Fluad Influenza Vaccine

Realizing the Potential of Maternal Influenza Vaccination

Every year, influenza viruses cause substantial morbidity and mortality in pregnant women and neonates, stated an editorial published by The Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA).

To reduce influenza incidence in these vulnerable populations, the World Health Organization recommended in 2012 that countries prioritize pregnant women for influenza vaccination annually.

Over the past twenty years, compelling evidence has accumulated about the complex interplay among risks of influenza virus infection to the mother, the fetus, and infants, Vs. the benefits and safety of a ‘flu shot.’

In a population-based retrospective cohort study published by JAMA on June 8, 2021, this original investigation used inverse probability of treatment weighting. It included over 28,000 children with a mean duration of follow-up of 3.6 years.

This study found maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy was not significantly associated with the risk of immune-related health outcomes (e.g., asthma, infections) non–immune-related outcomes (e.g., neoplasms, sensory impairment), or nonspecific health outcomes (e.g., emergency visits, hospitalizations).

Among the 28,255 children (49% female, 92% born at ≥37 weeks gestation), 10,227 (36.2%) were born to women who received seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy.

During a mean follow-up of 3.6 years, there was no significant association between the following:

maternal influenza vaccination and childhood asthma (incidence rate, 3.0 vs 2.5 per 1000 person-years; difference, 0.53 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, −0.15 to 1.21]; adjusted HR, 1.22 [95% CI, 0.94 to 1.59]),
neoplasms (0.32 vs 0.26 per 1000 person-years; difference, 0.06 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, −0.16 to 0.28]; adjusted HR, 1.26 [95% CI, 0.57 to 2.78]), or
sensory impairment (0.80 vs 0.97 per 1000 person-years; difference, −0.17 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, −0.54 to 0.21]; adjusted HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.49 to 1.37]).

Furthermore, maternal influenza vaccination in pregnancy was not significantly associated with infections in early childhood (incidence rate, 184.6 vs. 179.1 per 1000 person-years; difference, 5.44 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, 0.01 to 10.9]; adjusted IRR, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.99 to 1.15]).

These researchers concluded the study by stating, ‘In this population-based cohort study, maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy was not significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse early childhood health outcomes.’

During the USA’s 2020-2021 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only confirmed one influenza-associated pediatric death. This news was a vast improvement over last flu season, when (198) influenza-associated pediatric deaths were confirmed.

As the 2021-2022 flu approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, the CDC suggests everyone over six months of age speak with their healthcare provider regarding flu shot options. Influenza viruses change from year to year, so influenza vaccines are updated to include the viruses that will most likely circulate in the upcoming flu season.

Influenza vaccine types are widely available, including inactivated influenza vaccines and live attenuated influenza vaccines. For additional information, please visit the ‘Flu’ channel.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based flu shot news.

Sub Title:

Flu vaccines for the northern hemisphere 2021-2022 flu season arrive in August

References:

Association of Maternal Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy With Early Childhood Health Outcomes

CDC FluView: 2020-2021 Influenza Season for Week 21, ending May 29, 2021

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Friday, June 11, 2021 - 05:00

A World With Fleeting Flu Cases

Don Hackett — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 20:02:54 +0000

Reviewer:

The current influenza surveillance data should be interpreted with caution, says the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO announced on March 1, 2021, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health-seeking behaviors globally. The various hygiene and physical distancing measures implemented to reduce the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have likely played a role in reducing influenza virus transmission.

The WHO’s Influenza Update N° 388 found despite continued or even increased influenza virus testing for influenza in some countries, activity remained at lower levels than expected for this time of the flu season.

The WHO’s laboratories tested more than 237,021 specimens. A total of 382 samples were positive for influenza viruses, of which 137 (35.9%) were typed as influenza A and 245 (64.1%) as influenza B.

Of the characterized B viruses, (99.5%) belong to the B-Victoria lineage.

In the Northern Hemisphere's temperate zone, influenza activity remained below baseline, though sporadic detections of influenza A and B viruses continued to be reported in some countries.

