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Adjuvanted influenza vaccine more effective for young children

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A candidate adjuvanted vaccine that protects against four strains of influenza known as aQIV showed superior immunogenic response in children aged 6 months to younger than 6 years and additional clinical benefit in children aged 6 to less than 24 months when compared with a nonadjuvanted influenza vaccine, according to phase 3 study findings presented at the Sixth ESWI Influenza Conference in Latvia.

These findings also suggest that use of aQIV can reduce hospitalization rates for young children, particularly those aged younger than 2 years, and decrease complications and childhood mortality rates, according to a press release.

The study examined 10,612 children aged 6 months to younger than 6 years who received one or two doses of aQIV or a nonadjuvanted influenza vaccine during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons. The results showed aQIV demonstrated significant relative vaccine efficacy in children between 6 and 24 months, according to the release. For children aged between 6 months and 6 years who received two dosages, aQIV was 55% more efficacious compared with the nonadjuvanted vaccine in preventing influenza before the second dose of vaccine, demonstrating better protection against influenza after a single vaccine dose of aQIV.

“This study demonstrated that immunization with aQIV produces a significant and rapid efficacy benefit in children aged 6 months to younger than 24 months over a standard QIV,” lead researcher Timo Vesikari, MD, PhD, from the University of Tampere Medical School, told Infectious Disease News. “This group is in particular need for effective protection against influenza, as hospital admissions and mortality are higher in this group than in older children. We therefore need to be develop more effective vaccines for this age group. aQIV could be a potential option here.” – by Savannah Demko

Disclosure: Infectious Disease News was unable to confirm any relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.