The Activity of Influenza and Influenza-like Viruses in Individuals Aged over 14 in the 2015/2016 Influenza Season in Poland

The swine-origin new influenza variant A(H1N1) emerged in 2009 and changed the epidemiology of the 2009/2010 influenza season globally and at national level. Aims: The aim of the authors was to analyse the cases of two influenza seasons. Methods: The Medical and Health Sciences Centre of Debrecen University has 1690 beds with 85 000 patients admitted per year. The diagnosis of influenza was conducted using real-time polymerase chain reaction in the microbiological laboratories of the University and the National Epidemiological Centre, according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization. Results: The incidence of influenza was not higher than that observed in the previous season, but two high-risk patient groups were identified: pregnant women and patients with immunodeficiency (oncohematological and organ transplant patients). The influenza vaccine, which is free for high-risk groups and health care workers in Hungary, appeared to be effective for prevention, because in the 2010/2011 influenza season none of the 58 patients who were administered the vaccination developed influenza. Conclusion: It is an important task to protect oncohematological and organ transplant patients. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 649–654.

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Lessons Learned From Serial Isolations Of Human Coronavirus 229E From Environmental Surfaces Of A Classroom During Influenza Season

10.31988/scitrends.16688 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

John Lednicky

Keyword(s):

Influenza Season ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Human Coronavirus ◽

Environmental Surfaces ◽

Human Coronavirus 229E

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Improving vaccine uptake: a new uptake reporting tool

British Journal of General Practice ◽

10.3399/bjgp18x697205 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽

pp. bjgp18X697205

Author(s):

Elise Tessier ◽

Richard Pebody ◽

Nicki Boddington ◽

Michael Edelstein ◽

Joanne White ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reporting System ◽

Influenza Season ◽

Vaccine Uptake ◽

Web Based ◽

Current Season ◽

Previous Season ◽

Uptake Rates ◽

Reporting Tool ◽

Uptake Data ◽

Near Future

BackgroundVaccine uptake data is automatically extracted from all GP practices in England via the web-based reporting system, ImmForm, on behalf of Public Health England. In 2016/17, an Uptake Summary Tool was introduced on ImmForm for practice managers, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and screening and immunisation teams (SCRIMMS) to help facilitate local and regional management of the influenza programme. The tool allows practices to view and evaluate influenza uptake rates by target cohorts, comparing them against the previous season and CCG average/overall national uptake each week.AimTo assess how many practices use the Uptake Summary Tool and whether there is a difference in vaccine uptake among practices that use the tool compared with those that don’t during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 influenza seasons.MethodPractice level use of the Uptake Summary Tool was examined for the 2016/17 influenza season and vaccine uptake compared between practices that used the tool and those that did not.ResultsAn average of 1272 practices used the tool each week during the 2016/17. Vaccine uptake was on average 2.9% greater for targeted cohorts in practices that used the tool than practices that did not during the 2016/17 season.ConclusionWhen used on a regular basis the Uptake Summary Tool can help GP practices, CCGs and SCRIMMS monitor vaccine and may be associated with increased vaccine uptake. Uptake for the 2017/18 season will be monitored and assessed throughout the current season. We aim to expand the tool to other vaccine collections in the near future.

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22. Description of Hospitalized Patients with Influenza Vaccine Failure

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S35-S35

Author(s):

Joanna Kimball ◽

Yuwei Zhu ◽

Dayna Wyatt ◽

Helen Talbot

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Older Patients ◽

Influenza A ◽

Influenza Season ◽

Hospitalized Patients ◽

Vaccine Failure ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Immunosuppressed Patients

Abstract Background Despite influenza vaccination, some patients develop illness and require hospitalization. Many factors contribute to vaccine failure, including mismatch of the vaccine and circulating strains, waning immunity, timing of influenza season, age and patient comorbidities such as immune function. This study compared vaccinated, hospitalized patients with and without influenza. Methods This study used 2015–2019 Tennessee data from the US Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network database. Enrolled patients were ≥ 18 years vaccinated for the current influenza season and admitted with an acute respiratory illness. Patient or surrogate interviews and medical chart abstractions were performed, and influenza vaccinations were confirmed by vaccine providers. Influenza PCR testing was performed in a research lab. Statistical analyses were performed with STATA and R using Pearson’s chi-squared, Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and multivariate logistic regression. Results 1236 patients met study criteria, and 235 (19%) tested positive for influenza. Demographics, vaccines and comorbidities were similar between the two groups (Table 1) except for morbid obesity, which was more common in influenza negative patients (13% vs 8%, p = 0.04), and immunosuppression, which was more common in the influenza positive (63% vs 54%, p = 0.01). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated older patients (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.03–2.10) and immunosuppressed patients (OR 1.56, 1.15–2.12) were at increased risk for influenza (Table 2 and Figure 1). Immunosuppression also increased the risk for influenza A/H3N2 (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.25–2.75). A sensitivity analysis was performed on patients who self-reported influenza vaccination for the current season without vaccine verification and demonstrated increased risk of influenza in older adults (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.16–2.39). Table 1: Demographics of influenza positive versus influenza negative patients in influenza vaccinated, hospitalized patients. Table 2: Logistic regression analyses of vaccinated, hospitalized influenza positive patients; vaccinated, hospitalized patients with influenza A subtypes and self-reported vaccinated, hospitalized influenza positive patients. Figure 1: Predicted Probability of Hospitalization with Influenza, Influenza A/H1N1 and Influenza A/H3N2 in Vaccinated Patients by Age. Conclusion Our study demonstrated an increased risk of influenza vaccine failure in older patients and immunosuppressed patients. These groups are also at increased risk for influenza complications. To improve protection of these patients against future influenza illnesses, more effective vaccines are needed, and more research on ring vaccination should be pursued. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Coverage and Timing of Influenza Vaccination Among Privately Insured Pregnant Women in the United States, 2010-2018

