Effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in SkodaAuto Company employees during the influenza season 2000-2001

The SkodaAuto management evaluated the effectiveness of vaccination within the course of the influenza season, 2000 - 2001. All 23,782 company employees working in the plants at Mladá Boleslav, Vrchlabí, and Kvasiny were enrolled into the study, of which 5,079 (21.3%) agreed to be vaccinated against influenza in the autumn, 2000. In comparison with the preceding years, two- to three-fold more employees were vaccinated. During the study period (i.e. between the 4th and 13h week of 2001), 67 (1.3%) individuals from the vaccinated group and 1,297 (6.9%) from the non-vaccinated group fell ill due to influenza or an influenza-like disease (i.e. a five-fold difference). The morbidity peak appeared in the 5th and 6th calendar week with the number of sick reaching nearly 300 during the latter. The morbidity from acute respiratory disease (ARD) in the district of Mladá Boleslav in calendar week 6 was 484 per 10,000 inhabitants which was nearly twice that of the national average. Overall, influenza-related morbidity in the SkodaAuto Company was 4 to 7 times lower than ARD in the Mladá Boleslav district; whereas the respective values in the vaccinated group were up to 10-fold lower. The vaccination effectiveness reached 81.2%.     

The 2001/2002 influenza season and the vaccine composition for the 2002/2003 season

The epidemic in the influenza season 2001/2002 was of moderate activity just like in 2000/2001. The influenza epidemic started in week 2 of 2002 when the clinical influenza activity reported by the general practitioner network of the Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care (NIVEL) increased. This was caused by influenza A viruses of the H3N2 subtype in particular. All influenza A viruses of this subtype were closely related to the vaccine strain for this subtype, A/Moscow/10/99. Influenza B viruses and influenza A/H1 viruses isolated this season had surprising features. The influenza B viruses originated from two lineages. Viruses of the B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage have been circulating for more than twelve years. The vaccine reference strain B/Sichuan/379/99 belongs to this lineage. The B/Victoria/2/87 lineage reappeared again after an absence in Europe of more than ten years and accounted for 50% of the influenza B viruses that were isolated in the Netherlands. Therefore the vaccine will have provided only partial protection against influenza B. The only influenza A/H1 virus that was isolated appeared to be of a new subtype H1N2. The H1 hemagglutinin of this virus was closely related to that of the vaccine strain A/New Caledonia/20/99. The N2 neuraminidase originated from recent human influenza A/H3N2 viruses. Therefore the vaccine probably provided good protection against the new H1N2 subtype. Based in part on these data, the World Health Organization has advised that the vaccines for the season 2002/2003 should contain the following or comparable influenza-virus strains: A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2), A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1) and B/Hong Kong/330/01, the latter being an influenza B virus of the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage.     

Childhood influenza vaccination coverage--United States, 2004-05 influenza season

Children aged <2 years are at increased risk for influenza-related hospitalizations, and children aged 24-59 months are more likely than older children to visit a clinic, hospital, or emergency department with influenza-associated illness. In 2002, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) encouraged annual influenza vaccinations for children aged 6-23 months (and for household contacts of and out-of-home caregivers for children aged <2 years). For the 2004-05 influenza season, ACIP strengthened its encouragement to a full recommendation. For the upcoming 2006-07 influenza season, ACIP has further extended its recommendation to include all children aged 6-59 months (and their household contacts and out-of-home caregivers). Others recommended to receive influenza vaccination include children aged 6-18 years who have certain high-risk medical conditions, are on chronic aspirin therapy, or who are household contacts of persons at high risk for influenza complications. This report provides an assessment of influenza vaccination coverage among children aged 6-23 months during the 2004-05 influenza season. The findings demonstrate that vaccination coverage in that age group approximately doubled from the 2003-04 influenza season, with substantial variability among states and urban areas. However, the percentage of fully vaccinated children remained low, underscoring the need for increased measures to improve pediatric vaccination coverage and ongoing monitoring of coverage among young children and their close contacts.     

