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Abstract
Influenza vaccination aims at reducing the incidence of serious disease, complications and death among those with the most risk of severe influenza disease. Influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) through sentinel surveillance data from the PIDIRAC program (Daily Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance of Catalonia) during 2010–2011, 2011–2012, and 2012–2013 influenza seasons, with three different predominant circulating influenza virus (IV) types [A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B, respectively] was assessed. The total number of sentinel samples with known vaccination background collected during the study period was 3173, 14.7% of which had received the corresponding seasonal influenza vaccine. 1117 samples (35.2%) were positive for IV. A retrospective negative case control design was used to assess vaccine effectiveness (VE) for the entire period and for each epidemic influenza season. An overall VE of 58.1% (95% CI:46.8–67) was obtained. Differences in VE according to epidemic season were observed, being highest for the 2012–2013 season with predominance of IV type B (69.7% ;95% CI:51.5–81) and for the 2010–2011 season, with predominance of the A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus strain (67.2% ;95%CI:49.5–78.8) and lowest for the 2011–2012 season with A(H3N2) subtype predominance (34.2% ;95%CI:4.5–54.6).
Influenza vaccination prevents a substantial number of influenza-associated illnesses. Although vaccines with increased effectiveness are needed and the search for a universal vaccine that is not subject to genetic modifications might increase VE, nowadays only the efforts to increase vaccination rates of high-risk population and healthcare personnel let reduce the burden of influenza and its complications.
Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest
No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.
Acknowledgements
We thank all physicians members of the influenza sentinel surveillance network of Catalonia (PIDIRAC): Aizpurua, P; Alonso, J; Azemar, J; Basas, D; Besora, R ; Callado, M; Casanovas JM; Cid, A; Ciurana, E; Cots JM; De la Rica, D; Elizalde del Rio, G; Estabanell, A; Fau, E; Fernandez, O; Ferrer, C; Forcada, A; Forga, FX; Fos,E; Gadea, G; Garcia, J; Garrido, P; Gatius, C; Grivé, M; Guzman, MC; Hernandez, R; Juscafresa,D; Leon, I; Macia, E; Mainou, A; Marco, E; Martinez, M; Martinez, E; Molinero, C; Moncosi, X; Lopez-Mompó, C; Naranjo, MA; Navarro, D; Ortola, ME; Pérez MC; Perez, MM; Prat, M; Pujol, R; Pujol, J; Ribatallada, A; Sánchez, R; Sarra, N; Teixidor, A; Valen, E; Valencia, I; Van Esso, D; Vila, C; Zabala, E; Zurilla, E.
Financial Disclosure
This work was partially supported by the Agency for the Management of Grants for University Research (AGAUR Grant number 2009 SGR 42) and CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP).
