New evidence: Seasonal influenza vaccine for 2012–2013

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Volume 38 ACS-2, August 2012

An Advisory Committee Statement (ACS)
National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)

Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2012–2013
Appendix I: New Evidence Review for Children 24 to 59 Months of Age

Contributors

NACI Members: Dr. Bryna Warshawsky (Chair), Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, Ms. Anita Hanrahan, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Dr. Shainoor Ismail (Executive Secretary), Dr. Deepali Kumar, Dr. Shelly McNeil, Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, Dr. Marina Salvadori, Dr. Blair Seifert, Dr. Nadine Sicard, Dr. Wendy Vaudry, Dr. Richard Warrington

Liaison Representatives: Dr. Jason Brophy (Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation), Dr. Ian Gemmill (Canadian Public Health Association), Dr. Alison Mawle (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Dr. Dorothy Moore (Canadian Paediatric Society), Dr. Heather Morrison, (Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health), Dr. Anne Opavsky (Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada), Dr. Pierre Plourde (Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel), Dr. Shelley Rechner (College of Family Physicians of Canada), Dr. Vyta Senikas (Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada).

Ex-Officio Representatives: Lt.-Col. Dr. Jim Anderson (Canadian Forces Health Services Group, Department of National Defence), Dr. Agnes Klein (Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate, Health Canada), Dr. Barbara Law (Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada), Dr. Marcus Lem (First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada), Ms. Danielle Poulin (Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Health Canada), Dr. Joanne Xiong (Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate, Health Canada).

Additional Influenza Working Group Members: Dr. Brenda Cholin, Dr. Curtis Cooper, Dr. Scott Halperin, Dr. Joanne Langley, Dr. Allison McGeer, and Dr. Paul Van Buynder.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v38i00a02a

Preamble

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provides the Public Health Agency of Canada with ongoing and timely medical, scientific and public health advice relating to immunization. The Public Health Agency of Canada acknowledges that the advice and recommendations set out in this statement are based upon the best currently available scientific knowledge and is disseminating this document for information purposes. People administering the vaccine should also be aware of the contents of the relevant product monograph(s). NACI recommendations for use and other information set out herein may differ from that set out in the product monograph(s). Manufacturer(s) have sought approval of the vaccine(s) and provided evidence as to its safety and efficacy only when it is used in accordance with the product monographs. NACI members and liaison members conduct themselves within the context of the Public Health Agency of Canada's Policy on Conflict of Interest, including yearly declaration of potential conflict of interest.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction

NACI now includes children 24 to 59 months of age among recommended recipients of seasonal influenza vaccine (NACI recommendation Grade A).

Children 24 to 59 months of age are at high risk for influenza related complications, carrying a significant burden of influenza illness and influenza-associated medical attendance, hospitalization and death. Additionally, children 24 to 59 months of age are efficient transmitters of influenza virus and their vaccination may protect high risk groups (e.g. young infants, the elderly, and the immunocompromised) who may themselves be too young to be vaccinated or may not respond well to the vaccine.

To inform this recommendation, a review of the literature was conducted for children 24-59 months of age. The literature search was conducted using the Medline and Embase databases and included the period from January 1, 2002 to November 2, 2011. Articles selected for review included studies based on trivalent inactivated and live-attentuated influenza vaccines. Articles based on studies of monovalent 2009 pdm A(H1N1) vaccines were not included as part of the evidence review. Although the age range included in the studies reviewed may extend beyond the 24 to 59 month age group, studies included either had a large proportion of participants in the target age range or a sub-group analysis of participants within the target age group was undertaken.

This appendix will discuss the evidence reviewed, including the burden of disease, and influenza vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, immunogenicity, and safety.

I.2 Burden of Disease

The burden of influenza infection, illness and complications is significant among children.Footnote 11-Footnote 44 Although healthy children 24 to 59 months of age are not impacted to the degree to which children <2 years of age are, this age group experiences influenza attributed morbidity and mortality, including significant rates of influenza attributed outpatient visits and hospitalizations.Footnote 11-Footnote 66

The estimated, annual influenza attack rate in children 24-59 months of age is reported in the range of 10-40%.Footnote 11Footnote 22Footnote 77 In specific settings, the attack rate has been found to be higher. For children attending day care in the United States (US), 50% of children were infected over the course of one influenza season.Footnote 77 In a 25-year prospective study of children <5 years of age enrolled at the Vanderbilt Vaccine Clinic in Tennessee, US, the annual laboratory confirmed influenza attack rate ranged from 15-42%.Footnote 22

Based on case reports from hospitals, paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and public health departments in California during the 2003-2004 to 2005-2006 influenza seasons, Louie et al. found that of the 160 cases of laboratory confirmed influenza infections reported in those <18 years of age, 47% were among previously healthy children and adolescents.Footnote 88 For the 131 cases reported among children <5 years of age, 52% were among previously healthy children.

In a retrospective study of children in Finland, approximately 12% of the influenza A attributed hospitalizations (n=544), median age 2.0 years (IQR 0.9–4.8), experienced febrile seizures.Footnote 99 Of the total hospitalizations, 25% had an underlying medical condition. A retrospective cohort study conducted in Hong Kong in 1997-98 examined medical records of children 6 months to 5 years of age, who were hospitalized with fever, n=144 in 1997 (mean age 24.9 months SD 14.7) and n=272 in 1998 (mean age 27.7 months SD14.5).Footnote 1010 The study found that the overall incidence of febrile seizures was significantly higher for children hospitalized for influenza A (19.5%) compared to parainfluenza (12.2%) and adenovirus (9%) infections, controlling for age, gender, and family history of febrile seizure. In a study by Schanzer et al. among Canadian children <19 years of age, febrile seizures among influenza related hospital admissions occurred almost exclusively in children <5 years of age, with the majority in those 6 to 23 months.Footnote 1111

Influenza surveillance in Canada is conducted through the FluWatch program, which is a national network of laboratories, hospitals, sentinel physicians and provincial and territorial ministries of health. Children 24 to 59 months of age represented between 7-9% of the total cases reported annually, from the 2005-06 to the 2010-11 influenza seasons.Footnote 1212

I.2.1 Outpatient visits

Outpatient visits were assessed in 2 prospective and 2 retrospective studies with population groups and analyses for participants 24 to 59 months of age. The annual rate of influenza-attributed outpatient visits varied by study and was assessed for total outpatient and acute respiratory infection visits.

In a 25 year prospective cohort study (1974-1999) of healthy children 5 years old or younger, Neuzil et al. found an annual incidence rate of 82 per 1,000 (95% CI: 65, 99) symptomatic health care visits associated with culture-positive influenza for children 24-59 months.Footnote 22 For children and infants <1 year and 1 to <2 years the annual rate of health care visits was 93 per 1,000 (95% CI: 76,109) and 110 per 1,000 (95% CI: 93,135) respectively.

From 2002-2004, Poehling et al. conducted a prospective population-based multi-year study in children <5 years of age in three US counties.Footnote 66 Of 1, 742 children enrolled in outpatient settings (select clinics and emergency departments) 16% (n=267) were diagnosed with influenza. For the 267 cases of influenza 52%, 40% and 7% were among children 24-59, 6-23 and 0-5 months, respectively. Approximately 20% of laboratory confirmed influenza cases in the outpatient setting had a high-risk condition. For children 24 to 59 months of age the average annual rate of outpatient visits attributable to influenza (85.5 per 1,000) was approximately 250 times higher than the hospitalization rate (0.3 per 1,000).

Over the course of 6 influenza seasons, 1994-2000, O'Brien et al. completed a retrospective analysis of influenza attributed outpatient visits for children and adolescents 6 months to 17 years using health information databases.Footnote 1313 The estimated rate of outpatient visits among healthy children 24-59 months of age, during the influenza defined seasonal periods, was 10.2 per 100 person-months (95% CI: 9.9, 10.6). For children 6 to 23 months the rate of outpatient visits was 14.5 per 100 person-months (95% CI: 13.9, 15.1).

Bourgeois et al. completed a population based study, 1993-2004, to estimate the rate of emergency department (ED) visits for acute respiratory infections (ARI) for children ≤7 years of age in Boston, Massachusetts.Footnote 1414 The estimated age-specific mean winter-season incidence of ED visits for influenza at the Children's Hospital Boston ED was 48 per 1 000 (95% CI: 37, 62) ARI visits for children 6 to 23 months and 45 per 1,000 (95% CI: 33, 61) ARI visits for children 24-59 months. The estimated age-specific mean winter-season incidence of ED visits for influenza at several Boston EDs was 22.1 per 1,000 (95% CI: 20.4, 23.7) ARI visits for children 6 to 23 months and 11.5 per 1,000 (95% CI: 10.6, 12.3) ARI visits for children 24-59 months.

I.2.2 Hospitalizations

Hospitalization rates for children <5 years of age were reviewed in 6 studies, using both prospective and retrospective designs, with influenza-associated hospitalization rates varying by study. From the 2004-05 to 2010-11 influenza seasons, surveillance data from the Canadian surveillance network, Immunization Monitoring Program ACTive (IMPACT) was also reviewed for children 24 to 59 months of age.

Thompson et al. estimated the rate of influenza-associated hospitalizations, using ICD-9-CM codes and US viral surveillance and hospital discharge data from 1979 to 2001. In children <5 years of age the average annual rate of influenza-associated hospitalizations was approximately 1.1 per 1,000 person-years.Footnote 55 They also found that the annual rate of influenza-associated hospitalizations for children <5 years of age was greater than for those 5-54 years of age across ICD-9-CM diagnostic categories for Pneumonia and influenza hospitalizations (ICD-9-CMcodes 480-487) and Respiratory and circulatory hospitalizations (ICD-9-CMcodes 390-519). The rate was also greater for children <5 years of age compared to those 50-64 years for hospital discharge diagnosis, Respiratory and circulatory hospitalizations.

In the prospective population-based multi-year study of children <5 years of age by Poehling et al., 6% of the total hospital admissions enrolled (n= 2797) were diagnosed with influenza. Of these 160 cases, 49% were 0-5 months, 31% were 6-23 months and 20% were 24-59 months.Footnote 66 The average annual hospitalization rate for laboratory-confirmed influenza was 0.3 per 1,000 (95% CI: 0.2 to 0.5) children 24-59 months compared to 0.9 per 1,000 (95% CI: 0.7, 1.2 ) children 6-23 months and 4.5 per 1,000 (95% CI: 3.4, 5.5 ) for those 0-5 months. Approximately 20% of laboratory confirmed influenza cases in the inpatient settings had a high-risk condition.

O'Brien et al. completed a retrospective analysis, covering the years 1994-2000, of influenza attributed hospitalizations for children and adolescents 6 months to 17 years using health information databases.Footnote 1313 The estimated hospitalization rate for healthy children 24-59 months of age, during the influenza defined seasonal periods, was 5.7 per 10,000 person-months (95% CI: 3.0, 9.0 ). For healthy children 6 to 23 months the estimated hospitalization rate was 10.4 per 10,000 person-months (95% CI: 6.0, 17.0 ).

Izurieta et al. estimated the influenza hospitalization rate for children and adolescents <18 years of age, using data from the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California and the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Seattle, from 1992 to 1997.Footnote 44 The Northern California hospitalization rate for acute respiratory disease, during periods when influenza virus predominated, for children without high-risk conditions was 231 per 100,000 person-months (95% CI: 197, 271) for children <2 years of age, 53 per 100,000 person-months (95% CI: 38, 72) for those 2 to 4 years of age and 19 per 100,000 person-months (95% CI: 15, 24) for those 5 to 17 years of age. The hospitalization rate for acute respiratory disease in Puget Sound, Seattle, during periods when influenza virus predominated, for children without high-risk conditions, was 193 per 100,000 person-months (95%CI: 154, 238) for children <2 years of age, 21 per 100,000 (95%CI: 11, 38) for those 2 to 4 years of age, and 16 per 100,000 (95%CI: 12, 22) for those 5 to 17 years of age.

Among children and adolescents <21 years of age, Coffin et al. found an incidence of lab-confirmed influenza related hospitalizations (n=231) of 6.8 per 10,000 child-years (95% CI: 2.6, 14.4) among their urban neighborhood cohort.Footnote 1515 For children 0-23 months the rate was 41.6 per 10,000 child-years (95% CI: 30.2, 56.7) and for children 2-4 years of age the rate was 7.0 per 10,000 child-years (95% CI: 2.8, 14.4). Of the total sample, 77% were <5 years of age and 49% had a high-risk condition. Of the total influenza hospitalizations (n=745) from 2000-2004, 18% were among children 2-4 years of age, whereas 60% were among those <24 months. For children 2-4 years of age (n=135), 39% were previously healthy. The rate of complications among healthy children was not statistically different between age groups.

From 1973-1999 Neuzil et al. conducted a retrospective cohort study of healthy children and adolescents <15 years of age.Footnote 33 The standardized rate of influenza attributed cardiopulmonary hospitalizations for children 3-5 years of age was estimated at 43 per 10,000 person years, 79 per 10,000 for children 1-3 years of age and 22 per 10,000 for children 5 to 15 years of age. Similar to the other studies, rates of hospitalization were highest in the <6 month old age group and declined with age.

The Immunization Monitoring Program ACTive (IMPACT) is a paediatric hospital surveillance network that collects data on adverse events following immunization, vaccine failures and surveillance information on other infectious diseases in 12 centres across Canada for children and adolescents <16 years of age. From the 2004-05 to 2010-11 influenza seasons (see Table 1, below), the proportion of children 24 to 59 months of age hospitalized due to laboratory confirmed influenza, out of the total number of paediatric hospitalized influenza cases in children and adolescents < 16 years of age (<18 years of age during pandemic years), ranged from 20-29%.

Table 1: Proportion of paediatric laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations among children 24-59 months of age, as reported through the Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program ACTive ( IMPACT ), 2004-05 to 2010-11 influenza seasons
Influenza season Type of season Proportion of paediatric hospitalizations that were in children between 24 to 59 months of age(%, n/N) Predominant age groups among paediatric hospitalizations(age group, %)
2004-05 A 20.2% (79/391) < 2 years (54.7%)
2005-06 mix 27.3% (102/374) < 2 years (38.5%)
2006-07 A 25.9% (96/370) < 2 years (49.5%)
2007-08 mix 23.3% (116/497) < 2 years (46.7%)
2008-09 Table1 Footnote 1* A 21.9% (168/767) < 2 years (36.2%) ≥ 5 years (41.9%)
2009-10 Table1 Footnote 2* A 22.7% (215/948) ≥ 5 years (47.6%)
2010-11 A 29.1% (195/671) < 2 years (44.0%)
Footnote
Seasons affected by the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic of 2009.
I.2.3 Mortality

The number of influenza attributed deaths is difficult to estimate directly because influenza infections are not typically confirmed virologically, or specified on hospital discharge forms or death certificates. Mortality rates were reported in two analyses of data from US surveillance systems and two studies using prospectively collected data.

Thompson et al., using US national mortality and viral surveillance data, modeled the influenza mortality rate from the 1990-1991 through 1998-1999 seasons.Footnote 1616 The estimated annual influenza mortality rate was greatest for those ≥65 years of age for the following causes of death: Pneumonia and influenza deaths (ICD-9 codes 480-487), Underlying respiratory and circulatory deaths (ICD-9 codes 390-519 and ICD-10 codes I00-I99, J00-J99), and All-cause deaths (all ICD codes). For children 1-4 years of age, the estimated annual influenza mortality rate, ICD-09 code Underlying pneumonia and influenza, was 0.2 per 100,000 person-years compared to 0.3 per 100,000 for those <1 year. For cause of death, Underlying respiratory and circulatory (ICD-9 codes), children 1-4 years had a lower estimated annual influenza mortality rate compared to those <1 year, 0.4 vs. 0.6, respectively. For cause of death, All-cause (all ICD codes), children 1-4 years of age had a lower estimated annual influenza mortality rate compared to those <1 year, 2.2 vs. 1.1, respectively. In all age groups, except those <1 year age, influenza was associated with more deaths than RSV.

Bhat et al., using standardized report forms, collected data on laboratory confirmed influenza-related pediatric deaths (<18 years) during the 2003-2004 influenza season. Of the reported deaths (n=153), 96 (63%) were among children <5 years and 61 (40%) were among children <2 years.Footnote 1717 Of the 149 cases for which data was reported, 33% had an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices high-risk condition. Overall the mortality rate declined as age increased. Louie et al., analyzed data on laboratory confirmed influenza-related pediatric deaths (<18 years) during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 influenza seasons in California, US. Of the 160 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases reported, 15 were fatal with the following age distribution: <6 months n=2, 6 to 23 months n=5, 2 to 4 years n=4, 5 to 11 years n=2 and 12 to 17 years n=2. Of the 15 fatal cases 27% were previously healthy.Footnote 88

During the 2006-2007 influenza season in the US, 68 deaths were reported among those <18 years of age. Of the total deaths, 10 were among children <6 months, 10 were among children 6-23 months, 9 were among children 2-4 years, and 39 were among those 5-17 years of age.Footnote 1818

I.3 Efficacy and Effectiveness

The efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines have been shown to vary based on factors such as age, immunocompetence, similarity between the virus strains in the vaccines and those circulating in the community, and the outcome being measured. Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness studies have evaluated outcomes such as incidence of laboratory confirmed influenza, medically attended acute respiratory illness, self-reported ILI, and AOM. Given the differences between TIV and LAIV, the efficacy and effectiveness of the two vaccines are reviewed separately.

