Effectiveness of influenza vaccination programme in preventing hospital admissions, Valencia, 2014/15 early results

Preliminary results for the 2014/15 season indicate low to null effect of vaccination against influenza A(H3N2)-related disease. As of week 5 2015, there have been 1,136 hospital admissions, 210 were due to influenza and 98% of subtype A strains were H3. Adjusted influenza vaccine effectiveness was 33% (range: 6–53%) overall and 40% (range: 13% to 59%) in those 65 years and older. Vaccination reduced by 44% (28–68%) the probability of admission with influenza.The study was funded by a contract between FISABIO and Sanofi-Pasteur

A surface plasmon resonance based approach for measuring response to pneumococcal vaccine

Incidence of pneumococcal disease has increased worldwide in recent years. Response to pneumococcal vaccine is usually measured using the multiserotype enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) pneumococcal test. However, this approach presents several limitations. Therefore, the introduction of new and more robust analytical approaches able to provide information on the efficacy of the pneumococcal vaccine would be very beneficial for the clinical management of patients. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been shown to offer a valuable understanding of vaccines' properties over the last years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability of SPR for the anti-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides (anti-PnPs) IgGs quantification in vaccinated. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used for the isolation of total IgGs from serum samples of vaccinated patients. Binding-SPR assays were performed to study the interaction between anti-PnPs IgGs and PCV13. A robust correlation was found between serum levels of anti-PnPs IgGs, measured by ELISA, and the SPR signal. Moreover, it was possible to correctly classify patients into "non-responder", "responder" and "high-responder" groups according to their specific SPR PCV13 response profiles. SPR technology provides a valuable tool for reliably characterize the interaction between anti-PnPs IgGs and PCV13 in a very short experimental time

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness and Waning Effect in Hospitalized Older Adults. Valencia Region, Spain, 2018/2019 Season

Influenza vaccination is annually recommended for specific populations at risk, such as older adults. We estimated the 2018/2019 influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) overall, by influenza subtype, type of vaccine, and by time elapsed since vaccination among subjects 65 years old or over in a multicenter prospective study in the Valencia Hospital Surveillance Network for the Study of Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses (VAHNSI, Spain). Information about potential confounders was obtained from clinical registries and/or by interviewing patients and vaccination details were only ascertained by registries. A test-negative design was performed in order to estimate IVE. As a result, IVE was estimated at 46% (95% confidence interval (CI): (16%, 66%)), 41% (95% CI: (−34%, 74%)), and 45% (95% CI: (7%, 67%)) against overall influenza, A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2), respectively. An intra-seasonal not relevant waning effect was detected. The IVE for the adjuvanted vaccine in ≥75 years old was 45% (2%, 69%) and for the non-adjuvanted vaccine in 65–74 years old was 59% (−16%, 86%). Thus, our data revealed moderate vaccine effectiveness against influenza A(H3N2) and not significant against A(H1N1)pdm09. Significant protection was conferred by the adjuvanted vaccine to patients ≥75 years old. Moreover, an intra-seasonal not relevant waning effect was detected, and a not significant IVE decreasing trend was observed over time

A surface plasmon resonance based approach for measuring response to pneumococcal vaccine

Incidence of pneumococcal disease has increased worldwide in recent years. Response to pneumococcal vaccine is usually measured using the multiserotype enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) pneumococcal test. However, this approach presents several limitations. Therefore, the introduction of new and more robust analytical approaches able to provide information on the efficacy of the pneumococcal vaccine would be very beneficial for the clinical management of patients. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been shown to offer a valuable understanding of vaccines' properties over the last years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability of SPR for the anti-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides (anti-PnPs) IgGs quantification in vaccinated. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used for the isolation of total IgGs from serum samples of vaccinated patients. Binding-SPR assays were performed to study the interaction between anti-PnPs IgGs and PCV13. A robust correlation was found between serum levels of anti-PnPs IgGs, measured by ELISA, and the SPR signal. Moreover, it was possible to correctly classify patients into "non-responder", "responder" and "high-responder" groups according to their specific SPR PCV13 response profiles. SPR technology provides a valuable tool for reliably characterize the interaction between anti-PnPs IgGs and PCV13 in a very short experimental time

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing Influenza A(H3N2)-Related Hospitalizations in Adults Targeted for Vaccination by Type of Vaccine: A Hospital-Based Test-Negative Study, 2011–2012 A(H3N2) Predominant Influenza Season, Valencia, Spain

