Barbara Michiels1, Frans Govaerts, Roy Remmen, Etienne Vermeire, Samuel Coenen. 1. Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Centre for General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium. barbara.michiels@ua.ac.be
Abstract
PURPOSE: To systematically review the evidence regarding the efficacy, effectiveness and risks of the use of inactivated influenza vaccines in children, healthy adults, elderly individuals and individuals with co-morbidities such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, kidney or liver disease and immune suppression. METHODS: The Cochrane database of systematic reviews was searched for relevant reviews and supplemented with searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database and Medline. Two reviewers independently assessed review and trial quality and extracted data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The inactivated influenza vaccine has been proven effective in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza among healthy adults (16-65 years) and children (≥6 years) (GRADE A evidence). However, there is strikingly limited good-quality evidence (all GRADE B, C or not existing) of the effectiveness of influenza vaccination on complications such as pneumonia, hospitalisation and influenza-specific and overall mortality. Inconsistent results are found in studies among children younger than 6 years, individuals with COPD, institutionalised elderly (65 years or older), elderly with co-morbidities and healthcare workers in elderly homes, which can only be explained by bias of unknown origin. The vaccination of pregnant women might be beneficial for their newborns, and vaccination of children might be protective in non-recipients of the vaccine of all ages living in the same community (one RCT, Grade B evidence). Copyright Â
PURPOSE: To systematically review the evidence regarding the efficacy, effectiveness and risks of the use of inactivated influenza vaccines in children, healthy adults, elderly individuals and individuals with co-morbidities such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, kidney or liver disease and immune suppression. METHODS: The Cochrane database of systematic reviews was searched for relevant reviews and supplemented with searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database and Medline. Two reviewers independently assessed review and trial quality and extracted data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The inactivated influenza vaccine has been proven effective in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza among healthy adults (16-65 years) and children (≥6 years) (GRADE A evidence). However, there is strikingly limited good-quality evidence (all GRADE B, C or not existing) of the effectiveness of influenza vaccination on complications such as pneumonia, hospitalisation and influenza-specific and overall mortality. Inconsistent results are found in studies among children younger than 6 years, individuals with COPD, institutionalised elderly (65 years or older), elderly with co-morbidities and healthcare workers in elderly homes, which can only be explained by bias of unknown origin. The vaccination of pregnant women might be beneficial for their newborns, and vaccination of children might be protective in non-recipients of the vaccine of all ages living in the same community (one RCT, Grade B evidence). Copyright Â
Authors: Patricia A Sheridan; Heather A Paich; Jean Handy; Erik A Karlsson; Stacey Schultz-Cherry; Michael Hudgens; Sam Weir; Terry Noah; Melinda A Beck Journal: Vaccine Date: 2015-06-01 Impact factor: 3.641