I.3.1 Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines (TIV)

During the period that was selected for the literature review, ten cohort, seven case-control, one longitudinal, one ecological, and two descriptive studies were identified assessing TIV vaccine efficacy and effectiveness. Of the eleven studies evaluating laboratory confirmed influenza, the majority of them estimated TIV to have a vaccine efficacy of 45-60% (range 39-86%). Five studiesFootnote 1919-Footnote 2323 demonstrated that in children who required two doses of vaccine, receiving both doses conferred better protection against illness and inpatient or outpatient visits than receiving one dose only. One study estimated a higher VE for partial vaccination than full vaccination, but with overlapping confidence intervals.Footnote 2424

Laboratory confirmed influenza

The incidence of laboratory confirmed influenza was the outcome assessed in eleven of the studies reviewed, with the majority using viral culture and/or RT-PCR.Footnote 2020-Footnote 2828 One study used a rapid diagnostic testFootnote 2929, and another an enzyme immunoassay membrane testFootnote 3030 to confirm influenza infections.

Modest protection in children was identified in Belongia et al.,Footnote 2525 during the 2007-08 influenza season in Wisconsin, US. Medically-attended participants were selected for a case-control analysis from a prospective community cohort. Of 1914 participants in the study, 412 (22%) were children 6-59 months of age. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) in children 6-59 months was 39% (95% CI: 2, 62). When restricted to children who were tested 0-3 days after illness onset the VE decreased to 31% (95% CI: -24, 62). This was the lowest estimated value when compared to the other age groups (48% in 5-49 and 53% in ≥50). Poor lineage matching of the B strain was identified in the study during the 2007-08 season.

Eisenberg et al.Footnote 2020 observed both low and moderate VE during the two influenza seasons studied in a case-control study of 2,474 children 6-59 months of age with medically attended acute respiratory infections. In a subgroup analysis of fully vaccinated children 24-59 months of age, VE was estimated to be 66% (95% CI: -106, 94) in 2003/04 and 63% (95% CI: 16, 84) in 2004/05. Partial vaccination was not effective in either season. Suboptimal matching of the vaccine and circulating strains, more significant in 2003/04 than 2004/05, was hypothesized to have had an impact on the VE estimates.

In a prospective cohort study by Heinonen et al.,Footnote 2626 631 children 9 months to 3 years of age were followed during the 2007/08 influenza season in Turku, Finland. Fifty-six percent of the population was 2-3 years of age (n=353), and an analysis comparing fully vaccinated to unvaccinated participants in this subgroup estimated a VE of 100% (95% CI: 6, 100; p=0.05) against influenza A and 33% (95% CI: -97, 78; p=0.78) against influenza B. Similar VE estimates were found in a case-control analysis of the participants, with partially vaccinated individuals considered unvaccinated.

Two multi-year studies were conducted in Japan by Joshi et al.Footnote 2121 and Katayose et al.,Footnote 2929among children 6 months to <6 years . Joshi et al. followed 206 children 6-59 months of age from 1999/00 to 2006/07. VE comparing vaccinated to unvaccinated children was 86% (95% CI: 29, 97) in fully vaccinated and 73% (95% CI: 3, 93) in partially vaccinated children. Katayose et al. conducted a prospective, non-randomized observational study in a small Japanese region between 2002/03 and 2007/08 with 14,788 children 6 months to <6 years of age. The VE of children 2 to<3 years, 3 to <4 years and 4 to<5 years of age, was 57% (95% CI: 49, 68; p<0.01), 53% (95% CI: 42, 67; p<0.01), and 45% (95% CI: 25, 67; p<0.01) respectively against illness attributed to influenza A. Against influenza B illness, VE was estimated to be 71% (p<0.01) in children 2 to<3 years, 60% (p<0.01) in children 3 to<4 years, and 51% (p<0.01) in children 4 to<5 years.

An Australian case-control studyFootnote 2222 recruited 289 children 6-59 months of age from general practices (n=75) and one paediatric emergency department (n=214). Approximately half of these children were ≥2 years of age. VE was estimated to be 58% (95% CI: 9, 81), among all children, 51% (95% CI: -21, 80) in children recruited from the emergency department, and 87% (95% CI: 8, 98) in children from general practices. TIV was more effective against influenza A (VE: 82%, 95% CI: 21, 96), than influenza B, where the VE was 43% (95% CI: -39, 77). The higher VE in children in the general practice study arm may be the result of a single general practice with a vigorous childhood immunization program which contributed half of the arm's study participants. In this general practice, 64% of children from the general practice were fully vaccinated compared to 37% of children from the emergency department. Thirteen cases of vaccine failure were reported, nine of which were due to a mismatch in the influenza B strain.

Szilagyi et al.Footnote 2828 conducted a case cohort study, enrolling 9,468 in-patient and 1,438 out-patient children 6-59 months over two influenza seasons between 2003 and 2005 in the US. Cases were identified prospectively by visits for acute respiratory infection and controls were retrieved and age-stratified retrospectively from medical records. VE for children 24-59 months of age ranged from -108% to 77% for fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated children over the two influenza seasons, none of which were statistically significant estimates. As noted in other studies, suboptimal antigenic matching between vaccine and circulating strains in 2003/04 and 2004/05 affected the ability to demonstrate VE in preventing influenza-related in-patient or out-patient visits.

Shuler et al.Footnote 2424 followed 870 children 6-59 months of age from a single paediatric clinic in a case-control study in Georgia, US. Controls were aged matched, by month, to cases with laboratory confirmed influenza in a 2:1 ratio. Adjusting for high-risk conditions and health care usage, a subgroup analysis of children 24-59 months of age estimated a VE of 45% (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.3, 0.9; p<0.05) in fully vaccinated compared to unvaccinated children. Partially vaccinated children in this age group experienced a higher VE of 65% (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.7; p<0.05), however the confidence intervals overlap. VE of partial vaccination was insignificant when estimated for the entire study population. As noted in other studies, suboptimal antigenic matching between vaccine and circulating strains was identified as a factor in the 2003/04 season.

Over two influenza seasons, between 2005 and 2007, Staat et al.Footnote 2323 conducted a prospective, population-based case-control study in children 6-59 months of age in the US. Controls were matched to cases by regional site, highest level of care received, age group, and date of illness onset. Children were enrolled in the study from in-patient and out-patient facilities, with 268 children enrolled in 2005-06 and 528 in 2006-07. The analysis of children 24-59 months of age estimated a VE of 43% (95% CI: -62, 80) in the first season, and 76% (95% CI: -16, 95) in the second in fully vaccinated children. The estimated VE in partially vaccinated children was 6% (95% CI: -330, 80) and 44% (95% CI: -77, 82) in the first and second seasons, respectively. Combining both seasons, VE was 56% (95% CI: 3, 80) in fully vaccinated and 34% (95% CI: -64, 73) in partially vaccinated children.

Influenza-like illness

ILI was assessed in five unique studies, four of which were medically attended (out-patient clinic or emergency department).Footnote 1919Footnote 3131-Footnote 3434 All studies noted reductions in the outcome of interest in vaccinated children.

Ghendon et al.Footnote 3232 studied the clinical effectiveness of TIV in a mass vaccination campaign in school-aged children in Russia. Comparing rates of physician-diagnosed ILI (temperature >38°C with cough or sore throat) in two intervention and two control communities, healthy children 3-6 years of age experienced 2.56 times fewer cases of illness, with a vaccine effectiveness of 60.9% (p<0.01). There was a good antigenic match between vaccine and circulating A/H3N2 and B strains during the study season.

Two studies by Ritzwoller et al.Footnote 1919and Hoen et al.Footnote 3535 reviewed patient health records to assess ILI-related outcomes among pediatric populations in the US and Canada. In a retrospective cohort study, Ritzwoller et al. reviewed electronic records of outpatient and emergency department visits in Colorado, US for ILI and pneumonia and influenza (P&I) outcomes in children 6 months to 8 years of age. Approximately 92% of the ILI events and 90.5% of P&I events were recorded from outpatient facilities. The hazard rate ratio (HRR) adjusted for sex, age and prior illness against ILI was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.90; p<0.001) in fully vaccinated children 2-8 years of age, and was not statistically significant in partially vaccinated children. Against P&I, fully vaccinated children experienced a protective effect with an HRR of 0.49 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.67; p<0.001), while the effect was lessened in the partially vaccinated children with an HRR of t (95% CI: 0.62, 0.95; p<0.001). The ecological study by Hoen et al. reviewed ILI-related paediatric emergency department visits from 2000/01 to 2008/09 in a Canadian and American hospital. In 2006/07, the ACIP recommendation to vaccinate all children 2-5 years of age was introduced, and a reduction in visits was subsequently observed (rate ratio: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.75) in children 2-4 years of age in the US compared to the Canadian hospital. However, this study does not consider differences in factors such as demographics or the health care systems of the two cities studied, and estimates vaccination rates from other community-based surveys.

One prospective cohort study of paediatric clinics across JapanFootnote 3131 assessed the incidence of ILI and frequency of medical office visits in vaccinated and unvaccinated children less than six years of age using parental symptom reports and clinic records. The adjusted odds ratio was significant only during the peak epidemic period for severe ILI (ILI with fever ≥39.0°C) OR : 0.75 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.91; p=0.031), and only among children 3.0-3.9 years of age (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.96), although the authors suggest this may be the result of reduced statistical power when conducting subgroup analyses. When all children are included in the analysis, a small reduction in medical office visits related to severe ILI between vaccinated and unvaccinated children was observed (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.96; p=0.023). Medical visits for any cause was also lower in vaccinated children (OR : 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64, 0.98; p=0.028) when all children were included.

The multicentre cohort study by Fujiedaet al.Footnote 3333Footnote 3434 recruited participants from paediatric clinics, identifying febrile cases using parental reports. From a sample of 2913 children <6 years of age, with vaccination status self-selected by parents, vaccine effectiveness among children 2.0-5.9 years of age was 33% (95% CI: 21, 44%). In the analysis of smaller age categories, the OR was statistically significant for children 2.0-2.9 (0.61, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.84; p=0.002) and 3.0-3.9 years of age (0.60, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.84; p=0.003), but not for children 4.0-4.9 years of age.

Hospitalizations

Based on the search completed for the evidence review, only two studies were found to assess hospitalizations related to influenza in this age group. The observational study by Katayose et al.Footnote 2929 evaluated VE for two doses of TIV against influenza A and B hospitalizations in Japan. Over 6 influenza seasons of follow-up, VE of children 2 to<3 years, 3 to<4 years and 4 to<5 years of age for influenza A were 61% (p<0.05), 74% (p<0.01), 74% (p<0.01). VE for influenza B hospitalizations ranged from 68-88%, but were not significant. In Dixon et al.,Footnote 2727 the VE in fully vaccinated compared to unvaccinated children in Western Australia admitted to hospital with laboratory confirmed positive and negative influenza, was 83%, although not significant.

I.3.2 Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines (LAIV)

Six studies evaluating vaccine efficacy and effectiveness were reviewed. All six studies were RCTs, five of which used an outcome of laboratory confirmed influenza, and one assessing over-the counter medication and prescription drug use. Three studies were community-based field trials evaluating medically attended acute respiratory illness for communities where a mass vaccination campaign in school-age children was introduced. VE estimates ranged from 44-85%, with most estimates falling between 50% and 85% for laboratory confirmed influenza. Given the relatively new entry of LAIV into the market, fewer of these studies assessed or conducted subgroup analyses specifically for children 24-59 months of age. For further details on LAIV please see the Recommendations on the use of live, attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist®) Supplemental Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2011-2012 .Footnote 3636

Laboratory confirmed influenza

In an RCT of LAIV and TIV, Ashkenazi et al.Footnote 3737 randomized 2, 187 children 6 to 71 months of age with a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections ( RTIs), including, but not limited to, common colds, acute otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis. From this population, 2,085 children were evaluated for efficacy in the per protocol population. There were 53% (95% CI: 22, 72) fewer cases of culture-confirmed influenza caused by vaccine-matched strains among recipients of LAIV compared with recipients of TIV (24/1,050 versus 50/1,035, respectively). In the study's evaluation of health outcomes related to all-cause respiratory illness (i.e. influenza and non-influenza), LAIV recipients reported 9% (95% CI: 2, 16) fewer health care provider visit days and 16% (95% CI: 10, 22) fewer missed days from school or child care, compared with TIV recipients. There was no impact noted on medication or antibiotic treatment for respiratory tract infections, overnight hospitalizations or wheezing associated with influenza-like illness. In a post hoc analysis,Footnote 3838 LAIV was found to decrease the severity of influenza illness that occurred despite vaccination (breakthrough influenza) compared to TIV .

In 2004–2005, Belshe et al.Footnote 3939 compared the efficacy of LAIV and TIV in a multinational, randomized, double-blind study in 7,852 children 6 to 59 months of age. Study groups were well matched with regard to history of prior influenza vaccination (22–23%), history of wheezing (21–22%), recurrent wheezing (6–7%), and asthma (4%). An investigation for influenza illness was initiated upon report of fever plus ≥1 other symptom of cough, sore throat, or runny nose/nasal congestion. There were 45% (95% CI: 22, 61) fewer cases of influenza caused by matched strains in LAIV recipients than TIV recipients (53/3,916 versus 93/3,936, respectively), and 58% (95% CI: 47, 67) fewer cases caused by mismatched strains (102/3, 916 versus 245/3,936, respectively). In a post-hoc analysisFootnote 4040 of children aged 24-35, 36-47 and 48-59 months of age, the relative efficacy of LAIV versus TIV was 57% (95% CI: 40, 69), 42% (95% CI: 5, 66), and 56% (95% CI: 25, 75) respectively for all influenza strains.

The randomized, multi-year, placebo controlled studies by Tam et al. and Vesikari et al. conducted in two seasons (2000 to 2002) found LAIV to be efficacious in preventing culture-confirmed influenza caused by antigenically matched strains in vaccinated and revaccinated children. The first study by Tam et al.Footnote 4141 was conducted in eight Asian countries with healthy children 12 to 35 months of age (first year overall vaccine efficacy 73%, 95% CI: 62,80; second year overall efficacy 84%, 95% CI: 70,92). The second study by Vesikari et al.Footnote 4242 involved healthy children 6 to 35 months of age attending daycare in five European countries (first year overall vaccine efficacy 85%, 95% CI: 74,92; second year overall efficacy 89%, 95% CI: 82,93). In Tam et al., there were insufficient cases of A/H1N1 or B strains to determine statistical significance, but efficacy against those strains was later determined by assessing reductions in medically attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI) against a drifted A/H1N1 and B strain by Gaglani et al. and Halloran et al..Footnote 4343 In Vesikari et al., when there was a good match between vaccine and circulating strains, efficacy against A/H1N1 strains was 91.8% (95% CI: 80.8,97.1) in year one, and 90.0% (95% CI: 56.3, 98.9) in year two. Efficacy against influenza B strains was 72.6% (95% CI: 38.6, 88.9) in year one and 81.7% (95% CI: 53.7, 91.9) in year two. Efficacy against A/H3N2 was not assessed in the first year, but in the second year when it was the predominantly circulating strain, efficacy was 90.3% (95% CI: 82.9, 94.9).

Similarly, a study by Bracco Neto et al.Footnote 4444, conducted with healthy vaccine-naïve children 6 to <36 months of age during the 2001 and 2002 influenza seasons in South Africa, Brazil and Argentina, found a reduction in culture-confirmed influenza caused by matched and mismatched strains. In year one, vaccine efficacy versus placebo in children vaccinated with one or two doses of LAIV was 57.7% (95% CI: 44.7, 67.9) and 73.5% (95% CI: 63.6, 81.0) respectively, against matched strains. In year two, absolute efficacy of a single dose of LAIV was 65.2% (95% CI: 31.2, 82.8) and 73.6% (95% CI: 33.3, 91.2) respectively, in recipients of one or two doses of LAIV in year one. Year two efficacy in recipients who received two doses of LAIV in year one and placebo in year two was 57% (95% CI: 6.1, 81.7) against antigenically similar strains compared to those who received placebo in both years. Efficacy was 35.3% (95% CI: -0.3, 58.7) and 20.4% against any community acquired strain and antigenically dissimilar influenza B strains, respectively. In addition, when the groups who received placebo in year one and either one dose of LAIV or placebo in year two were compared, efficacy of a single dose of LAIV was 60.3% against matched strains and 59.4% (95% CI: 32.3, 76.4) against any community strain and 54.9% (95% CI:16.6, 76.6) against mismatched B strains.

The absolute efficacy of LAIV in young children has been further documented by a 2009 meta-analysis by Rhorer et al.Footnote 4545 examining efficacy against culture-confirmed influenza as compared to placebo in randomized clinical trials in 25,000 children 6 to 71 months of age. In this analysis, combined year one vaccine efficacy (relative to placebo) for two doses in vaccine-naïve young children was 77% (p<0.001) against matched strains and 72% (p<0.001) against strains regardless of antigenic match in the per protocol population. It was noted that efficacy varied by strain, showing that vaccine efficacy versus placebo after two doses was 85% (95% CI: 78,90), 76% (95% CI: 70, 81), and 73% (95% CI: 63, 80) against antigenically similar A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B respectively.

In summary, LAIV shows high vaccine efficacy in children across all age groups when compared with placebo, regardless of the circulating subtype.

ILI and medically attended acute respiratory illness

In non-randomized, community-based studies, other measures of vaccine effectiveness have been evaluated. Gaglani et al.Footnote 4343 studied healthy children aged 18 months to 18 years across three influenza seasons (1998 to 2001) in Texas, US. The study measured the direct effectiveness of LAIV against influenza A/H1N1 and B infections by comparing rates of medically attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI) in LAIV recipients and age-eligible non-recipients in the intervention communities. A single dose of LAIV was received by 9,765/19,700 children aged 1.5 to 18 years during the study. Individuals aged 1.5 to 4 years of age who had received LAIV for three consecutive years up to and including 2000-2001 demonstrated overall direct effectiveness of 20% (95% CI: 10, 28) on decreasing MAARI during the weeks in the 2000-2001 influenza season with an identified influenza A and B epidemic, and 16% (95% CI: 1, 28) during the weeks where only influenza A (H1N1) was predominant. The study also measured the total effectiveness of LAIV by comparing MAARI for LAIV recipients with that of non-recipients in comparison communities where LAIV was not offered. Individuals aged 2.5 to 4 years of age who had received LAIV for three consecutive years demonstrated a total effectiveness of 18% (95% CI: 8, 26) on decreasing MAARI during the weeks with an identified influenza A and B epidemic, and 16% (95% CI: 2, 28) during the weeks where only influenza A (H1N1) was predominant.

I.3.3 Acute Otitis Media

TIV and LAIV have been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of AOM. In a prospective cohort study by Ozgur et al.,Footnote 4646 119 children, 6 to 60 months of age, attending daycare centres in Ankara, Turkey were assessed for AOM, otitis media with effusion (OME), and OM (AOM and OME events combined) every six weeks for six months for one influenza season. At the end of the study period, fewer cases of AOM (2.3% vs. 5.2%, p=0.012), OME (22.8% vs. 31.1%, p=0.002), and OM (25.2% vs. 36.3%, p<0.001) were found in children who received TIV compared to those who received no vaccine. The frequency of AOM, OME and OM between the two groups was not statistically different before or after the influenza season. The calculated vaccine effectiveness against AOM was 50.9%. In the study by Belshe et al.,Footnote 3939comparing LAIV to TIV, there was a reduction in otitis media of 51% (95% CI:22-70%) and lower respiratory tract illness of 46% (95% CI: 4-70%) for all strains combined, regardless of match to the vaccine.

I.3.4 Indirect Protection

While vaccinating healthy children 24-59 months of age results in a direct benefit in the reduction of influenza-related outcomes, there is also evidence that benefits are extended to household and other contacts in the community. Studies have shown that family members of influenza-vaccinated healthy children experience fewer influenza-related illnesses or respiratory-tract infections, medical visits, missed working or school days, and require fewer antibiotic prescriptions and over-the-counter medication.Footnote 3232Footnote 4747Footnote 4848 In studies with community-wide influenza vaccination programs for children, not necessarily restricted to those 24-59 months of age, reduced rates of MAARI were observed in intervention communities for adults ≥35 years of age.Footnote 4949 A Canadian study conducted in Hutterite communities estimated indirect vaccine protectiveness at 61% (95% CI: 8, 83%, p=0.03) for non-recipients of the influenza vaccine (individuals who were >15 years of age).Footnote 5050

Using a dynamic transmission model, Pitman et al.Footnote 5151 assessed the indirect impact of pediatric (age 2-18 years) immunization with LAIV on the larger population in England and Wales. Assuming 80% VE and 80% coverage in those 2-5 years of age over a 15 year timeframe (2009-2024), the model predicted an annual average of 2.4 million cases averted (<2 years: 106,000; 5-18 years; 1 million; 19-49 years: 840,000; 50-64 years: 310,000; 65+ years: 75,000). Additionally, the model estimated that there would be a reduction in the mean annual number of general practice consultations, hospitalisations and deaths in the entire England and Wales population of 44%, 40% and 36% respectively.

I.4 Immunogenicity

Studies have demonstrated that TIV and LAIV are immunogenic in children 24-59 months of age.Footnote 4141Footnote 5252-Footnote 5454 TIV is typically more immunogenic with increasing age in paediatric populations, however, TIV-induced immunity is observed to be more durable in adults.Footnote 5555 When using TIV , a better immunogenic response is observed when children have been primed by natural infection or previous influenza vaccination.Footnote 77Footnote 5656

LAIV has been shown to be equally if not more immunogenic than TIV in children. It is thought that with LAIV, exposure to more antigens presented by a live vaccine virus causes an immune response that mimics the response induced by natural infection with wild-type viruses. LAIV may stimulate a mucosal IgA and/or T-cell-mediated immune response, and the production of more broadly cross-reactive humoral antibodies that can confer cross-protection in circumstances where there is a suboptimal match of the vaccine and epidemic influenza strains. (See FluMist Statement for more information on the immunogenicity of LAIV.)Footnote 3636

I.5 Safety

Based on evidence from randomized clinical trials, other analytical studies and postmarketing surveillance data, live attenuated and trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines have been shown to be safe and well tolerated among children 24 to 59 months of age. Rates of adverse events following immunization are low with rates of serious adverse events even lower. The safety of LAIV and trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines (TIV) will be discussed separately below.

I.5.1 Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines (TIV)

The assessment of TIV safety data for children 24-59 months was primarily based on five randomized, active-controlled trials,Footnote 3737Footnote 3939Footnote 5454Footnote 5757Footnote 5858 a self-controlled screening study,Footnote 5959 and a community-based cohort study.Footnote 3232 Safety was also assessed using postmarketing surveillance data from the US and Canada,Footnote 6060Footnote 6161 as well as other completed reviews. Several of the studies reviewed included both TIV and LAIV study arms. These studies are described in detail in section I.5.3, below.

The safety of TIV among children 24-59 months has been assessed using standard solicited adverse events (AE) (local and systemic) including erythema, pain/tenderness, swelling, interference with limb movement, malaise, drowsiness, fever, irritability/fussiness, loss of appetite, headache and myalgia, as well as unsolicited events.Footnote 3939Footnote 5757Footnote 58

Frequently reported events among TIV recipients include tenderness / injection site pain, runny nose / nasal congestion, cough, decreased appetite, irritability and fever.Footnote 3737Footnote 3838Footnote 5757Footnote 58 Several studies reported that the majority of reactogenicity and local and systemic adverse events were mild to moderate and transient.Footnote 38Footnote 39Footnote 5757 Additionally, for a number of the studies reviewed no serious adverse events (SAE)Footnote 3232Footnote 5454Footnote 57Footnote 5858 or deathsFootnote 3737Footnote 3939Footnote57 considered related to study vaccines were reported.

Glanz et al.Footnote 5959 completed a self-controlled case series analysis among children 24-59 months who had been provided care through one of seven managed care organizations (MCO) in the US. The authors searched the MCO databases for medically attended events (MAE) using ICD-09-CM codes. Following the intial screening for ICD-09-CM codes the authors confirmed MAE through a medical record review. In their analysis of less serious conditions, the authors found that medically attended limb soreness was significantly associated with TIV in the 2 days following vaccination (p=0.04). The only potentially serious condition associated with vaccination was aggravated GI tract disorders among the sub-cohort of children with a high-risk condition (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 7.70 (95% CI: 1.11-53.52)). The authors also found that in their analysis of annual doses over multiple years, there was no significant trend observed for MAE (non-confirmed through medical record review) with increasing doses, from 2 to 5. Due to the small number of MAE for dose 4 and 5 and the non-significant trend, the clinical relevance of these findings are difficult to interpret.Footnote 5959

In a randomized, active-controlled trial among children 6 months to 18 years by Baxter et al.,Footnote 57 comparing Fluarix® and Fluzone®, the rates of local adverse events (pain, redness and swelling) were similar between both TIV study arms for participants 6-36 months and 3-5 years. For both study groups, the percentage of children presenting with pain, redness and swelling was less than 50%, 30% and 20%, respectively. Systemic events were also similar for children 6 months to <5 years across study groups, with the percentage of children presenting with drowsiness, fever, irritability and loss of appetite less than 30%, 15%, 40% and 25% respectively.Footnote 57 Baxter et al. also reported that there were no fatal events and that no SAE were considered casually related to the study vaccines.

Postmarketing surveillance of adverse events can provide important safety data on licensed/authorized vaccines, including the detection of new adverse events and signals. In Canada and the US postmarketing safety data is collected through passive surveillance systems, with data reported on a voluntary basis. Although such systems can provide important safety signals, the size of the population at risk cannot be determined and therefore it is not possible to estimate the incidence of adverse vaccine events or establish causal relationships.

In Canada, data from the Canadian Adverse Events Following Immunization Surveillance System (CAEFISS) Footnote 61 has shown seasonal Influenza vaccines to be safe with a stable AEFI profile and no new or unexpected events, except for a notable signal in 2000/2001 related to ORS. From 2000/2001 to 2011/2012 a total of 15,813 adverse events following immunization (AEFI) reports, 520 serious, have been submitted to CAEFISS for all age groups. Of those reports, 949 were in children 2 to <6 years of age, with 6% (n=59) reported as serious.For this age group the mean and median age is 3.7 years, with 25% of the reports (including serious reports) for children between 2 to <3 years of age. Among children 2 to <6 years there were no fatalities or cases of residual disability reported. Local reactions were the most commonly reported AEFIs (35% of reports), followed by rashes, fever, allergic and gastrointestinal symptoms (10% of reports).Fevers, convulsions, rashes, cellulitis and allergic reactions were the most common groups of symptoms reported for serious cases. Medical history information was available for only 24% of reports, with allergies and asthma being the most common concomitant conditions described.

Using data from the US, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), Muhammad et al. conducted a review of reported events for TIV from 1990-2006 for children and adolescents 2 to 17 years of age.Footnote 60 The number of estimated influenza vaccinations in children 24-59 months in 2004-05 was 2,481,771. Their analysis did not produce any new or unexpected AE. Of the total reported events among those 2-17 years (n=2, 054), 40% were among those 24-59 months. Among the adverse events reported for children 24-59 months (n=819), 47% had a previous dose of TIV. Among reported AE, 44% were among females and the median age was 3 years (range 2-4.9 years). From 1990-2006 there were 10 deaths reported among those 24-59 months of age. All of these deaths were among children with underlying chronic conditions, which may have contributed to their death. Also reported among this age group were five cases of GBS. Of these cases, four were verified, three of which occurred within four weeks of vaccination and the fourth within nine weeks. Three of the cases had a preceding illness, including viral syndrome, fever/ dysuria and strep throat.

I.5.2 Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines (LAIV)

The assessment of LAIV safety data for children 24-59 months was primarily based on data from nine randomized controlled trials,Footnote 37Footnote 39Footnote 41Footnote 42Footnote 44Footnote 54Footnote 62-Footnote 64 and one prospective, open label, non- randomized trial.Footnote 4949 Safety was also assessed using postmarketing surveillance data from the US and Canada,Footnote 36Footnote 61 as well as other completed reviews and the Recommendations on the use of live, attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist®): Supplemental Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2011-2012.Footnote 36 As noted above, several of the studies reviewed included both TIV and LAIV study arms. These studies are described in detail in section I.5.3 below.

The safety of LAIV has been assessed using several solicited and unsolicited reactogenic and adverse events (AE) (local and systemic) including runny nose, nasal congestion, malaise, drowsiness, fever, cough, sore throat, irritability/fussiness, loss of appetite, headache and myalgia.Footnote 39Footnote 41Footnote 54Footnote 64 In several studies reviewed, reactogenicity and local and systemic adverse events have been shown to be mild to moderate and transient.Footnote 38Footnote 39Footnote 63Footnote 65 Frequently reported events among LAIV recipients include runny/stuffy nose, cough, decreased appetite, irritability, abdominal pain, decreased activity, headache, vomiting, sore throat, muscle ache, chills, URI and fever.Footnote 36Footnote 37Footnote 42Footnote 44Footnote 54Footnote 63Footnote 65-Footnote 67

In a number of the studies reviewed no SAEFootnote 49Footnote 54Footnote 62Footnote 64Footnote 66Footnote 67 or deaths Footnote 37Footnote 39Footnote 41Footnote 42Footnote 44Footnote 65 considered related to study vaccines were reported.

In the randomized, placebo-controlled LAIV trial by Bracco et al.,Footnote 44 among healthy children 6-36 months, the proportion of recipients reporting ≥1 AE was similar across study arms. The authors also reported that during follow-up days 0-11, no statistically significant differences in specific AE, including respiratory event reports, were found between LAIV and placebo groups in year 1 and 2, except for gastroenteritis which was reported more frequently among placebo recipients (p=0.017). In their assessment of follow-up, days 0-28, the only significant difference was a greater percentage of bronchitis among LAIV recipients, 3.1% compared to 1.6% (p=0.046) in year 2.Footnote 44

In their randomized, placebo-controlled trial among children 6-36 months, Brieman et al.Footnote 63 compared outcomes across three study groups, LAIV and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), placebo and OPV, and LAIV only. Brieman et al. found that the proportion of participants with ≥1 solicited systemic reactogenicity event and the percentage of those reporting ≥1 serious AE were similar among study arms. When looking at specific events, runny nose / nasal congestion was reported more frequently among LAIV recipients (p=0.003), while fever (≥40°C) (p=0.037) and decreased activity (p=0.017) were reported more frequently among the placebo group. The authors also reported that the frequency of unsolicited AEs were similar across study arms following dose 1 and 2, except for conjunctivitis which was reported more frequently, only following dose 1, among the LAIV only group, 0.7% compared to 0.1% for both the LAIV and OPV and placebo and OPV group (p=0.04).Footnote 63

In a randomized, placebo-controlled LAIV trial among healthy children 6-36 months by Vesikari et al.,Footnote 4242 similar proportions of recipients reported ≥1 reactogenicity event between study arms in year one (dose 1 LAIV 97.1% vs placebo 96.8%, p=0.764; dose 2 LAIV 95.5% vs placebo 95.3%) and in year 2 (LAIV 80.5% vs placebo 79.0%, p=0.583). The only significant difference was seen in the proportion of runny nose / nasal discharge in year one, with a greater number of cases (p=0.001) reported in the LAIV study arm. AE reports for upper respiratory infection (URI) and lower respiratory infection (LRI) were uncommon and were also similar across study groups. Serious adverse events reported in year one were similar between the LAIV and placebo groups. During the first influenza season 9 SAE judged to be probably, possibly or maybe related to study vaccines were reported among LAIV recipients and 5 among placebo recipients. In the second influenza season there were 2 SAE possibly, probably or definitely related to LAIV. In year two there was no statistically significant difference in SAE between LAIV and placebo groups.Footnote 4242

In the open-label, non-randomized, community-based trial by Piedra et al.,Footnote 49 participants 18 months to 4 years had no significant increase in health care usage for medically attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI), MAARI subcategories, or asthma comparing pre and post vaccination for days 0-14 over the four years of the study. In assessing the 15-42 day follow-up period post vaccination, the only significant increase in health care utilization compared to the pre-vaccination period was for asthma in year one, RR 2.85 (95% CI:1.01-8.03), which was not observed in the following 3 years of the study. The authors also reported that the RR for MAARI, post-vaccination (days 0-14) compared to pre-vaccination period, did not differ significantly for children 18 months to 4 years who had received 2, 3, and 4 annual sequential doses.Footnote 49

Neuzil et al.Footnote 54 reanalyzed data from an earlier randomized, controlled trial, using a subset of the original data for participants 1-16 years of age. Rates of systemic reactogenicity events (fever, cough, coryza and sore throat) were found to be similar in all age groups (1 to <6 years, 6 to <11 years and 11 to <16 years) and across study years 2 to 5.Footnote 54

In the randomized, placebo-controlled trial by Bergen et al.,Footnote 62 among children 1-8 years of age, the risk of upper respiratory tract infections, asthma and musculoskeletal pain was greater among participants 18-35 months of age in the LAIV group. Among the asthma events reported, none required hospitalizations and 44% of cases in the LAIV group were among participants with a previous clinic visit for asthma.Footnote 62

Piedra et al.Footnote 64 assessed the safety of LAIV among children 15 to 71 months of age in a multi-site, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. In their multivariate analysis, controlling for age, child care attendance and month of vaccination, they found that the odds of runny nose/nasal congestion (OR 1.61 (95% CI: 1.30-1.99)), vomiting (OR 1.78 (95% CI:1.05-3.01 )), muscle ache (OR 2.0 (95% CI:1.10-3.65)) and fever (OR 1.52 (95% CI:1.11-2.07) were significantly greater for LAIV recipients compared to placebo in year 1 following dose 1. Following dose 2 the only significant difference was for runny nose/nasal congestion, OR 1.29 (95% CI: 1.02-1.65), with no significant differences found in year 2.Footnote 64

In a review including randomized placebo controlled LAIV trials by Ambrose et al.,Footnote 3838 the proportion of subjects reporting ≥1 AE was similar between the LAIV and placebo groups during the first 10 days following immunization, in years 1 and 2, although some differences were noted for specific AE. Ambrose et al. found that the rates of runny/stuffy nose, headache, and tiredness / decreased activity in year 1 following dose 1 were significantly higher among LAIV compared to placebo recipients with rate differences of 6.8% (p<0.01), 6.9% (p=0.02), and 2.1% (p=0.03), respectively. After dose 2 the rate of decreased appetite was significantly lower among LAIV recipients compared to the placebo group (rate difference 2.9%; p=0.04). In year 2, the only statistically significant difference was a higher rate of decreased appetite among LAIV recipients (rate difference, 3.9%; p=0.03). For unsolicited AE the rate of general disorders (p<0.01) was greater in the LAIV group, whereas ear disorders (year 1, dose 2) (p=0.02) and lower respiratory illnesses (p=0.03) were significantly lower among the LAIV compared to the placebo group. A consistent trend across all reactogenicity events and AEs was that rate differences were lower after revaccination in years 1 and 2 compared with the initial vaccination.Footnote 3838

In their analysis, Ambrose et al. found similar rates of any SAE (observation period 0-42 days) reported for LAIV and placebo groups, 0.5% and 0.6% respectively for both year 1 and 2. For the observation period, 0-180 days, 2.9% of LAIV and 2.7% of placebo recipients reported any SAE in year 1, and 2.1% of LAIV and 1.7% of placebo recipients reported any SAE in year 2. The authors also report similar rates of lower respiratory / wheezing illness for LAIV and placebo groups for children aged 24–35 months, except following dose 2 in year 1, when the incidence was lower among LAIV recipients (p=0.03). Among this age group, when analyzed by subject region and gender, the patterns of reactogenicity events (RE), AE, and SAEs were consistent with those observed in the overall population.Footnote 38

In a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study of three LAIV lots among children 12-36 months by Zangwill et al.,Footnote 66 runny nose / nasal congestion was significantly higher for LAIV lots compared to placebo (63 to 68% for LAIV lots vs. 49% in placebo, p<0.05). Significant differences, LAIV vs placebo, were also seen for headache following dose 1 (6 to 11% LAIV lots vs. 2% in placebo) and chills following the second dose (2 to 8% LAIV lots vs. 0% in placebo). After the second dose of LAIV or placebo the likelihood of any reactogenicity event decreased compared to the first dose.Footnote 66

Tam et al.Footnote 41 conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled LAIV trial for healthy children 12-36 months. Solicited reactogenicity events during the observation period days 0-11, in year 1 following dose 1, identified significantly more LAIV recipients reporting fever (>37.5°C) (22% vs. 17.6% p=0.004), runny nose / nasal congestion (62% vs 52% p<0.001), decreased appetite (24.2% vs 19.7% p=0.003), decreased activity (13.4% vs 10.7% p=0.026) and use of fever medication (21.3% vs. 18.4% p=0.044). Following dose 2 the only significant difference was for runny nose / nasal congestion (49.8% vs 45.6% p=0.03). Similar results were also found in year 2. Fever was the only unsolicited AE reported which was significantly greater among LAIV recipients, p=0.003 and p=0.017, in year 1 and 2 respectively. A similar number of SAE was reported across study arms.Footnote 41

In the placebo-controlled, LAIV trial by Mendelman et al., among healthy children 1-8 years, the largest absolute difference between the LAIV and placebo study arms was 9.5% for runny nose/ nasal congestion, which was greater among the placebo group. All other differences for reactogenicity events between study arms were <5%.Footnote 67

As described above, passive surveillance systems, such as VAERS in the US and CAEFISS in Canada, can provide important safety signals, but the size of the population at risk cannot be determined and therefore it is not possible to estimate the incidence of adverse vaccine events or establish causal relationships.

In Canada, from 2000/2001 to 2011/2012, there were no LAIV related adverse events for children 2 to <6 years of age reported to CAEFISS.

In a follow-up analysis on data from the VAERS, October 2007-April 2009, adverse event reports in children 24-59 months of age were assessed.Footnote 68 After over 10 million doses distributed to people of all ages, there were 222 relevant reports in children. Of the 222 reports the most frequently reported adverse events included fever (47%), vomiting (28%) and rhinitis (21%). Six reports identified asthma exacerbation in children with a history of asthma, and eight reports identified wheezing in children without a history of asthma. No serious adverse events, such as death, anaphylaxis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, or encephalitis were reported.

I.5.3 Studies Including Both Trivalent Inactivated and Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines

As indicated above, in three of the randomized controlled trials reviewed,Footnote 37Footnote 39Footnote 54 both LAIV and TIV study arms were included. Additionally, in the integrated analysis of LAIV randomized controlled trials by Ambrose et al., both TIV and placebo-controlled studies were included (see section I.5.2 above for a review of the placebo-controlled LAIV studies).

In an open label, randomized, active controlled study by Ashkenazi et al., among participants 6-71 months with recurrent respiratory tract infections, the mean age (standard deviation (SD)) of participants was 38.1 (17.4) months and 39.9 (17.2) months for the LAIV and TIV study groups, respectively. The most frequently reported reactogenicity events following dose 1 (LAIV study arm vs. TIV study arm) included runny nose / nasal congestion (68.3% vs. 55.1%; p<0.001), cough (44.2% vs. 44.1%), decreased appetite (29.5% vs. 26.8%), irritability (25.5% vs. 22.9%), and fever >37.5°C (23.5% vs. 21.4%). These were also the most frequently reported events following dose 2, but with a lower number of reports for each type of reactogenicity event. The only significant differences in reactogenicity events between the LAIV and TIV study groups were runny nose / nasal congestion following dose 1 (LAIV study arm 68.3% vs TIV study arm 55.1%, p=0.000) and dose 2 (LAIV study arm 52.1% vs TIV study arm 44.4%, p=0.001) and decreased appetite following dose 2 (LAIV study arm 23.9% vs TIV study arm 19.8%, p=0.031). For AE following dose 1, rhinitis was reported more frequently among the LAIV study arm, 8.7% vs 5.3% (p=0.002). For AE following dose 2, rhinitis and otitis media were reported more frequently among the LAIV study arm, 6.1% versus 3.8% (p=0.021) and 3.7% versus 1.8% (p=0.011) respectively. The authors also reported that the incidence of first episode of wheezing was similar across study groups and doses, ranging from 12.3% to 13.8%. During the trial, four serious adverse events (SAE) potentially related to study vaccines were reported among TIV recipients and 2 were reported among the LAIV study group, with no fatalities occurring.

In the randomized, TIV-controlled LAIV trial by Belshe et al.,Footnote 39 among children 6 to 59 months of age without a recent history of wheezing illness or severe asthma, 52.5% of participants were between 24-59 months of age. During the study, fever (>37.8°C) was found more frequently in the LAIV compared to the TIV study arm, 5.4% vs 2.0% (p<0.001), following dose 1, with no significant difference found after the second dose. The authors also found that a greater proportion of participants experienced pain, redness and swelling at the injection site in the TIV compared to the group which received LAIV and an intramuscular placebo. In a sub-group analysis of children 12-59 months of age similar rates of hospitalization, SAE and medically significant wheezing were found between study groups. Among participants 24-59 months vaccinated with LAIV or TIV, the rates of medically significant wheezing among previously unvaccinated children were similar between groups, with no ICU admissions, mechanical ventilation or deaths reported.

Neuzil et al. completed an analysis of data from a randomized, active-controlled, double blind trial which occurred from 1985-1990 among children 1 to 16 years of age in the US. The study vaccines included a TIV containing A and B strains, an attenuated cold-adapted influenza A vaccine, and an inactivated influenza B vaccine as the control. Among children 1 to 6 years of age, the rate of local (redness, and induration) and systemic (fever ≥37.8°C, cough, coryza and sore throat) reactions were similar across study arms. Of the children 1 to 6 years of age who received TIV, 3% (95% CI: 1.2-6.7) were reported to have had redness at the injection site, and 6% (95%CI: 3.3-10) had induration. The percentage of children among this age group reporting systemic reactions included 11.5% (95%CI:7.6-17) for fever, 8.5%(95%CI: 5.2-13) for cough, 16%(95% CI:11-22) for coryza and 4%(95%CI:1.9-8.0) for sore throat. Rates of systemic reactogenicity events (fever, cough, coryza and sore throat) were also found to be similar in all age groups (1 to <6 years, 6 to <11 years and 11 to <16 years of age) and across study years 2 to 5.

Ambrose et al.Footnote 38 completed an integrated analysis of LAIV randomized controlled trials of children 2 to 17 years, using both TIV and placebo-controlled studies. Among the TIV-controlled trials they found a similar frequency of events between the LAIV and TIV study arms, with an LAIV and TIV incidence following dose 1 of around 45% for cough, 15% for decreased appetite, 14% for irritability, 13% for abdominal pain, 14% for decreased activity/ tiredness, 15% for headache, 6% for vomiting, 15% for sore throat and 6% for chills. Ambrose et al. also found that the frequency of muscle aches reported after dose 1 was significantly lower among those in the LAIV compared to the TIV group (p=0.04). For runny/stuffy nose there were more reports among those immunized with LAIV compared to the TIV study arms, with an absolute rate difference of 11.8% after dose 1 and 4.1% after dose 2 (p<0.01 for both). The authors found similar rates of any SAE between TIV and LAIV groups (observation period day 0-42), 0.75% and 1.01% respectively. The proportion of any SAE was also similar between vaccine groups when the observation period was extended to day 180. For children aged 24–35 months, when analyzed by subject region and gender, the patterns of reactogenicity events, AEs, and SAE were consistent with those observed in the overall population.Footnote 38

I.6 Tables

Table 2: Levels of evidence based on research design

I

Evidence from randomized controlled trial(s).

II-1

Evidence from controlled trial(s) without randomization.

II-2

Evidence from cohort or case–control analytic studies, preferably from more than one centre or research group using clinical outcome measures of vaccine efficacy.

II-3

Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention. Dramatic results in uncontrolled experiments (such as the results of the introduction of penicillin treatment in the 1940s) could also be regarded as this type of evidence.

III

Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical experience, descriptive studies and case reports, or reports of expert committees.

Table 3: Quality (internal validity) rating of evidence

Good

A study (including meta-analyses or systematic reviews) that meets all design-specific criteria Footnote 1 * well.

Fair

A study (including meta-analyses or systematic reviews) that does not meet (or it is not clear that it meets) at least one design-specific criterion * but has no known "fatal flaw".

Poor

A study (including meta-analyses or systematic reviews) that has at least one design-specific * "fatal flaw", or an accumulation of lesser flaws to the extent that the results of the study are not deemed able to inform recommendations.

I

NACI concludes that there is insufficient evidence (in either quantity and/or quality) to make a recommendation, however other factors may influence decision-making.

* General design specific criteria are outlined in Harris et al., 2001Footnote a.

Table 4: NACI recommendation for immunization - Grades

A

NACI concludes that there is good evidence to recommend immunization.

B

NACI concludes that there is fair evidence to recommend immunization.

C

NACI concludes that the existing evidence is conflicting and does not allow making a recommendation for or against immunization; however other factors may influence decision-making.

D

NACI concludes that there is fair evidence to recommend against immunization.

E

NACI concludes that there is good evidence to recommend against immunization.

I

NACI concludes that there is insufficient evidence (in either quantity and/or quality) to make a recommendation, however other factors may influence decision-making.

a Harris RP, Helfand M, Woolf SH, et al. Current methods of the US Preventive Services Task Force: a review of the process. Am J Prev Med 2001;20:21-35.

Table 5a: Evidence tables for children 24 to 59 months of age - Evidence related to TIV efficacy/effectiveness
Evidence related to TIV efficacy/effectiveness
Study Vaccine
Study Design
Participants
Summary
of Key
Findings
Using
Text or Data

Level of Evidence
Quality
Belongia EA, Kieke BA, Donahue JG, Coleman LA, Irving SA, Meece JK, et al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness in Wisconsin during the 2007-08 season: comparison of interim and final results. Vaccine 2011 Sep 2;29(38):6558-6563.Footnote 2525 TIV

Lineage mismatch for type B viruses during this season

Children <9yrs fully vaccinated:
1. Two doses, or 2. One dose and ≥1 dose received in a prior season

Prospective community cohort with case-control analyses

2007/08 season

US

N=1,914 Residents 6mos to 65+yrs with continuous residency for at least 12 months (or since birth) 14% of all cases and 20% of all controls with high risk condition 6-59mos ncases=118 ncontrols =294 Vaccination status obtained by electronic records; partially immunized children excluded Enrolled through in-patient or out patient medical encounter Outcome: Medically attended, laboratory confirmed influenza (rRT-PCR and viral culture)

Cases: Laboratory confirmed positive influenza

Controls: Laboratory confirmed negative influenza

Vaccine effectiveness:
All participants (6-59 months of age)
Unadjusted: 40%
Adjusted: 39% (2, 62)

Participants tested 0-3 days after illness onset (6-59 months of age)
Unadjusted: 32%
Adjusted: 31% (-24, 62)

Adjusted for age, week of enrolment, presence of high risk medical condition
Level II-2

Good

Dixon GA, Moore HC, Kelly H, et al. Lessons from the first year of the WAIVE study investigating the protective effect of influenza vaccine against laboratory-confirmed influenza in hospitalised children aged 6-59 months. Influenza other respi viruses 2010 Jul;4(4):231-234.Footnote 2727 TIV 0.5ml for children ≥3yrs; 0.25ml for children 6 months to <3yrs Fully vaccinated (All doses received >14 days prior to ILI onset): 1. Two doses ≥21 days apart, or 2. One dose, and ≥2 doses received in any previous season Nested case-control, multi-site

2008 season

Australia

N=76
ncase =26
ncontrol =50

Children 6-59mos (>2yrs = 52.6% of participants)

Case: Hospital admission with laboratory confirmed influenza (culture only or culture and RT-PCR if culture negative) Control: Hospital admission for non-acute respiratory illness; matched for age and Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander status Adjusted efficacy in fully vaccinated to unvaccinated children 83% (-54, 98) Adjusted for sex, presence of comorbidities, pre-term birth Level II-2

Fair

Small
numbers
Eisenberg KW, Szilagyi PG, Fairbrother G, et al. Vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza in children 6 to 59 months of age during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 influenza seasons. Pediatrics 2008;122(5):911-919. Footnote 2020 Unspecified, TIV most likely as LAIV not yet approved for use in participant age range

Full vaccination (All doses received ≥14 days prior to ILI onset):
1. Two doses ≥24 days apart, or
2. One dose, and ≥1 dose received in previous season

Partial vaccination:
1. Only 1 of 2 doses received ≥14 days to ILI onset, or 2. 2 doses received with second dose <24 days after first dose

Suboptimal matching of vaccine and circulating strains in 2003/04 and 2004/05

Case control, prospective multi-site

2003/04, 2004/05 seasons

US



2003/04
N=972
ncase =228
ncontrol =744

2004/05
N=1 502
ncase =197
ncontrol = 1305

Children 6-59mos

31% (2003/04) and 27% (2004/05) of participants with high risk conditions (e.g., asthma, cancer, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, etc.)

In-patient and out-patient recruitment

Exposure of interest: Influenza vaccination ascertained by contacting participant's primary care provider with medical record confirmation Case: Acute respiratory illness or fever with 1 positive viral culture (in-patient population only) or 2 positive RT-PCR assays Control: Acute respiratory illness or fever with negative viral culture or RT-PCR assays; frequency matched by site, visit setting, date of study enrolment (control) or influenza symptom onset (case) Vaccine effectiveness: 2003/04 24-59m/o Fully vaccinated: 66 (-106, 94) Partially vaccinated: 33 (-109, 78) 2004/05 24-59m/o Fully vaccinated: 63 (16,84) Partially vaccinated: 38 (-53, 75) No difference in influenza rate between partially vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Level II-2

Good

Low numbers of fully vaccinated children in 2003/04 make vaccine efficacy difficult to interpret

Fujieda M, Maeda A, Kondo K, et al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness and confounding factors among young children. Vaccine 2008;26(50):6481-6485.Footnote 3333 TIV 2 doses 2-4 weeks apart; 0.1ml for children <1yr, 0.2ml for children ≥1yr Cohort study, multi-centre

2002/03 season

Japan

N=2,913
nvaccinated = 1,512
nunvaccinated = 1,401

Children <6yrs

Paediatric clinic recruitment

Primary outcome: ILI (acute febrile illness that occurred during the highest epidemic period of influenza in each study area; highest temperature of child reported for each week) Adjusted for factors including: vaccination status, age group, number of siblings, physician visits for cold symptoms with the last 6 months, preschool attendance, and vaccine dosage (<2.0 years analysis only) for temperature outcomes (<38.0, 38.0-38.9, ≥39.0°C) Vaccine effectiveness (adjusted) 2.0-3.9 yrs: 41% (26, 53%) 4.0-5.9 yrs: 25% (2, 42%) Adjusted OR: 2.0-3.9 yrs: 0.59 (0.47, 0.74); p<0.001 4.0-5.9 yrs: 0.75 (0.58, 0.98); p=0.034 Level II-2

Fair

Vaccination was self-selected by parents introducing confounders that may not have been considered

Fujieda M, Maeda A, Kondo K, et al.Inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness in children under 6 years of age during the 2002-2003 season. Vaccine 2006;24(7):957-963.Footnote 3434 TIV 2 doses 2-4 weeks apart; 0.1ml for children <1yr, 0.2ml for children ≥1yr Cohort study, multi-centre

2002/03 season

Japan

N=2,913
nvaccinated = 1,512
nunvaccinated = 1,401

Children <6 yrs

Paediatric clinic recruitment

Primary outcome: ILI (acute febrile illness that occurred during the highest epidemic period of influenza in each study area; highest temperature of child reported for each week) Adjusted for factors including: vaccination status, age, siblings, physician visits for cold symptoms with in the last 6 months, preschool attendance, disease onset during the previous influenza season Vaccine effectiveness (adjusted) 2.0-5.9 yrs: 33% (21, 44%) Adjusted OR: 2.0-5.9 yrs: 0.67 (0.56, 0.79); p<0.001 2.0-2.9 yrs: 0.61 (0.44, 0.84); p=0.002 3.0-3.9 yrs: 0.60 (0.43, 0.84); p=0.003 4.0-4.9 yrs: 0.72 (0.50, 1.03); p=0.071 Level II-2

