Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against 2009 Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) Virus Differed by Vaccine Type During 2013–2014 in the United States

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 213; no. 10; pp. 1546 - 1556
• Main Authors: Gaglani, Manjusha, Pruszynski, Jessica, Murthy, Kempapura, Clipper, Lydia, Robertson, Anne, Reis, Michael, Chung, Jessie R., Piedra, Pedro A., Avadhanula, Vasanthi, Nowalk, Mary Patricia, Zimmerman, Richard K., Jackson, Michael L., Jackson, Lisa A., Petrie, Joshua G., Ohmit, Suzanne E., Monto, Arnold S., McLean, Huong Q., Belongia, Edward A., Fry, Alicia M., Flannery, Brendan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 15.05.2016
• Series: Editor's choice
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - genetics; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - immunology; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - isolation & purification; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Influenza, Human - virology; Major and Brief Reports; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics - prevention & control; Seasons; United States - epidemiology; Vaccination; Vaccines, Inactivated; VIRUSES; Young Adult; United States; USA; influenza; vaccine effectiveness; influenza vaccine; influenza vaccine effectiveness
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv577

Background. The predominant strain during the 2013–2014 influenza season was 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus (A[H1N1]pdm09). This vaccine-component has remained unchanged from 2009. Methods. The US Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network enrolled subjects aged ≥6 months with medically attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI), including cough, with illness onset ≤7 days before enrollment. Influenza was confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We determined the effectiveness of trivalent or quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) among subjects ages ≥6 months and the effectiveness of quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) among children aged 2–17 years, using a test-negative design. The effect of prior receipt of any A(H1N1)pdm09-containing vaccine since 2009 on the effectiveness of current-season vaccine was assessed. Results. We enrolled 5999 subjects; 5637 (94%) were analyzed; 18% had RT-PCR–confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09-related MAARI. Overall, the effectiveness of vaccine against A(H1N1)pdm09-related MAARI was 54% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46%–61%). Among fully vaccinated children aged 2–17 years, the effectiveness of LAIV4 was 17% (95% CI, −39% to 51%) and the effectiveness of IIV was 60% (95% CI, 36%–74%). Subjects aged ≥9 years showed significant residual protection of any prior A(H1N1)pdm09-containing vaccine dose(s) received since 2009, as did children <9 years old considered fully vaccinated by prior season. Conclusions. During 2013–2014, IIV was significantly effective against A(H1N1)pdm09. Lack of LAIV4 effectiveness in children highlights the importance of continued annual monitoring of effectiveness of influenza vaccines in the United States.