Monitoring pandemic influenza A(H1N1) vaccination coverage in Germany 2009/10 – Results from thirteen consecutive cross-sectional surveys

Clinical and epidemiological findings in patients with pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 influenza in uppsala county, Sweden

“…However, a prospective population-based cohort study carried out in Stockholm County, Sweden indicated that the monovalent AS03-adjuvanted influenza vaccine was highly protective against pandemic influenza [23]. Other studies, using the same adjuvanted vaccine, have confirmed its efficiency [24,25]. On the other hand, countries with little vaccination efforts did not differ in influenza-caused morbidity or death compared with Sweden.…”

Acceptance on the move: Public reaction to shifting vaccination realities

“…The A/H1N1 influenza virus had spread during the summer of 2009, and the pandemic wave lasted from late October to late December 2009. 61,62 At this time, it became apparent that the severity of the disease was lower than expected; 63,64 most people experienced mild symptoms and severe illness was uncommon, occurring A parallel study based on regional surveillance in Bavaria revealed increased coverage from 38% in 2006 to 51% in 2007 and 53% in 2008. 48 Similar trends were observed in Australia and Canada, where funding resulted in concomitant increases in vaccination rates.…”

“…61,97 The German study actually demonstrates that the gap between vaccination intent and behavior had closed down by October-November, 61 when the epidemiological features of the actual pandemic became apparent.…”

“…Individuals receiving seasonal influenza vaccine in previous years were more likely to accept H1N1v. 61,62,79,95 (3) Low levels of awareness did not seem to contribute to low H1N1vaccine uptake. 89 It appears that media coverage 90 and efforts of the official agencies were effective in promoting understanding and knowledge.…”

Evolution and adaptation of the pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza virus

“…Because the currently licensed vaccines work primarily through induction of neutralizing antibodies that target the hemagglutinin protein, 69 vaccination also has a theoretical risk of driving antigenic drift in the virus. Considering the global vaccine coverage, [70][71][72][73][74][75][76] it is likely that natural infection has played a larger role in driving viral change than vaccination to date. In the US, one of the countries with the highest influenza vaccine coverage, for example, it was estimated that only 20% of the population had received the 2009 pandemic H1N1 monovalent vaccine by early 2010.…”