The U.S. CDC's Week #8 report found just 32 confirmed influenza specimens identified from over 22,000 completed flu tests.

In the temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere, influenza activity was reported at the interseasonal level.

In the Caribbean and Central American countries, sporadic influenza detections were reported.

In tropical South America, sporadic detections were reported in Colombia.

In tropical Africa, influenza activity was reported in some reporting countries in Western, Middle, and Eastern Africa in recent weeks.

In Southern Asia, sporadic influenza detections were reported in India.

Previously, the WHO Consultation and Information Meeting on the Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines for Use in the 2021-2022 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season was held in late February 2021.

This WHO meeting’s recommended composition of influenza vaccines for use in the 2021-2022 northern hemisphere influenza season can be viewed at the following link.

The most common flu shot for the 2020-2021 influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere are quadrivalent vaccines that protect people against four viruses; influenza A (H1N1) virus, influenza A (H3N2) virus, and two influenza B viruses, said the CDC on August 21, 2020.

Two new influenza vaccines have been licensed for use in people aged 65 years and older for the 2020-2021 flu season: a quadrivalent high-dose influenza vaccine and a quadrivalent adjuvanted influenza vaccine. Previously, high-dose and adjuvanted influenza vaccines were only available in trivalent formulations.

Vax-Before-Travel publishes research-based vaccine news.

Sub Title:

Influenza B viruses dominate 2021

References:

WHO: Influenza Update

CDC: Influenza

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Fewest Flu-Related Hospitalizations in Nine Years

Don Hackett — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 18:27:51 +0000

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CDC: Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report

The seasonal influenza activity remained lower than usual for this time of year, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC also reported the number of influenza-associated hospitalizations is lower than normal for this time of year and is ‘comparable to counts last seen during the 2011-12 season.’

And the CDC’s new weekly report (#50) confirmed since September 27, 2020, only (0.2%) of virus species tested were found infected with influenza. Of those found, 56.9 percent were identified as Influenza A.

Additionally, the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) monitors outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI), not laboratory-confirmed influenza, says ‘Nationwide, 1.6% of patient visits reported were due to ILI, which is well below the national baseline of 2.6%.’

‘Healthcare-seeking behaviors have changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. And many people are accessing the healthcare system in alternative settings, which may or may not be captured as a part of ILINet.’

Furthermore, the CDC released some good news from last week.

A total of (1) influenza-associated pediatric death occurring during the 2020-2021 season were reported to the CDC.

This new data compares with the last flu season when the CDC confirmed 195 influenza-associated pediatric deaths.

Separately, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance data available on December 17, 2020, showed 13.3% of the deaths occurring during the week ending December 12, 2020 (week #50), were due to pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19 (PIC).

This NCHS reported percentage is above the epidemic threshold of 6.6% for week #50.

Among the PIC deaths reported last week, 1,921 had COVID-19 listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate. And only (2) certificates recorded influenza, indicating that the current increase in PIC mortality is due primarily to COVID-19 and not influenza.

Influenza viruses change from year to year, so influenza vaccines must be updated annually to include the viruses that will most likely circulate in the upcoming season, says the CDC.

As of December 11, 2020, the newest data indicates 189.4 million flu shots were distributed in the USA. Currently, influenza vaccine manufacturers have not reported any significant national flu vaccine supply or distribution delays this season.

Approximately 99 percent of the projected vaccine supply produced for the 2020-2021 flu season will be quadrivalent (4-component) vaccines. The only trivalent vaccine available for the 2020-2020 flu season will be the trivalent formulation of the adjuvanted flu vaccine licensed for seniors 65 and older.

All influenza vaccines contain an antigen derived from the same influenza viruses. The one difference is that trivalent vaccines have three different antigens and quadrivalent vaccines have four other antigens (the same three that are in the trivalent vaccines, plus one more).

However, aside from the antigen composition, different influenza vaccines are manufactured differently, and various preparations have other indications as licensed by the FDA.