<div><p>Background</p><p>Most evidence of the effectiveness of influenza vaccines comes from studies conducted in primary care, but less is known about their effectiveness in preventing serious complications. Here, we examined the influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) against hospitalization with PCR-confirmed influenza in the predominant A(H3N2) 2011–2012 influenza season.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A hospital-based, test-negative study was conducted in nine hospitals in Valencia, Spain. All emergency admissions with a predefined subset of symptoms were eligible. We enrolled consenting adults age 18 and over, targeted for influenza vaccination because of comorbidity, with symptoms of influenza-like-illness within seven days of admission. We estimated IVE as (1-adjusted vaccination odds ratio)*100 after accounting for major confounders, calendar time and recruitment hospital.</p><p>Results</p><p>The subjects included 544 positive for influenza A(H3N2) and 1,370 negative for influenza admissions. Age was an IVE modifying factor. Regardless of vaccine administration, IVE was 72% (38 to 88%) in subjects aged under 65 and 21% (−5% to 40%) in subjects aged 65 and over. By type of vaccine, the IVE of classical intramuscular split-influenza vaccine, used in subjects 18 to 64, was 68% (12% to 88%). The IVE for intradermal and virosomal influenza vaccines, used in subjects aged 65 and over, was 39% (11% to 58%) and 16% (−39% to 49%), respectively.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The split-influenza vaccine was effective in preventing influenza-associated hospitalizations in adults aged under 65. The intradermal vaccine was moderately effective in those aged 65 and over.</p></div

Admissions by epidemiological week and laboratory result.

<p>Admissions by epidemiological week and laboratory result.</p

Main complaint at admission, influenza-like-illness symptoms within seven days to admission and clinical outcomes in influenza positive compared to influenza negative admissions

<p>CI Confidence Interval. LR Likelihood ratio. SD (standard deviation).</p><p>SIRS: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome.</p><p>Metabolic failure: hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic commas, acute renal failure, and disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance.</p><p>Main complaint at admission, influenza-like-illness symptoms within seven days to admission and clinical outcomes in influenza positive compared to influenza negative admissions</p

Influenza vaccines recorded as administered by type of vaccine, age group, and PCR result.

<p>PCR real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.</p>a.<p>Recorded vaccinations in the Vaccine Information System only (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0112294#pone-0112294-t004" target="_blank">Table 4</a> for the percentage of patients included in the Vaccine Information System). The percentages reported over all participants included in the Vaccine Information System and with any vaccination ever recorded in the Vaccine Information System.</p>b.<p>Encompassing epidemiological weeks 52 to 12, with influenza related admissions identified in> = 65 years subjects. This was the age group targeted to receive this type of vaccine.</p>c.<p>Encompassing epidemiological weeks 4 to 10, with influenza related admissions identified in <65 years old subjects. This was the age group targeted to receive this type of vaccine.</p><p>Influenza vaccines recorded as administered by type of vaccine, age group, and PCR result.</p

Sensitivity analysis of adjusted influenza vaccine effectiveness.

<p>Adjusted influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) assessed for all ages, <65 and> = 65, and by: a) vaccination ascertainment method: Vaccine Information System (VIS), as reported by the patient (recall) and both combined; b) days to swab: seven or less, four or less. Reference category for all analyses includes all patients irrespective of time elapsed to swab and vaccination according to VIS or recall. OR: adjusted odds ratio. OR adjusted as reported in footnotes in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0112294#pone-0112294-t006" target="_blank">Table 6</a>.</p

Vaccination according to PCR result.

<p>PCR real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. CI Confidence Interval. LR Likelihood ratio.</p>a<p>Any vaccination ever recorded in the Vaccine Information System.</p>b.<p>A patient was considered immunized with the 2011–2012 influenza seasonal vaccine if the vaccine was recorded in the Vaccine Information System as administered more than 14 days before the date of the ILI onset or if the patients reported vaccination more than two weeks before symptoms onset.</p>c<p>Data from 1,086 (288 positive and 798 negative) patients vaccinated 15 or more days before onset of symptoms according to the information in the Vaccine Information System out of 1,169 classified as immunized because of information retrieved from the Vaccine Information System or by patient's recall of vaccination two weeks before symptoms onset.</p><p>Vaccination according to PCR result.</p