Childhood influenza vaccination coverage--United States, 2003-04 influenza season

Children aged <2 years are at increased risk for influenza-related hospitalizations. Beginning in 2002, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) encouraged that, when feasible, children aged 6-23 months and household contacts and out-of-home caregivers for children aged <2 years receive influenza vaccinations each year. Beginning with the 2004-05 influenza season, ACIP strengthened the encouragement to a recommendation. Other children recommended to receive influenza vaccination include children aged 6 months-18 years who have certain high-risk medical conditions, are on chronic aspirin therapy, or who are household contacts of persons at high risk for influenza complications. This report provides an assessment of childhood influenza vaccination coverage for the 2003-04 influenza season, the second year of the ACIP encouragement for influenza vaccination of children aged 6-23 months. The findings demonstrate that vaccination coverage increased from the previous influenza season but remained low, with substantial variability among states and urban areas.     

A prospective,double-blind,randomized, placebo-controlled study on the efficacy and safety of influenza vaccination in myasthenia gravis

Objective

To investigate the efficacy and safety of an influenza vaccination in patients with myasthenia gravis with acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AChR MG).

Update: Influenza activity--United States and worldwide, 2001-02 season,and composition of the 2002-03 influenza vaccine

The 2001-02 influenza season in the United States was mild to moderate. Influenza A (H3N2) viruses predominated, but influenza B viruses were identified more frequently than influenza A viruses toward the end of the season. Worldwide, influenza A (H3N2) and B viruses predominated.This report summarizes influenza activity in the United States (September 30, 2001-May 18, 2002) and worldwide (October-May) during the 2001-02 influenza season and describes the composition of the 2002-03 influenza vaccine.     

Coverage rates of influenza vaccination in France: a population-based cross-sectional analysis of seasons 2001-2002 and 2002-2003

INTRODUCTION: Influenza is a serious health problem in Europe. Vaccination is the only preventive measure, reducing mortality and morbidity of influenza in all age groups. OBJECTIVES: The authors had for aim to assess influenza vaccination coverage during two seasons in France, to understand the incentives and barriers to vaccination and to determine vaccination intentions for the following winter. METHODS: A random-sampling, mail-based household survey was made among non-institutionalised individuals aged 15 and over. The surveys for 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 used the same questionnaire and were subsequently pooled. Three target groups were determined for analysis: (1) persons aged 65 and over; (2) people working in the medical field and (3) persons aged 65 and over or working in the medical field. RESULTS: Influenza vaccination coverage in France decreased from 23.0% in 2001-2002 to 22.4% in 2002-2003. Most frequent reasons for being vaccinated were advice from the family doctor (50.8%), influenza considered as a serious illness (45.3%) and free vaccine (44.1%). Reasons for not being vaccinated mentioned by people who had never been vaccinated were young age (27.0%), not considering vaccination (18.9%), and not expecting to catch influenza (13.9%). CONCLUSION: Vaccination coverage decreased during the 2002-2003 season in comparison to the 2001-2002 season. The family doctor is the most important source of encouragement for people to be vaccinated against influenza. We therefore suggest that family doctors be better informed on influenza vaccine and the disease itself, so that they can actively inform their patients on these topics.     

