End-of-season influenza vaccine effectiveness in adults and children, United Kingdom, 2016/17

Richard Pebody*, Fiona Warburton, Joanna Ellis, Nicholas Andrews, Alison Potts, Simon Cottrell, Arlene Reynolds, Rory Gunson, Catherine Thompson, Monica Galiano, Chris Robertson, Naomh Gallagher, Mary Sinnathamby, Ivelina Yonova, Ana Correa, Catherine Moore, Muhammad Sartaj, Simon de Lusignan, Jim McMenamin, Maria Zambon

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The United Kingdom is in the fourth season of introducing a universal childhood influenza vaccine programme. The 2016/17 season saw early influenza A(H3N2) virus circulation with care home outbreaks and increased excess mortality particularly in those 65 years or older. Virus characterisation data indicated emergence of genetic clusters within the A(H3N2) 3C.2a group which the 2016/17 vaccine strain belonged to. Methods: The test-negative case–control (TNCC) design was used to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory confirmed influenza in primary care. Results: Adjusted end-of-season vaccine effectiveness (aVE) estimates were 39.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 23.1 to 52.8) against all influenza and 40.6% (95% CI: 19.0 to 56.3) in 18–64-yearolds, but no significant aVE in ≥ 65-year-olds. aVE was 65.8% (95% CI: 30.3 to 83.2) for 2–17-year-olds receiving quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine. Discussion: The findings continue to provide support for the ongoing roll-out of the paediatric vaccine programme, with a need for ongoing evaluation. The importance of effective interventions to protect the ≥ 65-year-olds remains.

Original languageEnglish
Article number17-00306
JournalEurosurveillance
Volume22
Issue number44
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Nov 2017

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Publisher Copyright:
© The authors, 2017.

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