Influenza News

COVID-19 mitigation efforts prevented the spread of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus by almost 100% in northern Ohio, according to research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.

Although nearly 70% of U.S. adults said last year’s mild influenza season will not impact their decision to get a vaccine this year, many indicated they would continue pandemic-related precautions through the season, a survey found.

Staff members at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center said they found a way to improve influenza vaccine uptake among underrepresented populations.

Arkansas health officials reported COVID-19 case data during IDWeek that demonstrate the severe toll the delta variant has had on the state’s children.

Unlike influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, which all but disappeared during their typical winter peaks, common cold viruses continued to circulate among children during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to researchers at IDWeek.

The AAP on Tuesday released its annual influenza vaccine recommendations, which include some specific COVID-19-related guidance.

Over the course of 10 influenza seasons from 2009-2010 through 2018-2019, Black patients had the highest rate of influenza-associated hospitalization in the United States, researchers reported in JAMA Network Open.

Boston Children’s Hospital was named Tuesday as the best children’s hospital in the United States for the eighth consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report, which expanded its annual list this year to include state and regional rankings.

The results of a phase 3 trial demonstrated that a cell-derived quadrivalent influenza vaccine was well tolerated and elicited noninferior antibody responses compared with a licensed quadrivalent egg-based vaccine in young U.S. children.

Using a traditional definition of health care-associated influenza missed more than 80% of possible cases among patients admitted to acute-care hospitals during seven influenza seasons, researchers reported at the SHEA Spring Conference.