Surveillance of influenza in Apulia, Italy, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2002-2003 seasons

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate, within the Italian National Influenza Epidemiological and Virological Surveillance, the rate of vaccination coverage, the incidence of Influenza Like-Illness (ILI), the incidence of Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI), and to identify the virus strains circulating in Apulia from 1999 to 2003. METHODS: Vaccination coverage rates were calculated based on the number of doses administered to individuals > 65 years of age. Every week, sentinel physicians reported ILI and ARI cases having occurred among their patients. Voluntary general practitioners (GPs) and paediatricians (Ps) collected oropharyngeal swab samples from patients suspected with ILI. Influenza viruses were isolated and identified by cell culture (MDCK cells) and RT-PCR. Virological surveillance was carried out by the ISS, in collaboration with a network of peripheral laboratories. RESULTS: In Apulia, vaccination coverage progressively increased to 68.6% during the 2002-2003 season. The analysis of ILI cases showed higher incidence rates during the 1999-2000 and 2002-2003 seasons. ARI rates appeared to have a more constant trend. ILI and ARI incidence rates were higher in the 0-14 year age group. CONCLUSION: The increase in vaccination coverage rates and implementation of the network of clinical, and epidemiological and virological surveillance are fundamental for the control and prevention of influenza.     

Childhood influenza-vaccination coverage--United States, 2002-03 influenza season

Children aged <2 years are at increased risk for influenza-related hospitalizations. Beginning in 2002, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) encouraged that, when feasible, all children aged 6-23 months, as well as household contacts and out-of-home caregivers for children aged <2 years, receive influenza vaccinations each influenza season. Beginning with the 2004-05 influenza season, ACIP strengthened the encouragement to a recommendation. Other children recommended to receive influenza vaccine continue to include those aged 6 months--18 years with certain high-risk medical conditions and those aged 6 months-18 years who are household contacts of persons at high risk for influenza complications. This report on childhood influenza-vaccination coverage for the 2002-03 influenza season provides a baseline for the continuing assessment of coverage among children aged 6-23 months. The findings demonstrate that, during the first year of the ACIP encouragement to vaccinate children aged 6-23 months against influenza, vaccination coverage was low, with substantial variability among states and urban areas.     

Inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness in children under 6 years of age during the 2002-2003 season

This study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of influenza vaccine among 2913 children (1512 vaccinees and 1401 nonvaccinees) under 6 years of age during the 2002-2003 season. Study subjects were recruited from 54 paediatric clinics, located in eight areas in Japan. Maximum body temperatures were obtained weekly from parents between 2002 December 16 and 2003 April 13. Influenza-like illness (ILI) was defined as an acute febrile illness (> or =38.0 degrees C) during the peak epidemic period in each study area. The vaccine antigens included were A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1), A/Panama/2007/99(H3N2) and B/Shandong/7/97. Vaccine effectiveness was analyzed by comparing the frequencies of ILI between vaccinees and nonvaccinees. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated by the proportional odds model using logistic regression with three-level outcome variables (<38.0/38.0-38.9/> or =39.0 degrees C). A significantly decreased OR of vaccination was observed (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.66-0.88), corresponding to a vaccine effectiveness (1-OR) of 24% (95% CI: 12%-34%). When the analysis was confined to those aged > or =2 years, a more pronounced OR (0.67, 0.56-0.79) was obtained with a vaccine effectiveness of 33% (21%-44%). On the other hand, no significant vaccine effectiveness was detected among very young children; the ORs were 1.84 (0.81-4.19) for those <1 year of age and 0.99 (0.72-1.36) for those 1.0-1.9 years of age and 1.07 (0.80-1.44) when these two age groups were combined. Thus, among very young children vaccine effectiveness could not be demonstrated.     

State-specific influenza vaccination coverage among adults--United States, 2006-07 influenza season

Adult groups included in the 2008 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for annual influenza vaccination include all persons aged >/=50 years, women who will be pregnant during the influenza season, persons aged 18-49 years with high-risk conditions, and other persons at increased risk for complications from influenza. Health-care personnel and household contacts and caregivers of persons at high risk also should receive annual influenza vaccination, as should adults who want to reduce their risk for becoming ill with influenza or for transmitting it to others. Healthy People 2010 influenza vaccination coverage targets are 90% among all persons aged >/=65 years and 60% among persons aged 18-64 years who have one or more high-risk conditions. Data from the 2006 and 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys indicate that influenza vaccination coverage among adults for the 2006-07 season increased significantly compared with the 2005-06 season, reaching 35.1% among persons aged 18-49 years with high-risk conditions, 42.0% among all persons aged 50-64 years, and 72.1% among all persons aged >/=65 years. However, vaccination coverage remained well below Healthy People 2010 targets. Increasing influenza vaccination coverage among adults in the United States will require more cooperation among health-care providers, professional organizations, vaccine manufacturers, and public health departments to raise public awareness about influenza vaccination and to ensure continued distribution and administration of available vaccine throughout the vaccination season.     

