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Influenza disease and vaccination in children in Australia

Over the past decade, multiple initiatives have been implemented to strengthen influenza vaccination programs in Australia, with an increasing focus on children. In this article, we review these changes, the events that prompted them, and how they have influenced influenza vaccine uptake in Australia.

Barriers to influenza vaccination of children hospitalised for acute respiratory illness: A cross-sectional survey

To identify barriers to influenza vaccination of children hospitalised for acute respiratory illness in Australia. A total of 595 parents of children hospitalised with acute respiratory illness across five tertiary hospitals in 2019 participated in an online survey. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors most strongly associated with influenza vaccination barriers.

Improving Influenza Vaccination in Children With Comorbidities: A Systematic Review

Children with medical comorbidities are at greater risk for severe influenza and poorer clinical outcomes. Despite recommendations and funding, influenza vaccine coverage remains inadequate in these children. We aimed to systematically review literature assessing interventions targeting influenza vaccine coverage in children with comorbidities and assess the impact on influenza vaccine coverage.

Risk of adverse maternal and foetal outcomes associated with inactivated influenza vaccination in first trimester of pregnancy

In many countries, influenza vaccination is routinely recommended during any stage of pregnancy, yet uptake remains low, particularly in the first trimester. This is thought to be due to maternal concerns regarding vaccine safety. We evaluated the safety of influenza vaccination in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Parainfluenza Virus Infection in an Australian Community-based Birth Cohort

In a community-based birth cohort of 158 Australian infants followed to age 2 years, the incidence rate of human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) was 0.42 (95% CI = 0.33, 0.54) episodes per child-year with episodes occurring year-round, peaking in the spring season.

Comparative Postmarket Safety Profile of Adjuvanted and High-Dose Influenza Vaccines in Individuals 65 Years or Older

The findings of this postmarketing assessment of the safety of 2 new enhanced influenza vaccines support confidence in ongoing vaccine use

Timeliness of signal detection for adverse events following influenza vaccination in young children: a simulation case study

Active vaccine safety surveillance leading to rapid detection of a safety signal would likely have resulted in earlier suspension of Fluvax from the vaccination programme

Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2017: the Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN)

This report summarises the epidemiology of hospitalisations with laboratory-confirmed influenza during the 2017 influenza season

Attitudes about and access to influenza vaccination experienced by parents of children hospitalised for influenza in Australia

Improving parents’ and providers’ knowledge and confidence in influenza vaccination safety, efficacy, and benefits should be prioritised

Intraseason decline in influenza vaccine effectiveness during the 2016 southern hemisphere influenza season: A test-negative design study and phylogenetic assessment

Overall, the 2016 influenza vaccine showed good protection against laboratory-confirmed infection among general practice patients