HighlightsInfluenza A(H3N2) circulated in Europe in 2016–17 and 2017–18 and A(H1N1)pdm09 in 2017–18.Changed A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine component VE was 58% against A(H1N1)pdm09 in 2017–18.A(H3N2) VE was 13% and 28% among all ages in 2016–17 and 2017–18, respectively.
We conducted a multicentre test-negative case–control study in 27 hospitals of 11 European countries to measure 2015/16 influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) against hospitalised influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B among people aged ≥ 65 years. Patients swabbed within 7 days after onset of symptoms compatible with severe acute respiratory infection were included. Information on demographics, vaccination and underlying conditions was collected. Using logistic regression, we measured IVE adjusted for potential confounders. We included 355 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases, 110 influenza B cases, and 1,274 controls. Adjusted IVE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was 42% (95% confidence interval (CI): 22 to 57). It was 59% (95% CI: 23 to 78), 48% (95% CI: 5 to 71), 43% (95% CI: 8 to 65) and 39% (95% CI: 7 to 60) in patients with diabetes mellitus, cancer, lung and heart disease, respectively. Adjusted IVE against influenza B was 52% (95% CI: 24 to 70). It was 62% (95% CI: 5 to 85), 60% (95% CI: 18 to 80) and 36% (95% CI: -23 to 67) in patients with diabetes mellitus, lung and heart disease, respectively. 2015/16 IVE estimates against hospitalised influenza in elderly people was moderate against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B, including among those with diabetes mellitus, cancer, lung or heart diseases.
BackgroundDuring the 2015/16 influenza season in Europe, the cocirculating influenza viruses were A(H1N1)pdm09 and B/Victoria, which was antigenically distinct from the B/Yamagata component in the trivalent influenza vaccine.MethodsWe used the test‐negative design in a multicentre case‐control study in twelve European countries to measure 2015/16 influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically attended influenza‐like illness (ILI) laboratory‐confirmed as influenza. General practitioners swabbed a systematic sample of consulting ILI patients and a random sample of influenza‐positive swabs was sequenced. We calculated adjusted VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H1N1)pdm09 genetic group 6B.1 and influenza B overall and by age group.ResultsWe included 11 430 ILI patients, of which 2272 were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 2901 were influenza B cases. Overall VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was 32.9% (95% CI: 15.5‐46.7). Among those aged 0‐14, 15‐64 and ≥65 years, VE against A(H1N1)pdm09 was 31.9% (95% CI: −32.3 to 65.0), 41.4% (95% CI: 20.5‐56.7) and 13.2% (95% CI: −38.0 to 45.3), respectively. Overall VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 genetic group 6B.1 was 32.8% (95% CI: −4.1 to 56.7). Among those aged 0‐14, 15‐64 and ≥65 years, VE against influenza B was −47.6% (95% CI: −124.9 to 3.1), 27.3% (95% CI: −4.6 to 49.4) and 9.3% (95% CI: −44.1 to 42.9), respectively.ConclusionsVaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and its genetic group 6B.1 was moderate in children and adults, and low among individuals ≥65 years. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza B was low and heterogeneous among age groups. More information on effects of previous vaccination and previous infection is needed to understand the VE results against influenza B in the context of a mismatched vaccine.
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