccine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]