A prospective study of influenza vaccination and time to pregnancy

BackgroundAlthough pregnancy planners are a priority group for influenza vaccination in the United States, little is known about the extent to which influenza vaccination affects fecundability.MethodsWe analyzed data from Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an ongoing preconception cohort study of North American pregnancy planners. During June 2013 to August 2019, 8654 female participants and 2137 of their male partners completed a baseline questionnaire and were followed until reported pregnancy, fertility treatment initiation, loss to follow-up, or 12 menstrual cycles of attempt time, whichever came first. At baseline, male and female participants reported whether they received an influenza vaccination in the past year and the date of vaccination. We used proportional probabilities regression models to estimate fecundability ratios (FR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing those who did and did not report influenza vaccination, adjusting for demographics, anthropometrics, behavioral factors, and medical history.ResultsInfluenza vaccination in the past year was more common among female participants than male participants (47% vs. 37%). FRs were 1.04 (95% CI: 0.98–1.10) for female vaccination and 1.03 (95% CI: 0.93–1.14) for male vaccination. Among the 2137 couples with complete data on both partners, for 40% neither partner was vaccinated, 23% had female-only vaccination, 9% had male-only vaccination, and in 28% both partners were vaccinated. Compared with couples in which neither participant was vaccinated, FRs were 1.13 for female-only vaccination (95% CI: 0.99–1.29), 0.94 for male-only vaccination (95% CI: 0.78–1.12), and 1.07 when both partners were vaccinated (95% CI: 0.94–1.21). When restricted to recent vaccination before peak influenza season, results were similar.ConclusionsOur data indicate no adverse effect of influenza vaccination on fecundability.     

无锡市2001年～2002年度流感监测分析

目的：监测分析我市流行性感冒的流行和流感病毒变异情况．为流感防治对策提供理论依据。方法：①疫情监测,设立哨点医院．在内科、儿科门诊监测流感样病例和肺炎病例;②病原学监测,用鸡胚双腔对监测标本做病毒分离,用微量血凝抑制试验(HI)进行型别鉴定;③血清学监测,采集不同年龄组的自然人群血清．检测甲1型、甲3型和乙型流感病毒抗体水平。以血凝抑制抗体滴度≥1：10判为阳性,滴度≥1：40判为有保护性作标准。结果：监测期间疫情基本平稳,2001年冬曾出现一个流感样病例发病高峰,同时伴随肺炎发病增高。发病构成≤14岁占90．71％．≥60岁较低。2001年10月～2002年3月分离出2株甲1型流感病毒．型别为A1／沪防／7／99;2002年10月～2003年3月分离出流感病毒7株。型别均为B型,其中6株为B／Yamanashi／166／98,1株为B／Victoria。毒株分离出时间与流感样病例发病高峰相一致,标本源于13岁以下患者。人群抗体监测,甲3型流感抗体水平较高,抗体阳性率≥87．05％;甲1型抗体阳性率偏低≤27．38％;乙型抗体阳性率2002年为21．13％。明显低于2001年的74．85％。结论：本地人群对甲1和乙型流感缺乏免疫力,下一流行季节存在甲1和乙型流感流行的可能。     

Place of influenza vaccination among adults --- United States, 2010-11 influenza season