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/00333549211026779 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003335492110267

Author(s):

Kai Hong ◽

Megan C. Lindley ◽

Fangjun Zhou

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Influenza Season ◽

The United States ◽

Metropolitan Statistical Area ◽

Provider Education ◽

Vaccination Uptake ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Privately Insured

Objective Pregnant women are at increased risk of serious complications from influenza and are recommended to receive an influenza vaccination during pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess trends, timing patterns, and associated factors of influenza vaccination among pregnant women. Methods We used 2010-2018 MarketScan data on 1 286 749 pregnant women aged 15-49 who were privately insured to examine trends and timing patterns of influenza vaccination coverage. We examined descriptive statistics and identified factors associated with vaccination uptake by using multivariate log-binomial and Cox proportional hazard models. Results In-plan influenza vaccination coverage before delivery increased from 22.0% during the 2010-2011 influenza season to 33.2% during the 2017-2018 influenza season. About two-thirds of vaccinated women received the vaccine in September or October during each influenza season. For women who delivered in September through May, influenza vaccination coverage increased rapidly at the beginning of influenza season and flattened after October. For women who delivered in June through August, influenza vaccination coverage increased gradually until February and flattened thereafter. Most vaccinated women who delivered before January received the vaccine in the third trimester. Increased likelihood of being vaccinated was associated with age 31-40, living in a metropolitan statistical area, living outside the South, enrollment in a consumer-driven or high-deductible health plan, being spouses or dependents of policy holders, and delivery in November through January. Conclusions Despite increases during the past several years, vaccination uptake is still suboptimal, particularly after October. Health care provider education on timing of vaccination and recommendations throughout influenza seasons are needed to improve influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women.

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An Antigenic Thrift-Based Approach to Influenza Vaccine Design

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9060657 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 657

Author(s):

Jai S. Bolton ◽

Hannah Klim ◽

Judith Wellens ◽

Matthew Edmans ◽

Uri Obolski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Season ◽

Vaccine Design ◽

Antigenic Drift ◽

Influenza Vaccines ◽

Immune Protection ◽

Immune Selection ◽

Drift Theory ◽

Gradual Accumulation ◽

Additional Constraints

The antigenic drift theory states that influenza evolves via the gradual accumulation of mutations, decreasing a host’s immune protection against previous strains. Influenza vaccines are designed accordingly, under the premise of antigenic drift. However, a paradox exists at the centre of influenza research. If influenza evolved primarily through mutation in multiple epitopes, multiple influenza strains should co-circulate. Such a multitude of strains would render influenza vaccines quickly inefficacious. Instead, a single or limited number of strains dominate circulation each influenza season. Unless additional constraints are placed on the evolution of influenza, antigenic drift does not adequately explain these observations. Here, we explore the constraints placed on antigenic drift and a competing theory of influenza evolution – antigenic thrift. In contrast to antigenic drift, antigenic thrift states that immune selection targets epitopes of limited variability, which constrain the variability of the virus. We explain the implications of antigenic drift and antigenic thrift and explore their current and potential uses in the context of influenza vaccine design.

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Respiratory tract infections in children with allergic asthma on allergen immunotherapy during influenza season

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81558-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yuyun Li ◽

Dongming Wang ◽

Lili Zhi ◽

Yunmei Zhu ◽

Lan Qiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Tract ◽

Allergic Asthma ◽

Respiratory Tract Infections ◽

Allergen Immunotherapy ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Influenza Season ◽

The Body ◽

History Of ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Stage 1

AbstractTo describle how respiratory tract infections (RTIs) that occurred in children with allergic asthma (AA) on allergen immunotherapy (AIT) during an influenza season. Data including clinical symptoms and treatment history of children (those with AA on AIT and their siblings under 14 years old), who suffered from RTIs during an influenza season (Dec 1st, 2019–Dec 31st, 2019), were collected (by face to face interview and medical records) and analyzed. Children on AIT were divided into 2 groups: stage 1 (dose increasing stage) and stage 2 (dose maintenance stage). Their siblings were enrolled as control. During the study period, 49 children with AA on AIT (33 patients in stage 1 and 16 patients in stage 2) as well as 49 children without AA ( their siblings ) were included. There were no significant differences in occurrences of RTIs among the three groups (p > 0.05). Compared with children in the other two groups, patients with RTIs in stage 2 had less duration of coughing and needed less medicine. Children on AIT with maintenance doses had fewer symptoms and recovered quickly when they were attacked by RTIs, which suggested that AIT with dose maintenance may enhance disease resistance of the body.

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