In particular, each is licensed for a specific age range. This means everyone should receive a flu shot that is appropriate for their age.

Additionally, the nasal spray flu vaccine is not recommended for use for certain sub-populations.

To review the latest influenza news, please visit PrecisionVaccinations.com/flu.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based vaccine news.

Sub Title:

Influenza cases remain well below expectations for 2020-2021

References:

CDC:Influenza Vaccine Supply and Distribution

CDC: 2020-21 ACIP Table

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Five Good Reasons to Get a Flu Vaccine

Don Hackett — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 16:19:17 +0000

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Five Good Reasons to Get a Flu Vaccine This Season

As influenza viruses spread this flu season, getting an influenza vaccination is more important than ever, stated the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on December 7, 2020.

According to various reports, about 190 million vaccines were produced for the USA this flu season.

The CDC strongly encourages everyone to discuss their flu vaccine options with a healthcare provider.

The CDC identified five reasons why you should get a flu shot:

Helps Keep You Healthy: Flu can cause signs and symptoms; such as fever, cough, and body aches, which can keep a healthy person home from work, school, and errands for a few days to a week or more.

Flu vaccination helps prevent millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor visits each year. CDC estimates that influenza vaccination during the 2019–2020 influenza season prevented 7.52 million illnesses, 3.69 million medical visits, 105,000 hospitalizations, and 6,300 deaths associated with influenza.

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance data available on December 10, 2020, confirmed 14.3% of the deaths occurring during the week ending December 5, 2020 (week #49), were due to pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19 (PIC).

Beat the Bug: Flu vaccination can reduce doctor visits due to flu. Several studies have shown flu vaccination can reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. And during seasons when the flu vaccine viruses are similar to circulating flu viruses, the flu vaccine was shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by 40% to 60%.

Care for Each Other: You may think of the flu vaccine only as a way to protect yourself from the flu. But getting vaccinated also may protect the people around you. Many people in the U.S. are at higher risk of getting very sick from flu because of their age, or because they have one or more of certain health conditions, like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.

Also, some people in your family or community may not be able to get vaccinated due to their age (children younger than 6 months, for example). They rely on you to help prevent the spread of disease. When you get a flu shot, you help protect them.

Help the Health Care System: Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during the 2020-2021 season. A flu vaccine this season can help protect you and the people around you from flu, reduce the burden of flu on our health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, and save medical resources for the care of COVID-19 patients.

Since healthcare workers are needed to care for people sick with COVID-19 and may care for or live with people at high risk for influenza-related complications, it is especially important for them to get vaccinated.

It’s Not Too Late: The National Influenza Vaccination Week is focused on highlighting the importance of influenza vaccination. It’s not too late for anyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine.

During the 2019-2020 flu season, 195 pediatric fatalities were confirmed to be influenza-related.

As of December 11, 2020, the CDC reported about 1.6% of patient visits reported were due to Influenza-like Illness. This percentage is below the national baseline of 2.6% for this time of year.

Furthermore, the CDC’s VaccineFinder enables everyone with a simple search tool to find and schedule your flu shot.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based vaccine news.

Sub Title:

Everyone should discuss their flu vaccine options with a healthcare provider

References:

CDC: Vaccine Finder

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Protect Your Family From Fraudulent Flu Products

Don Hackett — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 21:28:30 +0000

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Protect Your Family From Fraudulent Flu Products

The winter flu season may soon bring out dishonest sellers marketing fraudulent products to unsuspecting consumers, who are already concerned about protecting themselves from COVID-19, said the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

These products can be found online, including popular marketplaces, and in retail stores. They may be labeled as dietary supplements, foods, hand sanitizers, nasal sprays, or devices.

To address this issue, the FDA issued a new Consumer Update on November 12, 2020, urging consumers to avoid fraudulent flu products and offering tips on how to spot them.

These unproven products, sold online and in stores, haven’t been evaluated by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.

‘Know that there are no legally marketed over-the-counter drugs to prevent, mitigate, treat, or cure the flu. But there are legal over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to reduce fever and to relieve muscle aches, congestion, and other symptoms typically associated with influenza stated this update.

The FDA said it ‘continues to take action against bad actors, as evidenced by warning letters we’ve sent to companies offering for sale medical products with fraudulent claims to prevent, mitigate, treat, or cure COVID-19.’

‘Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to prevent this infectious disease and its serious complications,’ says the FDA.

Flu is a serious disease, caused by influenza viruses, that can lead to hospitalization and even mortality.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all people, ages 6 months and older, get vaccinated against influenza – particularly those at an increased risk for serious complications, including young children, adults 65 years and older, and those with chronic medical conditions.

An updated listing of authorized flu vaccines is published on this webpage.

And if you do get the flu, there are FDA-approved antiviral drugs, available by prescription, to treat the illness. These medicines are recommended by the CDC for use against recently circulating influenza viruses. They work best if started soon after the onset of symptoms, such as within 48-hours.

The various products are all approved for adult use and differ in the ages for which they are approved to treat children, ranging from 2-weeks-old to age 12.

Moreover, websites appearing to be online pharmacies selling prescription drugs present an opportunity for fraudsters to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.

If you have a question about a vaccine, treatment, or OTC product, talk to your healthcare provider, says the FDA.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based influenza news.

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Authorized Flu vaccines are available at most community pharmacies

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Fewest Influenza Cases Confirmed in Years

Don Hackett — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 22:52:07 +0000

Reviewer:

WHO: Influenza update - 380

The World Health Organization (WHO) new influenza report ‘should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health-seeking behaviors, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States.’

The WHO’s Influenza Update Report #380 published on November 9, 2020, says ‘various hygiene and physical distancing measures implemented by Member States to reduce SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus transmission have likely played a role in reducing influenza virus transmission.’

Globally, despite continued or even increased testing for influenza in some countries, influenza activity remained at lower levels than expected for this time of the annual flu season. And severe acute respiratory infection activity, likely due to COVID-19, decreased in most reporting countries.

For example, in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, influenza activity remained below inter-seasonal levels, though sporadic influenza detections were reported in some countries.

And in the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, no influenza detections were reported across several countries.

While in the Caribbean and Central American countries, sporadic influenza detections were reported.

From a clinical perspective, the National Influenza Centres (NICs) and other national influenza laboratories from 95 countries, areas or territories, reported data to FluNet for the time period from October 12, 2020, to October 25, 2020.

A total of 140 specimens were positive for influenza viruses, of which 80 (57.1%) were typed as influenza A and 60 (42.9%) as influenza B.

Of the sub-typed influenza A viruses, 2 (5.4%) were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 35 (94.6%) were influenza A(H3N2).

Of the characterized B viruses, 1 (6.7%) belonged to the B-Yamagata lineage and 14 (93.3%) to the B-Victoria lineage.

‘During the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO encourages countries to continue routine influenza surveillance, test samples from influenza surveillance sites for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 virus where resources are available, and report this information in a timely manner to established regional and global platforms,’ concluded the WHO.

In the USA, the percentage of deaths due to pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19 (PIC) increased during the first 2-weeks of October 2020, reported the U.S. CDC on November 6, 2020.

However, nationwide during week #44, only 1.3% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network were due to influenza-like illness (ILI).

This ILI percentage is below the national baseline of 2.6%.

The CDC strongly encourages most people to speak with their healthcare provider and schedule an annual flu shot.

An updated listing of CDC authorized flu vaccines is published on this webpage.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based influenza vaccine news.

Sub Title:

Influenza viruses no-showed during 2020

References:

CDC: COVIDView Weekly Summary

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Innovative Science Leads Toward a Universal Flu Shot

Don Hackett — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 19:32:07 +0000

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A step toward a universal flu vaccine

Each year, influenza vaccines are redesigned to account for virus mutations that reduce the protections people gain from the annual flu shot.

To address these virus mutations, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Ragon Institute of MIT, Mass General Hospital (MGH), and Harvard University announced they are working on strategies for designing a universal flu vaccine that could work against any flu strain.

In a study appearing in Cell on October 6, 2020, these researchers describe a vaccine that triggers an immune response against an influenza protein segment that rarely mutates, but is normally not targeted by the immune system.

The vaccine consists of nanoparticles coated with flu proteins that train the immune system to create the desired antibodies. In studies of mice with humanized immune systems, the researchers showed that their vaccine can elicit an antibody response targeting that elusive protein segment, raising the possibility that the vaccine could be effective against any flu strain, stated these researchers in a press release.

Most flu vaccines consist of inactivated flu viruses. These viruses are coated with a protein called hemagglutinin (HA), which helps them bind to host cells. After vaccination, the immune system generates squadrons of antibodies that target the HA protein.

These antibodies almost always bind to the head of the HA protein, which is the part of the protein that mutates the most rapidly. Parts of the HA stem, on the other hand, very rarely mutate.

“The reason we’re excited about this work is that it is a small step toward developing a flu shot that you just take once, or a few times, and the resulting antibody response is likely to protect against seasonal flu strains and pandemic strains as well,” says Arup K. Chakraborty, the Robert T. Haslam Professor in Chemical Engineering and professor of physics and chemistry at MIT, and a member of MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard.

In their new study, the researchers set out to study why the immune system ends up targeting the HA head rather than the stem and to find ways to refocus the immune system’s attention on the stem. Such a vaccine could elicit antibodies known as “broadly neutralizing antibodies,” which would respond to any flu strain. In principle, this kind of vaccine could end the arms race between vaccine designers and rapidly mutating flu viruses.

One factor that was already known to contribute to antibody preference for the HA head is that HA proteins are densely clustered on the surface of the virus, so it’s difficult for antibodies to access the stem region. The head region is much more accessible.

The researchers developed a computational model that helped them to further explore the “immunodominance” of the protein’s head region. “We hypothesized that the surface geometry of the virus could be key to its ability to survive by protecting its vulnerable parts from antibodies,” Amitai says.

The researchers explored the effects of geometry on immunodominance using a technique called molecular dynamics simulation. They further modeled a process called antibody affinity maturation. This process, which occurs after B cells encounter a virus (or a vaccine), determines which antibodies will predominate during the immune response.

Each B cell has on its surface proteins called B cell receptors, which bind to different foreign proteins. Once a particular B cell receptor binds strongly to the HA protein, that B cell becomes activated and starts to multiply rapidly.

This process introduces new mutations into the B cell receptors, some of which bind more strongly. These better binders tend to survive, while the weaker binders die. At the end of this process, which takes one or two weeks, there is a population of B cells that is very good at binding strongly to the HA protein.

These B cells secrete antibodies that bind to the HA protein.

“As time goes on, after infection, the antibodies get better and better at targeting this particular antigen,” Chakraborty says.

The researchers’ computer simulations of this process revealed that when a typical flu vaccine is given, B cell receptors that bind strongly to the HA stem are at a competitive disadvantage during the maturation process because they can’t reach their targets as easily as B cell receptors that bind strongly to the HA head.

The researchers also used their computer model to simulate this maturation process with a nanoparticle vaccine developed at the National Institutes of Health, which is now in a phase 1 clinical trial.

This particle carries HA stem proteins spaced out at lower density. The model showed that this arrangement makes the proteins more accessible to antibodies, which are Y-shaped, allowing the antibodies to grab onto the proteins with both arms. The simulations revealed that those stem-targeting antibodies predominated at the end of the maturation process.

The researchers also used their computational model to predict the outcome of several possible vaccination strategies. One strategy that appears promising is to immunize with an HA stem from a virus that is similar to, but not the same as, strains that the recipient has previously been exposed to.