The 2010-11 influenza season was the first season after the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic and the first season that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended influenza vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months (1). During the pandemic, many new partnerships between public health agencies and medical and nonmedical vaccination providers were formed, increasing the number of vaccination providers (2). To provide a baseline for places where adults received influenza vaccination since the new ACIP recommendation and to help vaccination providers plan for the 2011-12 influenza season, CDC analyzed information from 46 states and the District of Columbia (DC) on influenza vaccination of adults aged ≥18 years for the 2010-11 season, collected during January-March 2011 by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which found that, for adults overall, a doctor's office was the most common place (39.8%) for receipt of the 2010-11 influenza vaccine, with stores (e.g., supermarkets or drug stores) (18.4%) and workplaces (17.4%) the next most common. For those aged 18-49 years and 50-64 years, a workplace was the second most common place of vaccination (25.7% and 21.1%, respectively). Persons aged ≥65 years who were not vaccinated at a doctor's office were most likely (24.3%) to have been vaccinated at a store. The results indicate that both medical and nonmedical settings are common places for adults to receive influenza vaccinations, that a doctor's office is the most important medical setting, and that workplaces and stores are important nonmedical settings.     

2017－2018年流感流行季儿童接种流感疫苗效果社区队列研究

目的 评价6~72月龄儿童接种流感疫苗效果。方法 采用社区队列研究设计,2017年10-12月,从浙江省永康和义乌两市10家儿童接种门诊招募了1 752名6~72月龄儿童。每名儿童入队列后,完成知情同意和问卷调查,并随访至2018年4月30日,观察记录流感样病例（ILI）发病、门诊就诊和自行服药及流感疫苗接种情况。以ILI、门诊就诊和自行服药的发生次数为因变量,采用广义线性模型（GLM）拟合,估算流感疫苗效果（VE）值。结果 1 752名儿童中,男童925名（52.80%）,月龄M=30.00月,累计随访观察308 166人天,平均每天有5.27‰发生ILI、3.41‰因ILI去医院门诊就诊、1.45‰因ILI自行服药治疗;共有643名儿童接种了流感疫苗,与未接种儿童相比,流感疫苗对ILI、门诊就诊和自行服药的VE值分别为23.5%（95% CI：15.1%~31.1%）、19.3%（95% CI：8.2%~29.1%）和25.8%（95% CI：9.3%~39.3%）。643名接种儿童,接种后与接种前比,流感疫苗针对36~72月龄儿童ILI、门诊就诊和自行服药的VE值分别为31.9%（95% CI：12.7%~46.9%）、32.6%（95% CI：8.6%~50.3%）和44.3%（95% CI：11.9%~64.8%）,而对6~35月龄儿童,VE值均无统计学意义。2016-2018年流感疫苗不同接种暴露VE值评估,两个流感流行季均有接种史的,仅2017-2018年流感流行季有接种史的,流感疫苗VE值,均有统计学意义;仅2016-2017年流感流行季有接种史的,VE值均无统计学意义。结论 流感流行季接种流感疫苗一定程度可预防ILI发病、门诊就诊和自行服药,且对36~72月龄儿童保护效果优于6~35月龄儿童。     

The effectiveness of influenza vaccination among nursery school children in China during the 2016/17 influenza season