Fair

Vaccination was self-selected by parents introducing confounders that may not have been considered

Ghendon YZ, Kaira AN, et al. The effect of mass influenza immunization in children on the morbidity of the unvaccinated elderly. Epidemiol Infect 2006 Feb;134(1):71-78.Footnote 3232 TIV (Influvac®)

Good antigenic match between vaccine and circulating A/H3N2 and B strains in study area

0.5mL, single dose only

One dose for children >3yrs



Community-based cohort study, multi-region (four communities: two target, two comparison)

Mass vaccination in school-aged children in target communities

2001/02 season

Russia

N=89,255 Target communities nvaccinated-3-6yrs =3,658 nvaccinated-7-17yrs=24,651 Comparison communities n3-6yrs = 11,048 n7-17yrs = 49,898 Healthy children; kindergarten (3-6yrs) , schools (7-17yrs) Elderly (>60yrs) N=158,451 ntarget = 82,051 ncontrol = 76,401 Minimal vaccination in elderly (≤1% immunization rate) Primary endpoint: Physician-diagnosed ILI (>38°C and cough or sore throat)
Secondary endpoint: Morbidity in elderly
Clinical effectiveness against ILI in mass vaccination vs. comparison communities
Kindergarten age: 60.9% (2.56 times fewer cases), p<0.01

School age: 68.8% (3.2 times fewer cases), p<0.01
Kindergarten and school age: 63.7%, p<0.01

Morbidity rates for influenza-associated diseases among unvaccinated, non-institutionalized elderly in targeted vs. control communities during 2001/02 influenza season
ILI: 0.07 vs. 0.24%, p<0.01
Pneumonia: 0.1 vs. 0.26%, p<0.01
Bronchial asthma (exacerbation): 0.09 vs. 0.23%, p<0.01
Chronic bronchitis (exacerbation): 0.19 vs. 0.33%, p<0.01
Cardiovascular disease: 0.49 vs. 1.65%, p<0.01
Diabetes mellitus (exacerbation): 0.06 vs. 0.14%, p<0.01
GI disease: 0.06 vs. 0.11%, p<0.01
Chronic pyelonephritis (exacerbation): 0.07 vs. 0.12%, p<0.05
Pancreatitis: 0.09 vs. 0.14%, p<0.05
Rheumatoid arthritis: 0.17 vs. 0.13%, p<0.05
Cholecystitis: 0.2 vs. 0.18%, p<0.05

Morbidity rates among elderly in targeted vs. control communities off season (Aug – Sep 2002)
No significant difference for all diseases, except: Cardiovascular disease: 0.74 vs. 1.04%, p<0.01
Rheumatoid arthritis: 0.04 vs. 0.02%, p<0.05

Level II-2

Fair

Target communities had slightly higher baseline incidence of ILI

Heinonen S, Silvennoinen H, Lehtinen P, et al. Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in children aged 9 months to 3 years: an observational cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis 2011;11(1):23-29.Footnote 2626 NCT005935023 TIV (Vaxigrip™)

0.5ml doses (one dose, or two doses four weeks apart if vaccine naïve)

A strains well-matched, but B strain poorly matched to circulating strains

Prospective cohort

2007/08 season

Finland



N=631
n=278 (9-23mos)
n=353 (24-40mos)

Children 9mos-3yrs

Primary outcome: Symptomatic laboratory-confirmed influenza (by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay, viral culture, immunoperoxidase staining with monoclonal antibodies, and/or RT-PCR) Vaccine effectiveness 2-3 yrs Influenza A: 100% (6, 100); p=0.05 Influenza B: 33% (-97, 78); p=0.78 Any strain: 63% (-5, 88) ; p=0.06 Case-control analysis by age group (partially vaccinated individuals considered unvaccinated) Case: Provided at least one sample with influenza identified during the duration of study Control: Provided samples where influenza was not identified Vaccine effectiveness 2-3 yrs Influenza A: 100% (4, 100) Influenza B: 38% (-121, 83) Any strain: 71% (-1, 92) Level II-2

Fair

Voluntary study enrolment, but comparison groups are similar

Hoen AG, Buckeridge DL, Charland KM, et al. Effect of expanded US recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination: comparison of two pediatric emergency departments in the United States and Canada. CMAJ 2011;183(13):E1025-32.Footnote 3535 TIV (Canada) Individual vaccination status unavailable; Vaccination coverage estimated from national surveys TIV LAIV (US) Ecological

2000/01 to 2008/09 seasons

2 sites: Montréal, Canada & Boston, US

N=114,657
ILI visits /
1,043,989 total visits

Children 0-18yrs

Emergency department visits

Primary outcome: Emergency department visits related to ILI (before and after 2006 US policy change to recommend influenza vaccination in children 2 to<5 yrs)

Decline of rate of emergency visits in US site compared to Canadian site: adjusted rate ratio 0.66 (0.58,0.75)

11-18% for non-target age groups observed following policy change in adjusted models, but not in unadjusted models

Adjusted for seasonal and virologic effects (composition of circulating strains)

Level II-3

Poor Vaccine uptake is estimated from surveys; differences in demographics and health care system not considered
Joshi AY, Iyer VN, St Sauver JL, et al. Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in children less than 5 years of age over multiple influenza seasons: a case-control study. Vaccine 2009 Jul 16;27(33):4457-4461.Footnote 2121 TIV Vaccination status obtained by medical records Mismatch between vaccine and circulating strains: A/H3N2 in 01/02-04/05, 06/07; A/H1N1 in 99/00, 01/02-03/04; B in 01/02, 03/04, 05/06, 06/07 Case control

1999/2000-2006/07 seasons

US

N=206
ncase =103
ncontrol =103

Children 6-59mos

Case: Medically attended, laboratory confirmed influenza illness with available immunization information Control: Test negative for influenza with available immunization information; age and sex-matched Odds ratio (vaccinated vs. unvaccinated) Fully vaccinated: 0.14 (0.03, 0.71) Partially vaccinated: 0.27 (0.07, 0.97); p=0.04 Vaccine efficacy (vaccinated vs. unvaccinated) Fully vaccinated: 86% (29, 97) Partially vaccinated: 73% (3, 93) Number needed to treat: 3-11 children (estimated attack rate of 10-40%) Level II-2

Fair

Did not exclude or assess high risk conditions in cases and controls

Katayose M, Hosoya M, Haneda T, et al. The effectiveness of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children over six consecutive influenza seasons. Vaccine 2011;29(9):1844-1849.Footnote 2929 TIV Two doses 3-4 weeks apart recommended regardless of previous receipt of TIV 0.1ml for children 6-11mos; 0.2ml for children 1 to<6yrs Prospective, non-randomized observational study

2002/03-2007/08 seasons

Japan



N=14,788

Vaccination status prior to subsequent season:
nfully vaccinated =6,933
npartially vaccinated =887
nunvaccinated= 6, 968

Children 6mos to<6yrs

Primary outcome: Influenza confirmed by rapid diagnostics tests in medically attended children with acute respiratory infectious symptoms and fever >38.0°C

Effectiveness of two doses of TIV against influenza A illness (all seasons)
2 to<3 yrs: 57% (p<0.01), range 49-68%
3 to<4 yrs: 53% (p<0.01), range 42-67%
4 to<5 yrs: 45% (p<.01), range 25-67%

Effectiveness of two doses of TIV against influenza A hospitalizations (all seasons)
2 to<3 yrs: 61% (p<0.05)
3 to<4 yrs: 74% (p<0.01)
4 to<5 yrs: 74% (p<0.01)

Effectiveness of two doses of TIV against influenza B illness (2002/03 & 2004/05 seasons)
2 to<3 yrs: 71% (p<0.01)
3 to<4 yrs: 60% (p<0.01)
4 to<5 yrs: 51% (p<0.01)

Effectiveness of two doses of TIV against influenza B hospitalizations (all seasons)
2 to<3 yrs: 88% (n.s.)
3 to<4 yrs: 70% (n.s.)
4 to<5 yrs: 68% (n.s.)

Level II-3

Fair

Self-selection of vaccination and differences in health care-seeking behaviour may exist between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups

Kelly H, Jacoby P, Dixon GA, et al. Vaccine Effectiveness Against Laboratory-confirmed Influenza in Healthy Young Children: A Case-Control Study. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2011 Feb;30(2):107-111.Footnote 2222 TIV Children ≥3 and ≤4yrs: 0.5ml (15μg per strain) Children ≥6mos and <3yrs: 0.25ml (7.5μg per strain) Fully vaccinated (All doses received >14 days prior to ILI onset): 1. Two doses ≥21 days apart, or 2. One dose, and ≥2 doses received in any previous season Parental report of vaccine status; 87% validated with provider Prospective incidence density case control

2008 season

Australia

N=289
nED =214
nGP =75

Children 6-59mos (50.2% of participants >2yrs)

Recruitment from hospital ED and general practices

6.9% of participants with comorbidity



Outcome: Laboratory confirmed influenza

Case: ILI with positive lab confirmation by culture and RT-PCR (cases more likely to be <2 yrs old)

Control: ILI with negative confirmation

64% of children recruited in GPs were fully vaccinated compared to 37% of children from ED

Vaccine effectiveness (TIV vs. control)

ED: 51% (-21, 80)
GP: 87% (8, 98)
Overall: 58% (9, 81)

Against influenza A: 82% (21, 96)
Against influenza B: 43% (-39, 77)

When restricted to comparing against controls with confirmed with another respiratory virus only
ED: 65% (8, 87)
GP: 86% (-3, 98)
Overall: 68% (26, 86)

Against influenza A: 86% (33, 97)
Against influenza B: 60% (-5, 85)

VE adjusted for age, sex, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status, presence of comorbidities, preterm birth (above and below 38 wks gestation)

13 cases of vaccine failure (9 cases due to mismatched influenza B strain)

Level II-2

Fair

More than half of children recruited through the GP arm were from a practice with a vigorous childhood immunization program

Maeda T, Shintani Y, Miyamoto H, et al. Prophylactic effect of inactivated influenza vaccine on young children. Pediatr Int 2002;44(1):43-46.Footnote 3030 TIV Two doses 14 days apart 0.1ml for children 6-11 months; 0.2ml for children 1to<6 years Prospective cohort study

1999/2000 season

Japan

N=180
nvaccinated=86
nunvaccinated =94

Healthy infant and children 5-83mos

Control group (no influenza vaccination in previous year) age-matched from hospital records

Primary outcome: Influenza A confirmed by enzyme immunoassay membrane test in medically attended children with febrile illness (>37.8°C)

Preventive effect against Influenza A (by age)
Vaccine group, control group
2 yrs: 11.1%, 8.0%, p=0.562
3 yrs: 0, 26.3%, p=0.023
4 yrs: 0, 18.2%, p=0.199

80% (4/5) of immunized children with influenza A were <3 yrs

Level II-2

Poor Groups comparable by age and sex; but sample size is small
Ochiai H, Fujieda M, Ohfuji S, et al. Inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness against influenza-like illness among young children in Japan–with special reference to minimizing outcome misclassification. Vaccine 2009;27(50):7031-7035.Footnote 3131 TIV Two doses 2-4 weeks apart 0.1ml for children 6-11 months; 0.2ml for children 1 to<6 years Prospective cohort, multi-site

2000/01 season

Japan

N=2,265
nvaccinated =1,166
nunvaccinated =1,099
Children <6yrs

n=1,249 (2-5 yrs)

Primary outcomes: ILI (acute febrile illness with one or more symptoms – runny nose or nasal congestion, sore throat, cough; fever ≥39.0°C considered severe ILI); Medical office visits (MOV) for any cause; MOV related to severe ILI All children Adjusted* OR during entire follow-up period: ILI with different fever levels ≥37.0°C: 0.95 (0.75, 1.19), p=0.640 ≥37.5°C: 1.08 (0.88, 1.34), p=0.463 ≥38.0°C: 1.03 (0.84, 1.26), p=0.770 ≥39.0°C: 0.87 (0.71, 1.08), p=0.204 MOV (any cause): 0.79 (0.64, 0.98), p=0.028 MOV (severe ILI): 0.73 (0.56, 0.96), p=0.023 Adjusted* OR during peak epidemic period: ILI with different fever levels ≥37.0°C: 0.91 (0.75, 1.13), p=0.370 ≥37.5°C: 0.89 (0.73, 1.09), p=0.262 ≥38.0°C: 0.88 (0.72, 1.08), p=0.217 ≥39.0°C: 0.75 (0.58, 0.97), p=0.031 MOV (any cause): 0.80 (0.64, 0.98), p=0.035 MOV (severe ILI): 0.68 (0.48, 0.96), p=0.027 *Adjusted for age, sex, body weight, preschool attendance, siblings, tonsillitis, atopy, allergy, influenza vaccination and disease onset during previous season, area OR by age groups Adjusted* ORduring peak epidemic period: Severe ILI 2.0-2.9 yrs: 0.56 (0.29, 1.07) 3.0-3.9 yrs: 0.50 (0.26, 0.96) 4.0-4.9 yrs: 1.32 (0.71, 2.47) Severe ILI MOV 2.0-2.9 yrs: 0.60 (0.25, 1.41) 3.0-3.9 yrs: 0.38 (0.15, 0.97) 4.0-4.9 yrs: 0.92 (0.40, 2.11) Level II-2

Poor Self-selection of vaccination by parents; Groups were statistically different in some factors although statistical adjustments were made in analysis
Ozgur SK, Beyazova U, Kemaloglu YK, et al. Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine for prevention of otitis media in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2006 May;25(5):401-404.Footnote 4646 TIV 0.25mL for children <3yrs, 0.5ml for children ≥3yrs One or two dose based on vaccination history; Vaccination status confirmed by records Prospective cohort, assessor blinded, multicentre

2003/04 season

Turkey

N=119 nTIV 61 ncontrol = 58 Children 6-60mos (mean age 43.7±11.4 mos); 63% of sample 2-5yrs of age Day care centres Outcome: AOM, OME and OM assessed at time 0 and every six weeks for six months

Incidence during influenza season (TIV vs. control)
OME: 25.8% vs. 36.3% (p=0.040)
AOM: 3.3% vs. 8.8% (p=0.048)
OM: 29.1% vs. 45.1% (p=0.012)

Incidence post-influenza season (TIV vs. control), late phase (March –April 2004)
OM: 16.1% vs. 28.6% (p=0.032)

Total incidence
OME: 22.8% vs. 31.1% (p=0.002)
AOM: 2.3% vs. 5.2% (p=0.012)
OM: 25.2% vs. 36.3% (p<0.001)

Frequency of AOM, OME and OM not statistically different before or after influenza season

Level II-2

Fair

Ritzwoller DP, Bridges CB, Shetterly S, et al. Effectiveness of the 2003-2004 influenza vaccine among children 6 months to 8 years of age, with 1 vs 2 doses. Pediatrics 2005;116(1):153-159.Footnote 1919 TIV

Full vaccination (All doses received >14 days prior to ILI onset):
1. Two doses, or
2. One dose, and vaccinated in previous season

Partial vaccination:
1. one dose received ≥14 days prior to ILI onset

Suboptimal antigenic matching between vaccine and circulating strains

Retrospective cohort study

2003/04 season (peak weeks of influenza activity only: Nov 19-Dec 7, 2003)

US

N=29,726
n=5,139 (6-23 mos)
n=24,587 (2-8 yrs)

Children 6mos-8 yrs

Primary outcomes: ILI, pneumonia & influenza (P&I) outpatient and emergency department visits Hazard Rate Ratio (HRR) ILI: Fully vaccinated: 0.85 (0.73, 0.99); p<0.05 Partially vaccinated: 1.17 (1.04, 1.31); p<0.01 P&I: Fully vaccinated: 0.56 (0.42, 0.76); p<0.01 Partially vaccinated: 0.89 (0.73, 1.10); p=n.s. Adjusted HRR (sex, age, prior illness) ILI: Fully vaccinated: 0.77 (0.66, 0.90); p<0.001 Partially vaccinated: 0.93 (0.82, 1.04); p=n.s. Rate of events compared to older children 7-8 yrs: 2-4yrs: 2.34 (2.05, 2.68); p<0.001 P&I: Fully vaccinated: 0.49 (0.36, 0.67); p<0.001 Partially vaccinated: 0.77 (0.62, 0.95); p<0.001 Rate of events compared to older children 7-8 yrs: 2-4yrs: 3.43 (2.70, 4.35); p<0.001 Level II-2

Fair

Study uses administrative data without laboratory confirmation of outcomes resulting in potential for misclassification

Shuler CM, Iwamoto M, Bridges CB, et al. Vaccine effectiveness against medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza among children aged 6 to 59 months, 2003-2004. Pediatrics 2007;119(3):e587-95.Footnote 6969 TIV

Full vaccination (all doses received ≥14 days prior to ILI onset):
1. 2 doses ≥1 month apart, or
2. 1 dose, and vaccinated in previous season

Partial vaccination:
1. 2 doses received with ILI onset <14 days after last dose, or
2. 1 dose, not vaccinated in previous season, and ≥14 days before ILI onset

