Flu Vaccine Efficacy Examined in Southern Hemisphere Countries

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 7, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Oct. 7, 2024 -- Based on data from Southern Hemisphere countries, a low proportion of patients with influenza-associated severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) were vaccinated against influenza, according to research published in the Oct. 3 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Erica E. Zeno, Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues conducted interim estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) from Southern Hemisphere countries, which can help guide Northern Hemisphere countries in advance of their season. Interim VE against influenza-associated SARI hospitalization was estimated using data from a multicountry network.

The researchers identified 11,751 influenza-associated SARI cases during March 13 to July 19, 2024, in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. On average, 21.3 percent of these patients were vaccinated against influenza, with an adjusted VE of 34.5 percent against hospitalization. The adjusted VE was 36.5 percent against the predominating subtype A(H3N2) and was 37.1 percent against A(H1N1)pdm09.

"These data suggest that influenza vaccine demand was still low post-COVID-19 but that vaccination prevented approximately one-third of influenza-associated hospitalizations among groups at high risk for influenza-associated complications," the authors write. "These findings support [the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization's] recommendation that all eligible persons aged ≥6 months should receive influenza vaccination."

One author disclosed participating on a data safety monitoring board for Moderna's candidate mRNA respiratory syncytial virus vaccine for pregnant women.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-10-08 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords