Evidence of effectiveness from a large county-wide school-based influenza immunization campaign

Vaccine. 2009 May 5;27(20):2633-6. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.02.039. Epub 2009 Feb 24.

Abstract

A school-based campaign in Knox County, TN immunized 41% and 48% of school children with live attenuated influenza vaccine in 2005 and 2006, respectively. We computed the relative risk (RR) of a positive rapid influenza test in Knox compared to Knox-surrounding county children (controls) during five baseline and two campaign seasons. Among children aged <5 years, the RR for a positive test remained relatively constant throughout the study seasons. Among children aged 5-17 years (target population), the RR was 1 during baseline and declined by 21% (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.59-1.05) and 27% (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60-0.87) during the first and second campaign season, respectively. These findings suggest a direct beneficial effect of the immunization campaign.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antigens, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
  • Orthomyxoviridae / isolation & purification
  • Schools
  • Students
  • Tennessee / epidemiology
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Attenuated