Influenza vaccine effectiveness in Europe: Results from the 2022–2023 VEBIS (Vaccine Effectiveness, Burden and Impact Studies) primary care multicentre study

• DOI: 10.1111/irv.13243
• Publication Date: 2024-01-10T09:14:55Z
• Authors: Marine Maurel; Francisco Pozo; Gloria Pérez‐Gimeno; Silke Buda; Noémie Sève; Beatrix Oroszi; Mariette Hooiveld; Verónica Gomez; Lisa Domegan; Iván Martínez‐Baz; Maja Ilić; Anna Sara Carnahan; Maria Elena Mihai; Ana Martínez; Luise Goerlitz; Vincent Enouf; Judit Krisztina H...; Frederika Dijkstra; Ana Paula Rodrigues; Charlene Bennett; Camino Trobajo‐Sa...; Ivan Mlinarić; Neus Latorre‐Marg...; Alina Ivanciuc; Aurora Lopez; Ralf Dürrwald; Alessandra Falchi; Gergő Túri; Adam Meijer; Aryse Melo; Joan O'Donnell; Jesús Castilla; Vesna Višekruna V...; Tove Samuelsson H...; Mihaela Lazar; Marlena Kaczmarek; Sabrina Bacci; Esther Kissling
• Keywords: vaccine effectiveness; Primary Health Care; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype; Vaccine Efficacy; Original Articles; multicentre study; [SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio]; Europe; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza A virus; Influenza, Human; Humans; influenza vaccine; influenza; Child

AbstractBackgroundInfluenza A(H3N2) viruses dominated early in the 2022–2023 influenza season in Europe, followed by higher circulation of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B viruses. The VEBIS primary care network estimated the influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) using a multicentre test‐negative study.Materials and MethodsPrimary care practitioners collected information and specimens from patients consulting with acute respiratory infection. We measured VE against any influenza, influenza (sub)type and clade, by age group, by influenza vaccine target group and by time since vaccination, using logistic regression.ResultsWe included 38 058 patients, of which 3786 were influenza A(H3N2), 1548 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 3275 influenza B cases. Against influenza A(H3N2), VE was 36% (95% CI: 25–45) among all ages and ranged between 30% and 52% by age group and target group. VE against influenza A(H3N2) clade 2b was 38% (95% CI: 25–49). Overall, VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was 46% (95% CI: 35–56) and ranged between 29% and 59% by age group and target group. VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 clade 5a.2a was 56% (95% CI: 46–65) and 79% (95% CI: 64–88) against clade 5a.2a.1. VE against influenza B was 76% (95% CI: 70–81); overall, 84%, 72% and 71% were among 0–14‐year‐olds, 15–64‐year‐olds and those in the influenza vaccination target group, respectively. VE against influenza B with a position 197 mutation of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was 79% (95% CI: 73–85) and 90% (95% CI: 85–94) without this mutationConclusionThe 2022–2023 end‐of‐season results from the VEBIS network at primary care level showed high VE among children and against influenza B, with lower VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2).