Interim 2018/19 influenza vaccine effectiveness: six European studies, October 2018 to January 2019

Euro Surveill. 2019 Feb;24(8):1900121. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.1900121.

Abstract

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses both circulated in Europe in October 2018-January 2019. Interim results from six studies indicate that 2018/19 influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates among all ages in primary care was 32-43% against influenza A; higher against A(H1N1)pdm09 and lower against A(H3N2). Among hospitalised older adults, VE estimates were 34-38% against influenza A and slightly lower against A(H1N1)pdm09. Influenza vaccination is of continued benefit during the ongoing 2018/19 influenza season.

Keywords: Europe; influenza; multicentre study; test-negative design; vaccination; vaccine effectiveness; vaccines and immunisation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / immunology*
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / isolation & purification
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / immunology*
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / isolation & purification
  • Influenza B virus / immunology*
  • Influenza B virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
  • Population Surveillance
  • Primary Health Care
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Seasons
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data
  • Vaccine Potency*

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines