Journal article
The impact of new universal child influenza programs in Australia: Vaccine coverage, effectiveness and disease epidemiology in hospitalised children in 2018
Christopher C Blyth, Allen C Cheng, Nigel W Crawford, Julia E Clark, Jim P Buttery, Helen S Marshall, Joshua R Francis, Jocelynne McRae, Tom Kotsimbos, Paul M Kelly, Kristine K Macartney
Vaccine | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2020
Abstract
BACKGROUND: New jurisdictionally-based vaccination programs were established providing free quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) for preschool Australian children in 2018. This was in addition to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) funded QIV for Indigenous children and children with comorbid medical conditions. We assessed the impact of this policy change on influenza disease burden and vaccine coverage, as well as report on 2018 vaccine effectiveness in a hospital-based surveillance system. METHODS: Subjects were recruited prospectively from twelve PAEDS-FluCAN sentinel hospital sites (April until October 2018). Children aged ≤16 years hospitalised with an acute respiratory illness (AR..
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Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC Partnership Grant)
Funding Acknowledgements
FluCAN receives support from the Australian Government Department of Health. PAEDS receives support from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC Partnership Grant: APP1113851), Australian Government Departments of Health and Departments of Health in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. A/Prof Blyth, Prof Marshall and Prof Cheng are supported by NHMRC Fellowships.