Effectiveness of influenza vaccine in healthy adults

Limited evidence for effectiveness of influenza vaccine in healthy adults

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Cochrane Systematic Review:

Jefferson T et al. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane Reviews, 2010, Issue 7. Article No. CD001269. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub4. This review contains 50 studies involving over 80,000 participants. Over 200 viruses cause influenza and influenza-like illness (which produces the same symptoms). At best, vaccines might be effective against only influenza A and B, which represent about 10% of all circulating viruses. Healthy adults are presently targeted for influenza vaccination mainly in North America. These results may be an optimistic estimate because company-sponsored influenza vaccines trials tend to produce results favourable to their products, and some of the evidence came from trials carried out in ideal viral circulation and matching conditions; also because the harms evidence base was limited. Fifteen of the 36 trials in the review were funded by vaccine companies and 4 had no funding declaration. Inactivated influenza vaccines decreased the risk of symptoms of influenza and time off work, but their effects were minimal. In the relatively uncommon circumstance of the vaccine matching the viral circulating strain and high circulation, the NNT* to avoid influenza symptoms was 33. In average conditions (partially matching vaccine) the NNT was 100. There was no evidence vaccines affected hospital admissions, complication rates or transmission. Inactivated vaccines caused local harms (local erythema, tenderness and soreness), and an estimated 1.6 additional cases of Guillain-BarrŽ syndrome per million vaccinations. * NNT= number needed to treat to benefit 1 individual. How effective are vaccines in preventing influenza in healthy adults (aged between 16 and 65 years)?