THE CONSISTENT effectiveness of influenza vaccines in protecting children from severe flu-related illnesses has been highlighted in recently published findings. The study analyzed data from over 15,728 pediatric patients in the United States from 2015 to 2020, offering critical insights for healthcare professionals and policymakers.
The research examined children aged 6 months to 17 years who sought care for acute respiratory illnesses across eight participating U.S. medical centers. Findings revealed that influenza vaccination provided an overall effectiveness of 55.7% in preventing influenza-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Effectiveness remained steady across severity levels, with 52.8% effectiveness for emergency visits, 52.3% for noncritical hospitalizations, and 50.4% for critical cases requiring intensive care.
Approximately half (49.5%) of the study participants received at least one flu vaccine dose during the study period. The results underscore the vaccine’s role in mitigating the impact of influenza across all severity indicators.
This research reinforces the critical need for annual flu vaccinations for children, especially during flu season and the substantial protective benefits of influenza vaccines for children, regardless of the severity of illness.
Reference: Sumner KM et al. Estimated Vaccine Effectiveness for Pediatric Patients With Severe Influenza, 2015-2020. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(12):e2452512.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
