Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing Influenza Illness Among Children During School-based Outbreaks in the 2014–2015 Season in Beijing, China

BACKGROUND: Little is known about vaccine effectiveness (VE) against nonmedically attended A(H3N2) influenza illness during 2014-2015 when the vaccine component appeared to be a poor match with circulating strains. METHODS: Forty-three eligible school influenza outbreaks in Beijing, China, from November 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014, were included in this study. The VE of 2014-2015 trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3) was assessed in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza among school-age children through a case-control design, using asymptomatic controls. Influenza vaccination was documented from a vaccination registry. VE was estimated adjusting for age group, sex, rural versus urban area, body mass index, chronic conditions, onset week and schools through a mixed effects logistic regression model. RESULTS: The average coverage rate of 2014-2015 IIV3 among students across the 43 schools was 47.6%. The fully adjusted VE of 2014-2015 IIV3 against laboratory-confirmed influenza was 38% [95% confidence interval (CI): 12%-57%]. Receipt of previous season's (2013-2014) IIV3 significantly modified VE of the 2014-2015 IIV3; children who received both 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 vaccinations had VE of 29% (95% CI: -8% to 53%), whereas VE for children who received 2014-2015 IIV3 only was 54% (95% CI: 8%-77%). CONCLUSIONS: VE for 2014-2015 IIV3 against A(H3N2) illness identified in schools was modest. Children who did not receive the prior season's vaccine with a homologous A(H3N2) component may have enjoyed greater protection than repeated vaccinees.