Supervisors info:
Μίχος Αθανάσιος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Σπούλου Βασιλική, Καθηγήτρια , Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Καδδίτης Αθανάσιος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
BACKGROUND: Influenza is common cause of mortality and morbidity in children worldwide. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness (VE %) of the flu vaccine in children aged 0-17 years on all continents between 2009-2020.
METHODOLOGY: A systematic search (2009-2020) was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane databases. Reference lists of selected articles were screened to identify additional studies. Cohort studies, patient / control studies, cross-sectional studies, and systematic reviews were eligible for inclusion. Data were selected for the following criteria: age 0-17years, vaccine effectiveness (VE%). Study quality was evaluated using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). Study selection and quality assessment were conducted by independent researchers. Fixed- or random-effect models, as appropriate, were used to synthesize data.
RESULTS: Vaccine effectiveness data were available from 48 eligible studies. Vaccine effectiveness ranged between 3% - 93,5%, with 31 studies ending up in efficacy rates >50% and 2 studies finding negative result. Analyzed studies come from Asia (39,9%), USA (35,4%), Europe (18,8%) and Oceania (6,3%). Vaccines effectiveness (VE%) through the decade 2009-2019 was in: Asia: 46,7%(95%CI 33,2-58,4%), USA: 56,7%(95%CI 50,6-62,7%), Europe: 46,2%(95%CI 33,2-59,1%)(P-value:0.094). VE% in 3 chronological periods was: (2009-2012): 66,8%,(95%CI 57,9-75,6%), (2013-2016) 43,3%(95%CI 34,9-51,7% and (2017-2019):51,5%(95%CI 45,3-57,8%),(P-value:0.003).
CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccine effectiveness in children and adolescents, although not very high, varied depending on the geographical area and chronological period. During 2009-2012 was found the best vaccine effectiveness throughout the decade.
Keywords:
Inluenza, Effectiveness, Children, Vaccines, Vaccination