BackgroundThe effectiveness of influenza vaccine among nursery school children has not been systematically studied. We conducted a cohort study of children from 13 nursery schools in Suzhou, China, to estimate the effectiveness of influenza vaccine against laboratory-confirmed influenza during 2016–17.MethodsChildren aged 36–72 months were chosen from 13 nursery schools from 3 District in Suzhou. The surveillance started 2 weeks after vaccination during October 2016–February 2017. Class teachers reported the names of students with ILI (influenza-like illness) to study clinicians on each school day. Further, local physicians collected the student’s nasopharyngeal swab or throat swab, either at a study clinic or at the child’s home. The swabs were sent to the National Influenza Network Laboratory in Suzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention for influenza testing by RT-PCR.ResultA total of 4614 children were enrolled, of which 15 children (vaccinated: 2; unvaccinated: 13) were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 4599 children, 558 swabs were collected. Among these swabs, 70 samples tested positive for influenza virus; 17 in the vaccinated group (B Victoria: 2; H3N2: 15) and 53 in the unvaccinated group (B Victoria: 14; A(H1N1)pdm09: 1; H3N2: 38). The overall influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) during the influenza season of 2016–2017 was 20.6%. The incidence of developing ILI symptoms and healthcare seeking behavior through clinical visits was significantly lower in vaccinated children than in the unvaccinated group.ConclusionInfluenza vaccine protection in vaccinated and unvaccinated children showed no statistical difference and the VE percentage varied for different virus subtypes. However, the incidence rate of developing ILI and healthcare seeking behavior was significant lower in the vaccinated group than in the unvaccinated children. Larger studies are required to estimate the VE according to the influenza type, subtype, and lineage during influenza seasons in China in the future.     

Update: influenza activity--United States and worldwide, 2002-03 season,and composition of the 2003-04 influenza vaccine

In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), its collaborating laboratories, state and local health departments, health-care providers, and vital statistic registries, CDC conducts surveillance to monitor influenza activity and to detect antigenic changes in the circulating strains of influenza viruses. During the 2002-03 influenza season, influenza A (H1), A (H3N2), and B viruses co-circulated in the Northern Hemisphere. Human infections with avian influenza A (H5N1) and A (H7N7) viruses were reported in Hong Kong and the Netherlands, respectively. In the United States, the 2002-03 influenza season was mild; influenza A (H1) and B viruses circulated widely, and the predominant virus varied by region and time of season. This report summarizes influenza activity in the United States and worldwide during the 2002-03 influenza season and describes the composition of the 2003-04 influenza vaccine.     

Monitoring county-level vaccination coverage during the 2004-2005 influenza season

BACKGROUND: During the 2004-2005 influenza season, the United States faced a sudden shortage of influenza vaccine. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended prioritizing vaccination for persons aged 65 and older and others at high risk. To monitor subsequent vaccination coverage, several questions about influenza vaccination were added to the ongoing Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This study provided real-time county-level estimates of influenza vaccination coverage from the BRFSS each month from October 2004 through January 2005. METHOD: The methods used a variation of small area estimation procedures suitable for situations in which most small areas have few or no survey respondents, and rapid assessment is essential. Both model-based methods and nonparametric spatial-smoothing methods were used in a three-step procedure. RESULTS: The highest vaccination rates during the 2004-2005 influenza season were seen in the upper Midwest and the Southeast. Areas with the lowest vaccination rates were the intermountain West, southern California, portions of Washington and Oregon, and various areas across the Eastern United States, often coinciding with urban areas. Intrastate variations were especially pronounced in the Eastern United States, particularly in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and New York. These states all had areas with low immunization rates as well as areas with high rates. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that vaccination coverage varied significantly across states and substate regions. Our findings show that this methodology can provide estimates with reasonable reliability for planning during public health emergencies.     

Skin testing to evaluate oculo-respiratory syndrome (ORS) associated with influenza vaccination during the 2000-2001 season

A syndrome of red eyes and respiratory symptoms was noted following receipt of influenza vaccine in Canada during the 2000-2001 influenza season. We conducted intra-dermal skin testing to determine if oculo-respiratory syndrome (ORS) was related to failure of the splitting process during vaccine manufacturing, if it was associated with a particular viral strain and to identify individuals at risk for subsequent ORS reaction. Skin testing with minute quantities of vaccine antigen induced ORS symptoms at a higher rate amongst persons previously affected by this syndrome compared to previously unaffected persons. Skin test reaction size or quality could not identify persons at risk of ORS. Skin testing could not identify a specific strain or the stage in the manufacturing process during which the trigger may have been introduced.