2017–18 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness: Interim Data

Vaccine effectiveness was 36% overall and 59% in children under 8 years of age.

The influenza vaccine's poor performance in the Southern Hemisphere led to concerns for low efficacy in the U.S. The CDC calculated the vaccine's effectiveness as of February 3 against medically attended respiratory illnesses. The estimates are based on 4562 adults and children from five study sites enrolled in the Vaccine Effectiveness Network, 38% of whom tested positive for influenza virus.

The findings include:

Vaccination rates among the sites ranged from 45%–59%, and only 44% of children (<18 years of age) in the study group were vaccinated, compared with 76% of those >64 years of age.
Influenza A predominated (81% vs. 19% influenza B), with the majority being the H3N2 subtype (85%).
Overall, vaccine effectiveness against medically attend…

Reviewing Author

Deborah Lehman, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Deborah Lehman, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

2017–18 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness: Interim Data

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Reviewing Author