Suboptimal antigenic matching between vaccine and circulating strains

Case control

2003/04 season

US

N=870
ncase =290
ncontrol =580

Children 6-59mos from study clinic (19.0-22.1% of participants with high risk conditions e.g. renal disease, immunosuppression, metabolic disease)

Case: Medically attended with laboratory-confirmed influenza (confirmed by QuickVue Influenza test) Control: Age-matched, born the same month as case (two controls per case) Adjusted OR (6-59mos) Fully vaccinated vs. unvaccinated: 0.51 (0.4, 0.7); p<0.01 (VE = 49%) Partially vaccinated vs. unvaccinated: 0.76 (0.5, 1.2); p=n.s. Adjusted OR (24-59mos) Fully vaccinated vs. unvaccinated: 0.55 (0.3, 0.9); p<0.05 (VE = 45%) Partially vaccinated vs. unvaccinated: 0.35 (0.2, 0.7); p<0.05 (VE = 65%) Adjusted for high-risk status and health care usage according to age category Level II-2

Fair

Evaluators not blinded to vaccination status introducing potential for diagnostic testing bias (misclassification of cases as controls)

Staat MA, Griffin MR, Donauer S, et al. Vaccine effectiveness for laboratory-confirmed influenza in children 6-59 months of age, 2005-2007. Vaccine 2011;29(48):9005-9011.Footnote 2323 TIV

Full vaccination (All doses received ≥14 days prior to ILI onset):
1. Two doses ≥24 days apart, or
2. One dose, and ≥1 dose received in a previous season

Partial vaccination:
1. Only 1 of 2 doses received ≥14 days to ILI onset, or 2. 2 doses received with second dose <24 days after first dose

Case-control, multi-site

2005/06 & 2006/07 seasons

US

2005/06
N=268
ncase =85
ncontrol =183

2006/07
N=528
ncase =158
ncontrol =370

Children 6-59mos

Inpatient and outpatient enrolment

Case: Medically attended, positive test for influenza by RT-PCR and viral culture (as necessary) Control: Medically attended, negative test for influenza by RT-PCR and viral culture (as necessary); matched by regional site, highest level of care, age group and date of illness onset 2005/06 Adjusted OR; Efficacy 24-59mos Fully vaccinated: 0.58 (0.2, 1.62); 43% (-62, 80) Partially vaccinated: 0.94 (0.2, 4.3); 6% (-330, 80) 2006/07 Adjusted OR; Efficacy 24-59mos Fully vaccinated: 0.24 (0.05, 1.16); 76% (-16, 95) Partially vaccinated: 0.57 (0.18, 1.77); 44% (-77, 82) 2005-2007 Adjusted OR; Efficacy 24-59mos Fully vaccinated: 0.44 (0.20, 0.97), p<0.05; 56% (3, 80) Partially vaccinated: 0.67 (0.27, 1.64); 34% (-64, 73) Adjusted for type of insurance, presence of a high risk medical condition, gender Level II-2

Good

Szilagyi PG, Fairbrother G, Griffin MR, et al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness among children 6 to 59 months of age during 2 influenza seasons: a case-cohort study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2008;162(10):943-951.Footnote 2828 TIV

Full vaccination (All doses received >14 days prior to ILI onset):
1. 2 doses >24 days apart, or
2. 1 dose, and >1 dose received in a previous season

Partial vaccination:
1. Only 1 of 2 doses received ≥14 days to ILI onset, or 2. 2 doses received with second dose <24 days after first dose

Suboptimal antigenic matching between vaccine and circulating strains in both study seasons

Case cohort, multi-site

2003/04 & 2004/05 seasons

US

Inpatient/ED
N=9,468
ncase =245


Outpatient practice
N=1,438
ncase =169
ncontrol = 1 269

Children 6-59mos

Enrolment from inpatient/emergency department (ED) and outpatient (for 2 consecutive seasons) population

Cases found prospectively by ARI visit, controls found retrospectively from medical records

Case: Medically attended with positive laboratory confirmed influenza (RT-PCR or viral culture) Control: Representative sample of age-stratified children selected by clusters of 30 children per age group from patient lists; Medical records reviewed for outcomes Inpatient/ED 2003/04 Adjusted Hazard Rate Ratio; Efficacy 24-59mos Fully vaccinated: 0.2 (0.0, 1.8); 77% (-80, 100) Partially vaccinated: 0.9 (0.4, 2.3); 5% (-130, 60) 2004/05 Adjusted Hazard Rate Ratio; Efficacy 24-59mos Fully vaccinated: 1.5 (0.4, 5.0); -49% (-400, 60) Partially vaccinated: 2.1 (0.6, 7.7); -108% (-670, 40) Outpatient 2003/04 Adjusted Hazard Rate Ratio; Efficacy 24-59mos Fully vaccinated: 0.6 (0.1, 4.5); 41% (-350, 90) Partially vaccinated: 0.6 (0.1, 2.4); 43% (-140, 90) 2004/05 Adjusted Hazard Rate Ratio; Efficacy 24-59mos Fully vaccinated: 0.5 (0.1, 1.7); 51% (-70, 90) Partially vaccinated: 0.9 (0.3, 2.9); 11% (-190, 70) Adjusted for sex, insurance status, high-risk condition Level II-2

Fair

Study design may be insufficient in determining factors such as propensity to seek care which affects estimates

Table 5b: Evidence tables for children 24 to 59 months of age - Evidence related to Indirect Effects
Evidence related to Indirect Effects
Study Vaccine Study Design Participants Summary of Key Findings Using Text or Data Level of Evidence Quality
Hurwitz ES, Haber M, Chang A, et al. Effectiveness of influenza vaccination of day care children in reducing influenza-related morbidity among household contacts. JAMA 2000; 284(13):1677-1682.Footnote 4747 TIV

Hepatitis A as control vaccine

For both vaccines: 2 doses given 1 month apart at standard recommended dosages

RCT, single blind (parents)

1996/97 season

US

N=127
nTIV = 60
nHepA =67

24-60m/o

Influenza vaccine naïve

US Navy-affiliated day care centres

VE not statistically significant in vaccinated children

VE for unvaccinated household contacts
Respiratory illness with fever: 42% (p=0.04)
Respiratory illness with temperature ≥38°C: 48% (p=0.04)

VE for vaccinated household contacts
Any: 28% (p=0.04)

VE for unvaccinated 5-17y/o household contacts ranges from 45-100% for missed school, adult missed work, physician visits, ear ache, antibiotics prescribed, and OTC medications used (all statistically significant) – not observed for adults or children <5y/o

Level I

Good

Small numbers for some sub-analyses

Loeb M, Russell ML, Moss L, et al. Effect of influenza vaccination of children on infection rates in Hutterite communities. JAMA 2010; 303(10):943-950.Footnote 5050 TIV

Hepatitis A as control vaccine

Cluster RCT (49 communities)

2008/09 season

Canada

N=3,273
nunvaccinated = 2,326
nvaccinated = 947

Only children 36m-15y received vaccine
nTIV = 502
nHepA =445

Outcome: Lab-confirmed influenza (RT-PCR)

Indirect vaccine protectiveness (non-recipients): 61% (8, 83%, p=0.03)

Hazard ratio for anti-microbial prescriptions: 0.58 (0.34, 0.99, p=0.046)

No statistically significant hazard ratios for physician visits for respiratory visits, influenza-like illness and OM

Level I

Good

Piedra PA, Gaglani MJ, Kozinetz CA, et al. Herd immunity in adults against influenza-related illnesses with use of the trivalent-live attenuated influenza vaccine (CAIV-T) in children. Vaccine 2005;23(13):1540-8.Footnote 4949 LAIV

Open label, non-randomized community-based trial

1998/99-2000/01 seasons

Cumulative children vaccinated in community
N=9,765

Cumulative children vaccinated for members of the Scott White Health Plan
N=4,774

18m-18y eligible for vaccine

Outcome: MAARI

20-25% of eligible children received LAIV each year

Comparing rates of MAARI in all members of the Scott and White Health Plan, risk of MAARI was decreased in adults ≥35y/o during all three vaccination years when comparing intervention to control communities

RR for MAARI in adults ≥35y/o ranged from 0.08-0.18

Estimated medical visits avoided in adults ≥35y/o: 303-781

Level II-3

Fair

Table 5c: Evidence tables for children 24 to 59 months of age - Evidence related to Safety
Evidence for Safety
Study Vaccine Study Design Participants Summary of Key Findings Using Text or Data Level of Evidence Quality
Baxter R, Jeanfreau R, Block SL, et al. A Phase III evaluation of immunogenicity and safety of two trivalent inactivated seasonal influenza vaccines in US children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2010 Oct;29(10):924-930.Footnote 5757 (NCT00383123) TIV

Experimental Fluarix®

Active comparator Fluzone®

Dose

  • 6 months to <3years 0.25ml
  • 3 years to <5 years 0.5ml
Schedule

  • second dose day 28 in vaccine naïve participants <9 years
Formulation

  • both vaccines, 15 µg HA Northern Hemisphere strains 06-07 (A/New Caledonia/20/99, A/Wisconsin/67/2005, and B/Malaysia/2506/ 2004)
PIII single blind, multicentre randomized trial

2006-07 influenza season

US (42 sites)

Children 6 months to 18 years (excluding those with acute disease) N=3,325 (2,115 experimental and 1,210 active control) Subset vaccinated participants 6 months to 5 years N=2,992 (experimental arm 375 (18%) from 6 to 36 months and 373 (12%) from 3 to 5 years; control arm 379 (31%) from 6 to 36 months and 369 (30%) from 3 to 5 years) Outcomes rare events (SAE occurrence ≥1/300) reactogenicity / solicited and unsolicited local and systemic AE and SAE Results Rare events None reported SAE (n=22; none fatal) Experimental arm (n=11) 6-36 months n=5 3-5yrs n=1 1 considered causally related to vaccine (one case of febrile convulsion 4 day post 2nd vaccination in 13 month old participant) Control arm (n=11) 6-36 months n=6 3-5 years n=3 None considered causally related to study vaccine AE Incidence of solicited AE similar between vaccines for subjects 6-36 months and 3-5 years Overlapping CI for incidence local AE (pain, redness and swelling) Overlapping CI for incidence systemic AE (drowsiness, fever, irritability and loss of appetite) Most solicited local AE were mild in intensity and transient Most solicited systemic AE were mild to moderate in intensity and transient Frequency of solicited systemic AE tended to be lower after second dose (both study arms) No clinically relevant differences in unsolicited AE between study arms Level I

Good

Glanz JM, Newcomer SR, Hambidge SJ, et al. Safety of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children aged 24 to 59 months in the vaccine safety datalink. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2011 Aug;165(8):749-755.Footnote 5959 TIV



Self-controlled screening study (multicentre)

2002-06 influenza seasons

US



Children 24-59 months with ≥ 1 dose of TIV over study period

N=66,283 (children)
(High-risk conditions n=2,584 (3.9%))

N=91,692 (doses)



Outcomes
Primary analysis

  • Medically attended event (inpatient and emergency department), confirmed by medical record review
Secondary analysis

  • MAE risk in children with multiple lifetime TIV doses
Results
Total outcome events

  • Hospitalizations n=4,492
  • ER visits n=12,399
Full cohort (n=91,692 vaccinations) (all risk windows)

Potentially serious conditions

  • Among medical record confirmed cases, only aggravated GI tract disorders were significantly associated with vaccination among the sub-cohort of children with high-risk condition (n=2,584) (IRR 7.70 95%CI 1.11-53.52)
Less serious / common conditions

  • Limb soreness in risk period (n=1)
  • Rash in risk period (n=2)
Multi-dose cohort (n=87,104)
Confirmed MAE in risk window days 1-3

  • Dose 2 IRR 55.15 (95% CI 5.37-566.30)
  • Dose 3 IRR 49.33 (95% CI 9.04-269.30)
  • Dose 4 IRR 123.33 (95% CI 13.80-1 055.66)
Level II-2

Fair

Jansen AG, Sanders EA, Smulders S, et al. Adverse reactions to simultaneous influenza and pneumococcal conjugate vaccinations in children: randomized double-blind controlled trial. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2008 Sep;19(6):552-558.Footnote 5858 TIV

Experimental arm

  • TIV + heptavalent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV7)
Control arm 1

  • TIV + placebo
Control arm 2

  • HBV vaccine + placebo
Schedule

  • 2 sets of vaccinations 4-8 wks apart


Randomized, double-blind controlled trial

2003-05 influenza seasons

Netherlands



Children 18-72 months with previous respiratory tract infections

N=567

nTIV PCV7 = 194
n HBV+placebo = 190
nTIV placebo = 183

Outcomes

  • Immediate hypersensitivity
  • Local and systemic AE (solicited and unsolicited) days 0-6
  • SAE
Results
Immediate and severe reactions

  • None reported
Local and systemic reactions

  • Most mild and transient
Local reactions

  • Most frequently reported across all study arms was tenderness (53.9% TIV+PCV7, 29.8% TIV+placebo and 25.3% HBV+placebo)
  • TIV+PCV7 arm had greater proportion with erythema, tenderness, interference with limb movement, and swelling
  • Percentage for any reaction
TIV+PCV7

  • 66.8% (95% CI 59.9-73.1)
TIV+placebo
  • 37.8% (95% CI 31.0-45.0)
HBV+placebo

  • 36.0% (95% CI 29.5-43.1)
  • Decreasing prevalence over time for all study arms
  • TIV+PCV7 – most reactions in PCV7 extremity
  • Movement interference TIV+extremity greater in TIV+ PCV7 arm (13.2%; 95% CI 9.1-18.7) compared to TIV+ placebo arm (3.4%; 95% CI 1.5-7.1)
Systemic reactions

  • Percentage of any reaction similar among study arms
  • TIV+PCV7

    • 63.9% (95% CI 56.8-70.5)
    TIV+placebo

    • 52.3% (95% CI 44.9-59.7)
    HBV+placebo
  • 50.9% (95% CI 43.5-58.2)
  • GI complaints (n=44)
    • TIV+PCV7 n=10
    • TIV+placebo n=19
    • HBV+placebo n=15
  • Clinic visit during follow-up – not related to previous visit (n=4)
    • TIV+placebo n=3 (one excessive crying and vomiting; 2 with coughing and shortness of breath)
    • HBV+placebo n=1 (rash)
Level I Good
Ashkenazi S, Vertruyen A, Aristegui J, et al. Superior relative efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine compared with inactivated influenza vaccine in young children with recurrent respiratory tract infections. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2006;25(10):870-9.Footnote 3737 TIV LAIV
Study vaccine

LAIV

Dose - 0.1mL
per nostril

Comparison vaccine

TIV - types A and B, split virion

Dose

  • 6-36 months 0.25 mL per dose
  • 36- 72 months 0.5 mL per dose
Vaccine schedule
2 doses: 35d ± 7d apart

PIII RCT,
open-label, active
controlled, multicentre

2002-2003
Influenza season

Study sites
Europe, Israel



N = 2,187
nTIV = 1,086
nLAIV = 1,101

Children 6 to 71
months, with history
of recurrent
respiratory tract infections
(≥2 RTIs in
past 12 months or
since birth if under
12 months)

23% had prior
diagnosis of asthma



Outcomes

  • Reactogenicity, reports of wheezing and AE

Results

Reactogenicity days 0-11 (LAIV vs TIV)

Dose 1

  • Any event (87.2% vs 83.7%) (p=0.033)
  • Runny nose/nasal congestion (68.3% vs 55.1%) (p<0.001)
Dose 2

  • Any event (76.2% vs 73.6%) (p=0.210)
  • Runny nose/nasal congestion (52.1% vs 44.4%) (p=0.001)
  • Decreased appetite (23.9% vs 19.8%) (p=0.031)
AEs days 0-11 (LAIV vs TIV)
Dose 1

  • Overall 33.8% vs 29.6%) (p=0.039)
  • Rhinitis (8.7% vs 5.3%) (p=0.002)
Dose 2

  • Overall: 32.4% vs 28.6%) (p=0.059)
  • Rhinitis (6.1% vs 3.8%) (p=0.021)
  • Otitis media (3.7% vs 1.8%) (p=0.011)
Incidence of first episode of wheezing (LAIV vs TIV)

  • Similar in both groups following dose 1 (12.5% vs 13.2%) and dose 2 (13.8% vs 12.3%)
SAE

  • Possibly related to vaccine LAIV n=2 an TIV n=4
  • No deaths.
Level I

Good

Belshe RB, Edwards KM, Vesikari T, et al. Live attenuated versus inactivated influenza vaccine in infants and young children. N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15;356(7):685-696.Footnote 3939 (NCT00128167) TIV LAIV

LAIV
FluMist®

TIV
Fluzone® (US and Asia) and Vaxigrip® (Europe and the Middle East)

Dose

  • 0.25ml (6-35 months)
  • 0.5ml (36-59 months)
Schedule

- 2 doses (0 and 28-42 days) for those with no previous vaccination

Randomized multicentre trial

2004-05 influenza season

US, Europe, Middle East and Asia



Children 6-59 months

N=8,352 (24-59 months n=4,384)

nLAIV = 4,179 (24-59 months
nLAIV = 2,187)

nTIV = 4,173 (24-59 months
nTIV =2,197)

Outcomes

  • AE (local and systemic), daily temperatures, and concomitant medications (days 0-42)
  • Medically significant wheezing and SAE (vaccination to May 31, 2005)
Results
Participants 24-59 months (0-42 days)
  • Medically significant wheezing (Adjusted rate differences non-significant)

