Could Vaccination Reduce Risk of Flu-Associated Mortality in Children?

Influenza vaccination was associated with reduced risk of influenza-related mortality in children, according to a recent study.

Researchers conducted a case-cohort analysis that included 358 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported from July 2010 through June 2014 in children from 6 months to 17 years of age.

Vaccination status and high-risk status were investigated for each case, and national survey data and a national insurance claims database were used to obtain influenza vaccine coverage estimates for comparison cohorts.

Of the 358 influenza-related deaths, vaccination status was determined for 291. Of these, only 75 (26%) children received an influenza vaccine before contracting the flu. The average influenza vaccination coverage in the comparison cohorts was 48%.

Underlying high-risk medical conditions were found in 153 children who died, 47 (31%) of whom were vaccinated. The effectiveness of the vaccine at preventing death in children with high risk conditions was 51% (95% CI, 31% to 67) compared with 65% (95% CI, 47% to 78%) in children without high-risk medical conditions.

“Influenza vaccination was associated with reduced risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric death. Increasing influenza vaccination could prevent influenza-associated deaths among children and adolescents,” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Flannery B, Reynolds SB, Blanton L, et al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness against pediatric deaths: 2010-2014 [published online April 3, 2017]. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-4244.