In 2009, many people around the world were either infected with or vaccinated against a novel H1N1 strain. The modeling led the researchers to hypothesize that if they vaccinated with nanoparticles displaying HA-like proteins from a strain that is different from the 2009 version, it should elicit the kind of broadly neutralizing antibodies that may confer universal immunity.

Using mice with human immune cells, the researchers tested this strategy, first immunizing them against the 2009 H1N1 strain, followed by a nanoparticle vaccine carrying the HA stem protein from a different H1N1 strain.

They found that this approach was much more successful at eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies than any of the other strategies that they tested, concluded this press statement.

Based on this knowledge, these researchers stated ‘we designed immunization protocols that subvert immune distraction and focus serum antibody responses upon a functionally conserved, but immunologically recessive, target of human broadly neutralizing antibodies. We tested in silico predictions by vaccinating transgenic mice in which antibody diversity was humanized to mirror clinically relevant humoral output.’

‘Collectively, our results demonstrate that complex patterns in antibody immunogenicity can be rationally defined and then manipulated to elicit engineered immunity,’ concluded this study.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Harvard University Milton Award, the Gilead Research Scholars Program, and the National Science Foundation Research Fellowship Program.

The U.S. FDA has authorized various vaccines for the 2020-2021 flu season, which are listed on this webpage.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based influenza vaccine development news.

Sub Title:

Universal flu vaccine should trigger an immune response against an influenza protein segment that rarely mutates

References:

Defining and Manipulating B Cell Immunodominance Hierarchies to Elicit Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Responses against Influenza

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New Evidence on Relative Effectiveness of Adjuvanted Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Seniors

Don Hackett — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 12:12:40 +0000

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Evaluating the Relative Vaccine Effectiveness of Adjuvanted Trivalent Influenza Vaccine Compared to High-Dose Trivalent

A worldwide leader in influenza prevention announced the publication of new real-world evidence (RWE) that demonstrated an MF59® adjuvanted, trivalent influenza vaccine (aTIV) was more effective than a standard-dose, non-adjuvanted trivalent seasonal vaccine in preventing influenza-related medical office visits and hospitalizations in seniors during the 2017-2018 influenza season in the USA.

Adding MF59® adjuvant to an influenza vaccine is designed to enhance the immune response to the influenza strains contained in the vaccine in adults 65 years and older.

The Seqirus study was published in Vaccines on August 7, 2020, assessed relative influenza vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of aTIV compared to non-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccines including high-dose trivalent vaccine, standard-dose quadrivalent vaccine, and standard-dose trivalent vaccine.

The vaccines included in the economic burden analysis are the only influenza vaccines specifically indicated for patients 65 years and older.

The study also demonstrated that the effectiveness of aTIV and a high-dose trivalent influenza vaccine was comparable in the same population during the study season, emphasizing the critical role enhanced vaccines play in protecting adults 65 years and older against influenza.

This is the first Seqirus-sponsored study to conduct an economic burden analysis using a claims dataset comparing aTIV and a high-dose trivalent influenza vaccine.

The data revealed the all-cause and total influenza-related healthcare costs were comparable among older adults vaccinated with aTIV or a high-dose trivalent influenza vaccine during the 2017-2018 influenza season.

Additionally, participants who received aTIV had significantly lower rates of all-cause hospitalizations and pneumonia and asthma, COPD, bronchial hospitalizations, compared with TIV-SD.

Costs included those associated with all-cause total healthcare costs, influenza-related hospitalization costs, influenza-related ER costs, influenza-related office visits, and antiviral treatment costs, and influenza-related total costs.

Stephen I. Pelton, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine and study author, stated: "The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that between 50 and 70 percent of seasonal influenza-related hospitalizations occurred in U.S. adults 65 and older.”

“Our data, published in Vaccines, demonstrate the important role enhanced vaccines contribute to the prevention of influenza in vulnerable populations and their potential to help reduce influenza-related morbidity and treatment costs."