    Not previously vaccinated
    • dose 1 – LAIV 12/666 (1.8) / TIV 14/678 (2.1)
    Previously vaccinated
    • dose 1 – LAIV 19/1 521 (1.2) / TIV 14/1520 (0.9)
    • dose 2 – LAIV 16/1 424 (1.1) / TIV 28/1439 (1.9)
  • No ICU admissions or mechanical ventilation (all ages and comparison groups)
Participants 12–59 months (0-180)

  • Medically significant wheezing – LAIV 272/3,495 (7.8) / TIV 255/3,490 (7.3)
  • Any serious adverse event – LAIV 92/3,495 (2.6) / TIV 105/3,490 (3.0) (not assessed for relation to study vaccine)
  • Hospitalization for any cause – LAIV 88/3,495 (2.5) / TIV 101/3,490 (2.9) (rate similar between 12<24 and 24-59 mos)
Participants 6-59 months

Local reactions (pain, redness, and swelling)

  • Most events were mild to moderate in severity
  • Greater proportion in TIV group
Systemic reactions – fever (37.8°C)

  • dose 1 – 5.4% LAIV and 2.0% TIV (p<0.001)
  • No significant difference after second dose
Absolute difference in rates of hospitalization (LAIV vs TIV)

  • Non-significant rate differences between study arms for comparisons by age group (24-35 / 36-47 / 48-59), and history of wheezing
  • Only significant difference (p=.039) for children 48-59 months without a history of wheezing (rate greater for TIV group)
SAE
  • Potentially related to study vaccines LAIV n=6 and TIV n=5
  • No deaths
Level I Good
Neuzil KM, Dupont WD, Wright PF, et al. Efficacy of inactivated and cold-adapted vaccines against influenza A infection, 1985 to 1990: the pediatric experience. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2001 Aug;20(8):733-740.Footnote 5454 TIV LAIV

Year 1 (pilot)

LAIV (H1N1 and H3N2) and inactivated B vaccines

Bivalent inactivated vaccine (H1N1, H3N2)

Year 2-5

LAIV (H1N1 and H3N2) and inactivated B vaccines

TIV (H1N1, H3N2, B)

Control (inactivated influenza B vaccine)

Dose - <3 years

  • Inactivated vaccine 0.25 mL
  • 0.5 mL of a 1/ 10 dilution of each of the two cold-adapted vaccine preparations as a single dose
Randomized controlled trial, double-blind

1985-1990 influenza seasons

US (Nashville, Tennessee)

Children 1-16 years
Ndoses = 1,809 (791 children)

1<6 years (doses)
ncontrol=130
nLAIV-inactivated B =144
nTIV =200



Outcomes

  • reactogenicity days 0-4
Results (excluding year 1 as pilot)

  • Reaction rates (redness, induration, fever, cough, coryza and sore throat) were similar in all age groups and across study years
  • Reaction rates following initial and repeat vaccinations were similar.
  • 1<6 years
    • Most frequently reported reactions
      • fever
        • Control 12.3%
        • LAIV 13.9%
        • TIV 11.5%
      • cough
        • Control 12.3%
        • LAIV 12.5%
        • TIV 8.5%
      • coryza
        • Control 17.7%
        • LAIV 27.8%
        • TIV 16.0%
    • Frequency of coryza greater for LAIV B vaccine group than other 2 study arms (significant difference)
  • No SAE reported.
Level I

Good

Bergen R, Black S, Shinefield H, et al. Safety of cold-adapted live attenuated influenza vaccine in a large cohort of children and adolescents. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2004 Feb;23(2):138-144.Footnote 6262 LAIV

Dose
0.25mL per nostril

Formulation
107TCID50 per strain

Schedule
2 dose participants <9yrs (28-42d after dose 1)

Randomized,
double-blind, placebo
controlled

1999-2000 Influenza season

US

N= 9,689
nLAIV =6,473

Children aged 1-8
years
nLAIV-T = 3,242-3,769
nplacebo = 1,600-1,869

Children aged 18-35 months
nLAIV =728
nplacebo =339-369

Healthy children
aged 12 months to
17 years

Excluded those
who received TIV
in 2000 or any
live virus within 1
month of study or
inactivated vaccine
within 2 weeks

Outcomes

  • 4 pre-specified diagnostic categories (acute respiratory tract events, systemic bacterial infections, acute gastrointestinal tract events, rare events potentially associated with wild-type influenza)
  • Assessment period day 0-42 post vaccination completed in hospital, ED, and clinic settings
Results

Significant increase in RR among participants 18-35 months (all settings and doses combined)

  • Upper respiratory tract infections RR 1.30(90% CI 1.01, 1.67)
  • Asthma events RR 4.06 (90% CI 1.29-17.86)
    • no hospitalizations required
    • 7 of the 16 cases in LAIV group had a previous clinic visit for asthma
  • Musculoskeletal pain (clinic only; 0 cases in placebo group) RR NE (1.30, NE)
No SAE in LAIV group deemed related to study vaccine.

Level I

Good

Bracco Neto H, Farhat CK, Tregnaghi MW, et al. Efficacy and safety of 1 and 2 doses of live attenuated influenza vaccine in vaccine-naive children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2009 May;28(5):365-371.Footnote 4444 (NCT00192283) LAIV

Dose
0.1mL per
nostril

Formulation
10 7±0.5 FFU
per strain

Schedule
2 doses in
Year 1, single
dose in Year 2

Vaccine and
circulating
strains well matched
Randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled, multicentre trial

2001-02
influenza seasons

South Africa, Brazil,
Argentina

Year 1 Dose 1
nLAIV = =2,127
nexcipient placebo = 546
nsaline placebo =527

Year 1 Dose 2
nLAIV= 964
nexcipient placebo = 484
nsaline placebo =527

Year 2
nLAIV= 1,461
nplacebo = 741

Healthy influenza
vaccine-naive
children aged 6 to <36 months

Outcomes

  • Reactogenicity events (solicited days 0-11 and unsolicited 0-11 for dose 1 and 0-28 for dose 2)
  • SAE monitored throughout study period
Results
Proportion with ≥1 AE were similar among LAIV, and placebo groups

  • Year 1 dose 1 (27.2%-29.1%) and dose 2 (26.7%-29.0%)
  • Year 2 (23.8%)
Most frequently reported AE (No statistically significant differences among LAIV and placebo groups)
Year 1 dose 1 (day 0-11)

  • Fever LAIV (8.9%) placebo (6.6-9.7%)
  • URI LAIV (6.3%) placebo (6.4-7.0%)
  • Rhinitis LAIV (5.4%) placebo (4.9-5.3%)
  • Cough LAIV (3.4%) placebo (3.3-4.2%)
Year 1 dose 2 (day 0-11)

  • Fever LAIV (6.6%) placebo (6.8-7.0%)
  • URI LAIV (7.0%) placebo (6.1-8.5%)
  • Rhinitis LAIV (5.2%) placebo (5.0-5.4%)
  • Cough LAIV (3.2%) placebo (3.7-4.3%)
Year 2

  • Fever LAIV (5.7%) placebo (5.3%)
  • URI LAIV (5.0%) placebo (4.7%)
  • Rhinitis LAIV (3.8%) placebo (4.0%)
  • Cough LAIV (2.8%) placebo (2.4%)
  • only significant AE was bronchitis (3.1% LAIV and 1.6% placebo; p=0.046)
SAEs in year 1 related to study (n=29), including pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, bronchiolitis and bronchitis.

No deaths related to study product.

Level I

Good

Error in
treatment
allocation
coding
and
labelling
in Year 2
resulted
in 2
additional
treatment
protocols
Breiman RF, Brooks WA, Goswami D, et al. A multinational, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of live attenuated influenza vaccine coadministered with oral poliovirus vaccine in healthy young children. Vaccine 2009 Sep 4;27(40):5472-5479.Footnote 6363 (NCT00192491) LAIV Dose 0.2ml (0.1mL per nostril; Formulation 10 7±0.5 FFU per strain Schedule 2nd dose LAIV (or placebo) given 28-42 days after 1st dose Randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, partially blinded,
multicentre

Co-vaccine:
OPV (various
sources) open label

2002 influenza season

Asia, South America

Per-protocol
N=2,166

24-36 months (across all arms)
n=964 (45%)

Safety population Dose 1
nLAIV+OPV = 787-818
nPlacebo+OPV =794-
826 (blinded)
nLAIV =777-814

Dose 2
nLAIV+OPV = 725-753
nPlacebo+ OPV =748-769 (blinded)
nLAIV =740-760

Healthy influenza
vaccine-naive children
aged 6 to <36
months receiving
routine OPV

Exclusions included
administration
of any live vaccine
within 1 month
and no other live
vaccine during
study

Outcomes

  • Reactogenicity events days 0-11 (solicited and unsolicited events)
  • SAE monitored throughout study period
Results
Reactogenicity

  • ≥1 solicited systemic event within 11 days of any vaccination) similar across study arms (73.1-82.4%)
Significant differences for specific events

  • Runny nose/nasal congestion (68.6% LAIV vs 62.7% placebo) (p=0.003) after dose 1 only
  • Fever ≥40°C and decreased activity more frequent with placebo and OPV than with LAIV recipients combined (p=0.037 and p=0.017) after dose 1
Unsolicited AEs

  • similar frequency across groups
    • LAIV + OPV = 38.3%
    • Placebo + OPV = 36.0%
    • LAIV = 35.9%
  • majority mild to moderate
  • Most common: upper respiratory tract infections, rhinitis (not statistically different between groups)
  • Significant differences for specific events
    • Conjunctivitis after dose 1: LAIV 0.7%; LAIV OPV: 0.1%; placebo+OPV: 0.1% (p=0.04)
SAEs

  • Similar frequency across groups
    • LAIV OPV : 1.8%
    • Placebo+OPV : 2.5%
    • LAIV 1.9%
  • 17 SAEs (possibly related to study product): pneumonia (n=4), acute gastroenteritis (n=8), bronchospasm (n=2), acute tonsillitis (n=1), febrile seizure (n=1), and acute gastritis (n=1)
  • Receipt of LAIV not associated with disproportionate incidence of SAE
Level I Good
Piedra PA, Yan L, Kotloff K, et al. Safety of the trivalent, cold-adapted influenza vaccine in preschool-aged children. Pediatrics 2002 Oct;110(4):662-672.Footnote 6464 LAIV

Dose
0.5ml (0.25ml per nostril)

Formulation
107 TCID50 per strain

Schedule
Year 1 – 1 dose and 2 dose (60 days +/- 14) cohorts

Year 2 – 1 dose as per 1st year study arm

Year 3 and 4 – 1 dose LAIV

RCT, double blind, multicentre, placebo controlled

Four seasons 1996-2002

US





Year 1
nLAIV 1,070
nPlacebo =532

Year 2
nLAIV 917
nPlacebo =441

Year 3
nLAIV =642

Year 4
nLAIV =549

Healthy children 15 to 71 months

Outcomes Reactogenicity monitored 0-10 days (solicited and unsolicited) SAE days 0-42 and vaccine related SAE throughout study period Results Reactogenicity 0-10 days (significant OR adjusted for age, month of vaccination and child care attendance; LAIV vs placebo) Year 1 dose 1 runny nose / nasal congestion OR 161(1.30-1.99) vomiting OR 1.78 (1.05-3.01) muscle ache OR 2.0 (1.10-3.65) fever OR 1.52 (1.11-2.07) Year 1 dose 2 runny nose / nasal congestion OR 1.29 (1.02-1.65) Year 2 No increase in odds in LAIV cohort. Symptom duration Symptom duration (runny nose / nasal congestion, fever, muscle ache, vomiting) was comparable between LAIV and placebo groups for year 1 dose 2 and year 2 Gastrointestinal symptoms (significant differences - LAIV vs placebo) Year 1 dose 1 Vomiting (64/1,070 vs 19/532; p=0.04) Abdominal pain (19/1,070 vs 1/532; p=0.01) Muscle ache (55/1,070 vs 14/532; p=0.02) Year 1 dose 2 and year 2 – no significant differences SAE All deemed definitely not or probably not related to study vaccine Sequential annual doses Year 3 and 4 similar proportion of symptoms compared to year 2 and lower than year 1 dose 1 Level I

Good

Piedra PA, Gaglani MJ, Riggs M, et al. Live attenuated influenza vaccine, trivalent, is safe in healthy children 18 months to 4 years, 5 to 9 years, and 10 to 18 years of age in a community-based, nonrandomized, open-label trial. Pediatrics 2005 Sep;116(3):e397-407.Footnote 4949 LAIV

Dose
0.25mL per
nostril

Formulation 10 7 TCID50 per strain

Prospective, multiyear
open label,
non- randomized
trial

1997-2002 influenza seasons

US

Total
N= 18,780 doses (11,096 children)

18mos-4 years
n=4 529 doses

Healthy children aged 1.5-18 years.

Children with a
history of intermittent
wheezing,
medically attended
acute-respiratory
illness, including
asthma exacerbation, were not excluded.

Outcomes

  • SAE assessed over 6 week period (total vaccinated)
  • Medically attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI ) and asthma assessed 6 week period (subset of vaccinated)
Results

SAE

  • None attributed to LAIV.
MAARI / Asthma

  • 18 mos-4 years - no significant increase in health care utilization for MAARI , MAARIsubcategories, asthma on days 0-14 and only one significant increase days 15-42 for asthma in year 1 RR 2.85 (95% CI, 1.01-8.03).
  • 18 mos– 4 years - no statistically significant increase in health care utilization for MAARI days 0-14 stratified by number of doses received (1-4).


Level II-3

Good

Tam JS, Capeding MR, Lum LC, et al. Efficacy and safety of a live attenuated, cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent against culture-confirmed influenza in young children in Asia. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2007 Jul;26(7):619-628.Footnote 4141 (NCT00192244) LAIV

Dose
0.1mL per
nostril

Schedule
Year 1:
2 doses ≥28 days apart

Year 2: Single dose

Formulation
10 7 TCID50
per strain

Year 1
A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), A/Sydney/
05/97 (H3N2) (not the recommended WHO strain), and B/Yamanashi/166/98

Year 2
A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), A/Panama/
2007/99 (H3N2), and B/Yamanashi/166/98 (not the WHO recommended strain)

B-component
of vaccine
was not well
matched in
either year.
(29.2%
distinct in
year 1, 77%
in year 2)

Randomized, double-blind,
placebo- controlled,
multicentre trial

2000/01 &
2001/02 seasons

Asia

Randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, partially blinded,
multicentr
Year 1 (per-protocol)
N=2,764
nLAIV =1,653
nplacebo = 1,111

Per-protocol 24-36 mos.
N=1 317
nLAIV =782
nplacebo =535

Year 2 (per-protocol)
N=2,527
nLAIV/LAIV =771
nLAIV placebo = 759
nplacebo/LAIV = 503
nplacebo/placebo = 494



Healthy children
aged 12 to <36
months

Outcomes

  • Adverse events days 0-11 (solicited and unsolicited)
  • SAE monitored throughout the study

Results
Reactogenicity
Significant difference in solicited reactogenicity events days 0-11 (LAIV vs placebo)

Year 1 - 1st dose

  • Fever ≥37.5.C (22.0% vs 17.6%; p=0.004)
  • Rhinorrhea (62.0% vs 52.0%; p<0.001)
  • Decreased activity (13.4% vs 10.7%; p=0.026)
  • Decreased appetite (24.2% vs 19.7%; p=0.003)
  • Use of fever medication (21.3% vs 18.4%; p=0.044)
Year 1 - 2nd dose
  • Rhinorrhea/Nasal congestion (49.8% vs 45.6%; p=0.03)
Year 2

  • Rhinorrhea (62.0% vs 55.4%; p=0.019)
  • Use of fever medication (73.9% vs 70.1%; p=0.019)
Unsolicited AE
(significant differences LAIV vs placebo)

Year 1, dose 1
  • Fever (15.4% vs 11.7%; p=0.003)
Year 2

  • Fever (12.7% vs 9.8%; p=0.017)
SAE
  • Uncommon and similar across groups.
  • Year 1 (LAIV vs placebo) - Bronchospasm (7 vs 3), Bronchitis (3 vs 2), and Rhinitis (3 vs 0)
  • SAE vaccine related study withdrawal in Year 1 - fever x 3 days in 20 month old
  • Year 2 – 1 case pneumonia 6 days after vaccine (LAIV)
  • No deaths related to study
Level I

Good

Vesikari T, Fleming DM, Aristegui JF, et al. Safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of cold-adapted influenza vaccine-trivalent against community-acquired, culture-confirmed influenza in young children attending day care. Pediatrics 2006 Dec;118(6):2298-2312.Footnote 4242 (NCT00192283) LAIV

Dose
0.2ml (0.1 mL per nostril)

Schedule
Year 1 second dose 35 +/- 7 days after 1st

Formulation
10 7TCID50 per strain

Year 1
A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), A/Sydney/05/97
(H3N2) (not WHO recommended strain), and B/Yamanashi/166/98

Year 2
A/New Caledonia/20/99
(H1N1), A/Panama/2007/99 (H3N2), and B/Victoria/
504/2000

Vaccine and
circulating
strains
well-matched in year 1 but in year 2 there were 2 influenza B strains circulating that were distinct from vaccine strain

