Interim estimates of 2015/16 vaccine effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, Canada, February 2016.

Interim estimates of 2015/16 vaccine effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, Canada, February 2016.
Euro Surveill. 2016 Mar 17;21(11)
Authors: Chambers C, Skowronski DM, Sabaiduc S, Winter AL, Dickinson JA, De Serres G, Gubbay JB, Drews SJ, Martineau C, Eshaghi A, Krajden M, Bastien N, Li Y
Abstract
Using a test-negative design, the Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network (SPSN) assessed interim 2015/16 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. Adjusted VE showed significant protection of 64% (95% confidence interval (CI): 44-77%) overall and 56% (95%CI: 26-73%) for adults between 20 and 64 years-old against medically attended, laboratory-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 illness. Among the 67 A(H1N1)pdm09-positive specimens that were successfully sequenced, 62 (> 90%) belonged to the emerging genetic 6B.1 subclade, defined by S162N (potential gain of glycosylation) and I216T mutations in the haemagglutinin protein. Findings from the Canadian SPSN indicate that the 2015/16 northern hemisphere vaccine provided significant protection against A(H1N1)pdm09 illness despite genetic evolution in circulating viruses.
PMID: 27020673 [PubMed - in process]

Source: Euro Surveill - March 16, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Chambers C, Skowronski DM, Sabaiduc S, Winter AL, Dickinson JA, De Serres G, Gubbay JB, Drews SJ, Martineau C, Eshaghi A, Krajden M, Bastien N, Li Y Tags: Euro Surveill Source Type: research