Using data from IQVIA's Integrated Data Warehouse, which include Professional Fee Claims (Dx), Prescription Claims (Rx), and Hospital Charge Data Master (CDM), researchers studied adults 65 years and older who were vaccinated with a TIV, TIV-HD, non-adjuvanted, quadrivalent standard-dose influenza vaccine (QIV-SD), and non-adjuvanted, trivalent standard-dose influenza vaccine (TIV-SD) during the 2017/18 U.S. influenza season.

Adjusted rVE analysis indicated that aTIV was significantly more effective in preventing influenza-related medical office visits and influenza-related hospitalization/ER visits compared to QIV-SD and TIV-SD, and comparably effective to TIV-HD.

Influenza-related medical office visits were defined in the study based on a physician's office visit with a claim for a rapid influenza diagnostic test followed by antiviral treatment within two days of the test, and influenza-related hospitalization / ER visits were defined as patients with a diagnosis code for influenza.

Additionally, an economic analysis was conducted to compare influenza-related healthcare resource use and costs between patients that received aTIV and TIV-HD. These two vaccines were included in the analysis as they are the only influenza vaccines with specific indications for patients 65 years and older.

The analysis found that all-cause and influenza-related total costs were comparable between aTIV and TIV-HD.

This study was subject to the typical limitations associated with retrospective database studies.

Influenza is a common, contagious seasonal respiratory disease that may cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in some people. Influenza can lead to clinical symptoms varying from mild to moderate respiratory illness to severe complications, hospitalization, and in some cases, death.

Because transmission of influenza viruses to others may occur 1-day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick, the CDC recommends annual vaccination for individuals aged 6-months and older, who do not have any contraindications.

The CDC recommends that people get vaccinated by the end of October each year. However, getting vaccinated too early can be associated with reduced protection against influenza infection later in the flu season.

A listing of CDC authorized influenza vaccines for the 2020-2021 flu season in the USA, including Seqirus’ Fluad, is found on this PrecisionVaccinations webpage.

Seqirus is part of CSL Limited and is one of the largest influenza vaccine providers in the world.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based flu vaccine news.

Sub Title:

MF59 adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine found very effective

References:

Seqirus Begins Shipping 2020/21 Influenza Vaccines to US Market

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65 and Over

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Survey Indicates Flu Shot Demand Increased 100%

Don Hackett — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 17:48:32 +0000

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Flu shots now available at CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic

According to a survey commissioned by CVS Health in July 2020, and conducted among a general population of U.S. consumers, the impact of COVID-19 is significantly influencing individuals' likelihood to get a flu shot this season.

This survey’s results announced on August 25, 2020, indicate that consumers' intention to get vaccinated has been increasing month over month, with 66 percent of those surveyed in July saying they definitely or likely will get a flu shot this season.

This compares to just 34 percent of those surveyed in January 2020.

In addition, 54 percent of consumers surveyed indicated that they plan to get their immunization earlier than 2019.

This is good news since the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that individuals make plans to get vaccinated early in the fall before flu season begins, and ideally no later than the end of October.

Most people over 6 months of age are encouraged by the CDC to get vaccinated every flu season since influenza infections can create severe consequences. The U.S. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has made this recommendation since the 2010-11 influenza season.

Unfortunately, during the 2019-2020 flu season, about 186 pediatric influenza-related fatalities have been confirmed by the CDC.

"We know our patients and customers are doing everything they can to keep their families as healthy as possible while minimizing potential exposure to the flu and COVID-19," said Jon Roberts, Chief Operating Officer, CVS Health, in a press statement.

"Because it can take two weeks for the vaccine to build immunity, we encourage all of our patients to get their shot in September or early October, before flu season peaks."

There are various flu shots authorized for the 2020-2021 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere. The CDC does not endorse any specific vaccine.

Most importantly, influenza vaccines do not cause the seasonal flu since they are made with either killed or weakened viruses, says the CDC.

Influenza vaccination news is published by PrecisionVaccinations.

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Flu shot intention survey found consumer interest escalated by the coronavirus pandemic

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