CDC: 2016-2017 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine is 48% Effective

The 2016-2017 influenza vaccine has been 48% effective through February 4, according to a new report from the CDC.

Since 2004-2005, the CDC has estimated the effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine each year. For its 2016-2017 interim estimate, the CDC used data from 3144 children and adults enrolled in the US Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network during the period of November 28, 2016 to February 4, 2017.
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Patients were eligible for participation in the Network if they were 6 months of age or older on September 1, 2016, reported acute respiratory infection with cough and onset ≤7 days earlier, and had not been treated with influenza antiviral medications during illness. The participants were interviewed to collect demographic data, health status data, symptoms, and vaccination status. Respiratory specimens were collected using nasal and oropharyngeal swabs, and tested for influenza viruses.

Among the 3144 participants, 744 tested positive for influenza virus, of which, 656 were influenza A and 90 were influenza B.

Overall, the vaccine effectiveness (after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, self-rated general health, and other factors) against influenza A and influenza B virus infection was 48%.

“Annual vaccination against circulating influenza viruses remains the best strategy for preventing illness from influenza,” they concluded.

“In addition to ongoing vaccination efforts, antiviral medications continue to be an important adjunct to the treatment and control of influenza and should be used as recommended, regardless of patient vaccination status.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Flannery B, Chung JR, Thaker SN, et al. Interim estimates of 2016–17 seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness — United States, February 2017. MMWR. 2017;66(6)167-171.