Randomized, prospective,
double-blind,
placebo controlled,
multicentre trial

2000-2001 &
2001-2002 influenza seasons

Belgium, Finland,
Israel, Spain, UK

Year 1 (per-protocol)
N=1,616
nLAIV =951
nPlacebo =665

≥24 to 36 mos.
n=844 (52.2%)
nLAIV =490
nPlacebo =354

Year 2 (per-protocol)
N=1,090
nLAIV = =640
nPlacebo =450

≥24 to 36 mos. not reported



Healthy children
aged 6 to <36
months attending
day care ≥12hours/
week

Outcomes

  • Adverse events days 0-11 (solicited and unsolicited)
  • SAE monitored throughout the study
Results
Reactogenicity events (solicited) days 0-11

  • The only significant difference occurred in Year 1 after first dose: rhinorrhea (82.3% vs 75.4%, p=0.001).
AE unsolicited

  • Similar proportions across groups ≥1 AE (LAIV 36.4% vs placebo 35.4%)
  • Most frequently reported after dose 1 (LAIV vs placebo)
    • Fever (8.7% vs 7.2%)
    • Rhinitis (8.2% vs 8.0%)
    • URI (4.3% vs 4.6%)
SAE

  • Similar number of LRI (LAIV vs placebo)
    • Pneumonia (11 vs 9)
    • Bronchitis (3 vs 1)
    • Bronchospasm (2 vs 2)
    • Bronchiolitis (1 vs 2)
  • SAE possibly related to study vaccine: LAIV n=9 and placebo n=5
  • Year 2 no statistically significant differences in SAE between groups.
  • No deaths occurred during the study period.
Level I

Good

List of Abbreviations

ACIP
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (US)
AE
Adverse event
AEFI
Adverse event following immunization
AI/AN
American Indian and Alaska Natives
AMMI
Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease
AOM
Acute otitis media
ARI
Acute respiratory infection
BMI
Body mass index
ca
Cold-adapted
CADTH
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
CAEFISS
Canadian Adverse Events Following Immunization Surveillance System
CATMAT
Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel
CCDR
Canada Communicable Disease Report
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CI
Confidence interval
CIRID
Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases
CNISP
Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program
CSACI
Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
ECDC
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
ECMO
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
ED
Emergency department
FFU
Fluorescent focus units
GBS
Guillain-Barré syndrome
GI
Gastrointestinal
HA
Haemagglutinin
HBV
Hepatitis B virus
HCW
Health care worker
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
HRR
Hazard rate ratio
ICD
International classification of diseases
ICU
Intensive care unit
ID
Intradermal
IgE
Immune globulin E
IgG
immune globulin G
ILI
Influenza-like illness
IM
Intramuscular
IMPACT
Immunization Monitoring Program, ACTive
IWG
Influenza Working Group
IQR
Interquartile range
IRR
Incidence rate ratio
LAIV
Live attenuated influenza vaccine
LOS
Length of stay
LRI
Lower respiratory infection
LTCF
Long-term care facility
MAARI
Medically attended acute respiratory illness
MAE
Medically attended event
mL
Millilitre
MCO
Managed care organization
NA
Neuraminidase
NACI
National Advisory Committee on Immunization
NE
Not estimated
NML
National Microbiology Laboratory
OME
Otitis media with effusion
OPV
Oral poliovirus vaccine
OR
Odds ratio
ORS
Oculorespiratory syndrome
OTC
Over the counter
PCV7
Heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
pH1N1
Pandemic H1N1 2009
PHAC
Public Health Agency of Canada
PICU
Paediatric intensive care unit
QALY
Quality-adjusted life year
RCT
Randomized controlled trial
RE
Reactogenicity event
RR
Relative risk
RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus
RTI
Respiratory tract infection
RT-PCR
Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
rRT-PCR
Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
SAE
Serious adverse event
SD
Standard deviation
TESSy
The European Surveillance System
TIV
Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine
TIV-ID
Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine administered intradermally
µg
Microgram
UIIP
Universal Influenza Immunization Program (Ontario)
UK
United Kingdom
URI
Upper respiratory infection
US
United States
VAERS
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (US)
VE
Vaccine effectiveness
WHO
World Health Organization

References

Footnote 1

American Academy of Pediatrics - Committee on Infectious Diseases. Prevention of influenza: recommendations for influenza immunization of children, 2007-2008. Pediatrics. 2008;121(4):e1016-31.

Return to footnote1 Referrer

Footnote 2

Neuzil KM, Zhu Y, Griffin MR, et al. Burden of interpandemic influenza in children younger than 5 years: a 25-year prospective study. J Infect Dis. 2002;185(2):147-52.

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Footnote 3

Neuzil KM, Mellen BG, Wright PF, et al. The effect of influenza on hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and courses of antibiotics in children. N Engl J Med. 2000;342(4):225-31.

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Footnote 4

Izurieta HS, Thompson WW, Kramarz P, et al. Influenza and the rates of hospitalization for respiratory disease among infants and young children. N Engl J Med. 2000;342(4):232-9.

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Footnote 5

Thompson WW, Shay DK, Weintraub E, et al. Influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States. JAMA. 2004;292(11):1333-40.

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Footnote 6

Poehling KA, Edwards KM, Weinberg GA, et al. The underrecognized burden of influenza in young children. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(1):31-40.

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Footnote 7

Hurwitz ES, Haber M, Chang A, et al. Studies of the 1996-1997 inactivated influenza vaccine among children attending day care: immunologic response, protection against infection, and clinical effectiveness. J Infect Dis. 2000;182(4):1218-21.

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Footnote 8

Louie JK, Schechter R, Honarmand S, et al. Severe pediatric influenza in California, 2003-2005: implications for immunization recommendations. Pediatrics. 2006;117(4):e610-8.

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Footnote 9

Peltola V, Ziegler T, Ruuskanen O. Influenza A and B virus infections in children. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;36(3):299-305.

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Footnote 10

Chiu SS, Tse CY, Lau YL, et al. Influenza A infection is an important cause of febrile seizures. Pediatrics. 2001;108(4):E63.

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Footnote 11

Schanzer DL, Langley JM, Tam TW. Hospitalization attributable to influenza and other viral respiratory illnesses in Canadian children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2006;25(9):795-800.

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Footnote 12

Public Health Agency of Canada. FluWatch. 2012; Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/.

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Footnote 13

O'Brien MA, Uyeki TM, Shay DK, et al. Incidence of outpatient visits and hospitalizations related to influenza in infants and young children. Pediatrics. 2004;113(3 Pt 1):585-93.

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Footnote 14

Bourgeois FT, Valim C, Wei JC, et al. Influenza and other respiratory virus-related emergency department visits among young children. Pediatrics. 2006;118(1):e1-8.

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Footnote 15

Coffin SE, Zaoutis TE, Rosenquist AB, et al. Incidence, complications, and risk factors for prolonged stay in children hospitalized with community-acquired influenza. Pediatrics. 2007;119(4):740-8.

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Footnote 16

Thompson WW, Shay DK, Weintraub E, et al. Mortality associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States. JAMA. 2003;289(0098-7484; 0098-7484; 2):179-86.

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Footnote 17

Bhat N, Wright JG, Broder KR, et al. Influenza-associated deaths among children in the United States, 2003-2004. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(24):2559-67.

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Footnote 18

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update: Influenza activity – United States and worldwide, 2006-07 season, and composition of the 2007-08 influenza vaccine. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2007;56(31):789-94.

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Footnote 19

Ritzwoller DP, Bridges CB, Shetterly S, et al. Effectiveness of the 2003-2004 influenza vaccine among children 6 months to 8 years of age, with 1 vs 2 doses. Pediatrics. 2005;116(1):153-9.

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Footnote 20

Eisenberg KW, Szilagyi PG, Fairbrother G, et al. Vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza in children 6 to 59 months of age during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 influenza seasons. Pediatrics. 2008;122(5):911-9.

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Footnote 21

Joshi AY, Iyer VN, St Sauver JL, et al. Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in children less than 5 years of age over multiple influenza seasons: a case-control study. Vaccine. 2009;27(33):4457-61.

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Footnote 22

Kelly H, Jacoby P, Dixon GA, et al. Vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza in healthy young children: A case-control study. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011;30(2):107-11.

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Footnote 23

Staat MA, Griffin MR, Donauer S, et al. Vaccine effectiveness for laboratory-confirmed influenza in children 6-59 months of age, 2005-2007. Vaccine. 2011;29(48):9005-11.

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Footnote 24

Shuler CM, Iwamoto M, Bridges CB, et al. Vaccine effectiveness against medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza among children aged 6 to 59 months, 2003-2004. Pediatrics. 2007;119(3):e587-95.

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Footnote 25

Belongia EA, Kieke BA, Donahue JG, et al. Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccines varied substantially with antigenic match from the 2004-2005 season to the 2006-2007 season. J Infect Dis. 2009;199(2):159-67.

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Footnote 26

Heinonen S, Silvennoinen H, Lehtinen P, et al. Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine in children aged 9 months to 3 years: an observational cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2011;11(1):23-9.

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Footnote 27

Dixon GA, Moore HC, Kelly H, et al. Lessons from the first year of the WAIVE study investigating the protective effect of influenza vaccine against laboratory-confirmed influenza in hospitalised children aged 6-59 months. Influenza other respi viruses. 2010;4(4):231-4.

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Footnote 28

Szilagyi PG, Fairbrother G, Griffin MR, et al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness among children 6 to 59 months of age during 2 influenza seasons: a case-cohort study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(10):943-51.

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Footnote 29

Katayose M, Hosoya M, Haneda T, et al. The effectiveness of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children over six consecutive influenza seasons. Vaccine. 2011;29(9):1844-9.

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Footnote 30

Maeda T, Shintani Y, Miyamoto H, et al. Prophylactic effect of inactivated influenza vaccine on young children. Pediatr Int. 2002;44(1):43-6.

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Footnote 31

Ochiai H, Fujieda M, Ohfuji S, et al. Inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness against influenza-like illness among young children in Japan–with special reference to minimizing outcome misclassification. Vaccine. 2009;27(50):7031-5.

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Footnote 32

Ghendon YZ, Kaira AN, Elshina GA. The effect of mass influenza immunization in children on the morbidity of the unvaccinated elderly. Epidemiol Infect. 2006;134(1):71-8.

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Footnote 33

Fujieda M, Maeda A, Kondo K, et al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness and confounding factors among young children. Vaccine. 2008;26(50):6481-5.

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Footnote 34

Fujieda M, Maeda A, Kondo K, et al. Inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness in children under 6 years of age during the 2002-2003 season. Vaccine. 2006;24(7):957-63.

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Footnote 35

Hoen AG, Buckeridge DL, Charland KM, et al. Effect of expanded US recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination: comparison of two pediatric emergency departments in the United States and Canada. CMAJ. 2011;183(13):E1025-32.

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Footnote 36

National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Recommendations on the use of live, attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist®): Supplemental Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine 2011-2012. CCDR . 2011;37(ACS-7):March 6 2012.

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Footnote 37

Ashkenazi S, Vertruyen A, Aristegui J, et al. Superior relative efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine compared with inactivated influenza vaccine in young children with recurrent respiratory tract infections. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2006;25(10):870-9.

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Footnote 38

Ambrose CS, Levin MJ, Belshe RB. The relative efficacy of trivalent live attenuated and inactivated influenza vaccines in children and adults. Influenza other respi viruses. 2011;5(2):67-75.

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Footnote 39

Belshe RB, Edwards KM, Vesikari T, et al. Live attenuated versus inactivated influenza vaccine in infants and young children. N Engl J Med. 2007;356(7):685-96.

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Footnote 40

Belshe RB, Toback SL, Yi T, et al. Efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine in children 6 months to 17 years of age. Influenza other respi viruses. 2010;4(3):141-5.

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Footnote 41

Tam JS, Capeding MR, Lum LC, et al. Efficacy and safety of a live attenuated, cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent against culture-confirmed influenza in young children in Asia. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007;26(7):619-28.

Return to footnote41 Referrer

Footnote 42

Vesikari T, Fleming DM, Aristegui JF, et al. Safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of cold-adapted influenza vaccine-trivalent against community-acquired, culture-confirmed influenza in young children attending day care. Pediatrics. 2006;118(6):2298-312.

Return to footnote42 Referrer

Footnote 43

Gaglani MJ, Piedra PA, Herschler GB, et al. Direct and total effectiveness of the intranasal, live-attenuated, trivalent cold-adapted influenza virus vaccine against the 2000-2001 influenza A(H1N1) and B epidemic in healthy children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158(1):65-73.

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Footnote 44

Bracco Neto H, Farhat CK, Tregnaghi MW, et al. Efficacy and safety of 1 and 2 doses of live attenuated influenza vaccine in vaccine-naive children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009;28(5):365-71.

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Footnote 45

Rhorer J, Ambrose CS, Dickinson S, et al. Efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine in children: A meta-analysis of nine randomized clinical trials. Vaccine. 2009;27(7):1101-10.

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Footnote 46

Ozgur SK, Beyazova U, Kemaloglu YK, et al. Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccine for prevention of otitis media in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2006;25(5):401-4.

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Footnote 47

Hurwitz ES, Haber M, Chang A, et al. Effectiveness of influenza vaccination of day care children in reducing influenza-related morbidity among household contacts. JAMA. 2000;284(13):1677-82.

Return to footnote47 Referrer

Footnote 48

Principi N, Esposito S, Marchisio P, et al. Socioeconomic impact of influenza on healthy children and their families. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2003;22(10 Suppl):S207-10.

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Footnote 49

Piedra PA, Gaglani MJ, Kozinetz CA, et al. Herd immunity in adults against influenza-related illnesses with use of the trivalent-live attenuated influenza vaccine (CAIV-T) in children. Vaccine. 2005;23(13):1540-8.

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Footnote 50

Loeb M, Russell ML, Moss L, et al. Effect of influenza vaccination of children on infection rates in Hutterite communities: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2010;303(10):943-50.

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Footnote 51

Pitman RJ, White LJ, Sculpher M. Estimating the clinical impact of introducing paediatric influenza vaccination in England and Wales. Vaccine. 2012;30(6):1208-24.

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Footnote 52

Skowronski DM, Hottes TS, De Serres G, et al. Influenza B/Victoria antigen induces strong recall of B/Yamagata but lower B/Victoria response in children primed with two doses of B/Yamagata. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011;30(10):833-9.

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Footnote 53

Zeman AM, Holmes TH, Stamatis S, et al. Humoral and cellular immune responses in children given annual immunization with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007;26(2):107-15.

Return to footnote53 Referrer

Footnote 54

Neuzil KM, Dupont WD, Wright PF, et al. Efficacy of inactivated and cold-adapted vaccines against influenza A infection, 1985 to 1990: the pediatric experience. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2001;20(8):733-40.

Return to footnote54 Referrer

Footnote 55

Ambrose CS, Wu X, Belshe RB. The efficacy of live attenuated and inactivated influenza vaccines in children as a function of time postvaccination. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2010;29(9):806-11.

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Footnote 56

Gruber WC, Taber LH, Glezen WP, et al. Live attenuated and inactivated influenza vaccine in school-age children. Am J Dis Child. 1990;144(5):595-600.

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Footnote 57

Baxter R, Jeanfreau R, Block SL, et al. A Phase III evaluation of immunogenicity and safety of two trivalent inactivated seasonal influenza vaccines in US children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2010;29(10):924-30.

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Footnote 58

Jansen AG, Sanders EA, Smulders S, et al. Adverse reactions to simultaneous influenza and pneumococcal conjugate vaccinations in children: randomized double-blind controlled trial. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2008;19(6):552-8.

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Footnote 59

Glanz JM, Newcomer SR, Hambidge SJ, et al. Safety of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children aged 24 to 59 months in the vaccine safety datalink. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;165(8):749-55.

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Footnote 60

Muhammad RD, Haber P, Broder KR, et al. Adverse events following trivalent inactivated influenza vaccination in children: Analysis of the vaccine adverse event reporting system. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011;30(1):e1-8.

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Footnote 61

Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Adverse Event Following Immunization Surveillance System. 2012; Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/vs-sv/caefiss-eng.php.

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Footnote 62

Bergen R, Black S, Shinefield H, et al. Safety of cold-adapted live attenuated influenza vaccine in a large cohort of children and adolescents. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004;23(2):138-44.

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Footnote 63

Breiman RF, Brooks WA, Goswami D, et al. A multinational, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of live attenuated influenza vaccine coadministered with oral poliovirus vaccine in healthy young children. Vaccine. 2009;27(40):5472-9.

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Footnote 64

Piedra PA, Yan L, Kotloff K, et al. Safety of the trivalent, cold-adapted influenza vaccine in preschool-aged children. Pediatrics. 2002;110(4):662-72.

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Footnote 65

Mallory RM, Yi T, Ambrose CS. Shedding of Ann Arbor strain live attenuated influenza vaccine virus in children 6-59 months of age. Vaccine. 2011;29(26):4322-7.

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Footnote 66

Zangwill KM, Droge J, Mendelman P, et al. Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity of three lots of intranasal trivalent influenza vaccine among young children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2001;20(8):740-6.

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Footnote 67

Mendelman PM, Cordova J, Cho I. Safety, efficacy and effectiveness of the influenza virus vaccine, trivalent, types A and B, live, cold-adapted (CAIV-T) in healthy children and healthy adults. Vaccine. 2001;19(17-19):2221-6.

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Footnote 68

Haber P, Arana J, Walton K. Safety of live attenuated influenza vaccine in children aged 24-59 months, Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System ( VAERS), 2007-2009. 49th Interscience conference on antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, San Francisco, CA. September 12-14, 2009. Abstract GI-872. 2009.

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