Abstract
Objective
To estimate the effect of inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) immunization in children with pre-existing medical conditions in the prevention of all cause respiratory illness (RI) during the influenza season.
Design
Observational study.
Method
We used patient data from electronic GP files for the years 2004-2015 of children aged 6 months to 18 years who according to the Dutch guideline are eligible for vaccination with IIV because chronic disease, including asthma, heart, lung and kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus. For each year we collected information per patient on influenza vaccination status, RIs including influenza, acute respiratory infections and asthma exacerbations and potential confounders. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the association between IIV status and occurrence of at ≥ 1 RI during the influenza epidemic period with “current year immunized” as reference group.
Results
A total of 11,979 children (duration of follow-up: 38,701 person years) were eligible for IIV for ≥ 1 season, of whom 29% received IIV ≥ 1 time(s). Children who were vaccinated with IIV visited the GP during the influenza season just as often for RI’s as children who did not receive IIV (adjusted OR: 1.01; 95% confidence interval: 0.90 to 1.13).
Conclusion
IIV vaccination in children with preexisting medical conditions does not reduce the risk of RI during the influenza season.
Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.
To estimate the effect of inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) immunization in children with pre-existing medical conditions in the prevention of all cause respiratory illness (RI) during the influenza season.
Design
Observational study.
Method
We used patient data from electronic GP files for the years 2004-2015 of children aged 6 months to 18 years who according to the Dutch guideline are eligible for vaccination with IIV because chronic disease, including asthma, heart, lung and kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus. For each year we collected information per patient on influenza vaccination status, RIs including influenza, acute respiratory infections and asthma exacerbations and potential confounders. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the association between IIV status and occurrence of at ≥ 1 RI during the influenza epidemic period with “current year immunized” as reference group.
Results
A total of 11,979 children (duration of follow-up: 38,701 person years) were eligible for IIV for ≥ 1 season, of whom 29% received IIV ≥ 1 time(s). Children who were vaccinated with IIV visited the GP during the influenza season just as often for RI’s as children who did not receive IIV (adjusted OR: 1.01; 95% confidence interval: 0.90 to 1.13).
Conclusion
IIV vaccination in children with preexisting medical conditions does not reduce the risk of RI during the influenza season.
Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.
| Translated title of the contribution | Inactivated influenza vaccine does not reduce all cause respiratory illness in children with pre-existing medical conditions |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Article number | D4942 |
| Journal | Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |
| Volume | 164 |
| Issue number | 40 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2020 |