992. 2016–2017 Influenza Burden of Disease and End-of-Season Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) Estimates for Preventing Influenza-Related Hospitalization Among Canadian Adults: An Analysis From the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) Serious Outcomes Surveillance (SOS) Network
Authors: Nichols Michaela , Andrew Melissa K , Hatchette Todd F , Ambrose Ardith , Boivin Guy , Elsherif May , Green Karen , Johnstone Jennie , Katz Kevin , Leblanc Jason , Loeb Mark , Mackinnon-Cameron Donna , Mccarthy Anne , McElhaney Janet , McGeer Allison , Poirier Andre , Powis Jeff , Richardson David , Semret Makeda , Smyth Daniel , Trottier Sylvie , Valiquette Louis , Webster Duncan , Ye Lingyun , McNeil Shelly A 
Published: November 2018

Background

To inform public health decision making around influenza prevention and treatment, ongoing surveillance of the influenza burden of disease and assessment of influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) is critical. The Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) Serious Outcomes Surveillance (SOS) Network conducts active surveillance each influenza season to characterize the burden of influenza disease and to provide estimates of influenza VE to prevent influenza-related hospitalization in Canadian adults (≥16 years of age).

Methods

Active surveillance for influenza was conducted at 13 hospitals in four provinces beginning on November 15, 2016 and ending April 30, 2017. Patients admitted with any respiratory diagnosis or symptom were eligible for enrolment. Eligible patients had a nasopharyngeal swab collected and tested for influenza using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Patients who tested positive for influenza were considered cases; patients who tested negative for influenza were eligible to become matched controls. Detailed demographic and medical information were obtained from the medical record. Influenza VE was estimated as 1 − odds ratio (OR) of influenza in vaccinated vs. unvaccinated patients × 100% using conditional logistic regression, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

A total of 1,431 influenza cases were enrolled; the majority were influenza A (n = 1,299) and 100% of patients with known influenza A subtype were A/H3N2. Among all influenza cases, 144 (10.1%) patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and 91 (6.4%) patients died within 30 days of discharge. Overall adjusted influenza VE for prevention of influenza-related hospitalization in all ages was 23.3% (95% CI: 2.9–39.4%), with slightly lower VE observed in patients ≥65 years (VE: 19.4%; 95% CI: −7.8–39.8%) and higher VE observed in patients &lt;65 years (VE: 47.9%; 95% CI: 9.9–69.9%).

Conclusion

Overall, influenza VE was low but effective (VE: 23%) for preventing influenza-related hospitalization during the 2016–2017 season in Canada. Given the low influenza VE observed, continued assessment of influenza VE is crucial to inform immunization policy in Canada and to emphasize the importance of the development and utilization of improved influenza vaccines.

Disclosures

M. K. Andrew, GSK: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Pfizer: Grant Investigator, Research grant. sanofi pasteur: Grant Investigator, Research grant. T. F. Hatchette, GSK: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Pfizer: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Abbvie: Consultant, Speaker honorarium. J. McElhaney, GSK: Scientific Advisor, Speaker honorarium. sanofi pasteur: Scientific Advisor, Speaker honorarium. A. McGeer, GSK: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Hoffman La Roche: Grant Investigator, Research grant. sanofi pasteur: Grant Investigator, Research grant. A. Poirier, sanofi pasteur: Investigator, Research grant. Actelion: Grant Investigator, Research grant. J. Powis, GSK: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Merck: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Roche: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Synthetic Biologics: Investigator, Grant recipient. M. Semret, GSK: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Pfizer: Grant Investigator, Research grant. S. Trottier, CIHR: Grant Investigator, Research grant. S. A. McNeil, GSK: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Pfizer: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Merck: Collaborator and Consultant, Contract clinical trials and Speaker honorarium. Novartis: Collaborator, Contract clinical trials. sanofi pasteur: Collaborator, Contract clinical trials.