Evaluation of the field-protective effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine among Korean children aged < 5 years during the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 influenza seasons: a cohort study

Young Kyung Kang, Hea Lin Oh, Jung Sub Lim, Jun Ah Lee, Yun Kyung Kim, Byung Wook Eun, Dae Sun Jo, Dong Ho Kim

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Background: A field effectiveness evaluation of the influenza vaccine among children younger than five years is important due to the high burden of influenza in this age group. The epidemiology of influenza virus changes rapidly each year. Moreover, the development of a new type of influenza vaccine is accelerating, necessitating a new field effectiveness evaluation. Methods: This multi-center, open-label cohort study was conducted in the northern part of Seoul from December 2014 to May 2015 and in Gyeong-gi Province from December 2015 to May 2016. The cohort comprised an influenza vaccinated group and non-vaccinated group. During the influenza seasons, we conducted influenza rapid tests and polymerase chain reaction assays for individuals with suspected influenza and checked for the presence of influenza virus. We calculated the influenza vaccine effectiveness by comparing the incidence rates of influenza between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups. Results: During the 2014–2015 season, the field effectiveness of the influenza vaccine was 38.4%. In particular, the vaccine effectiveness against type A influenza virus was 50.7%. During the 2015–2016 season, the vaccine effectiveness reached 23.8% and the vaccine effectiveness against type A influenza virus was 48.5%. The vaccine effectiveness against influenza B virus was markedly reduced in both seasons. Conclusion: The influenza vaccine was supposed to be effective against influenza A, but may have a limited effectiveness against influenza B among Korean children aged < 5 years.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)481-486
    Number of pages6
    JournalHuman Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics
    Volume15
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019 Feb 1

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This study was supported by a grant from Transgovernmental Enterprise for Pandemic Influenza in Korea (TEPIK) which is a part of the Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project by Ministry of Health and Welfare‚ Republic of Korea (grant No. A103001).

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2018, © 2018 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

    Keywords

    • Influenza virus
    • Koean child
    • field protective evaluation
    • influenza vaccine
    • vaccine effectiveness

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Immunology and Allergy
    • Immunology
    • Pharmacology

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