Impact of vaccination on influenza mortality in children <5 years old in Mexico. Issue 9 (1st March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sánchez-Ramos, Evelyn L.; Monárrez-Espino, Joel; Noyola, Daniel E.
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 35:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 1287
• Page End: 1292
• Publication Date: 2017-03-01
• Subjects: YLL Years of life lost -- P&I Pneumonia and influenza; Influenza -- Immunization -- Mortality -- Respiratory tract infections -- Vaccines; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.01.038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Highlights: We estimated the impact of influenza immunization on mortality of children &lt;5 years. Mortality decreased during the period after influenza immunization. A significant reduction in all-cause deaths and respiratory deaths was observed. Abstract: Background: Influenza is a leading cause of respiratory tract infections among children. In Mexico, influenza vaccination was included in the National Immunization Program since 2004. However, the population health effects of the vaccine on children have not been fully described. Thus, we estimated the impact of influenza immunization in terms of mortality associated with this virus among children younger than 5 years of age in Mexico. Methods: Mortality rates and years of life lost associated with influenza were estimated using national mortality register data for the period 1998–2012. Age-stratified and cause-specific mortality rates were estimated for all-cause, respiratory and cardiovascular events. Influenza-associated mortality was compared between the period prior to introduction of the influenza vaccine as part of the National Immunization Program (1998–2004) and the period thereafter (2004–2012). Results: During the 1998–2012 winter seasons, the average number of all-cause, respiratory and cardiovascular deaths attributable to influenza were 1186, 794 and 21, respectively. Influenza-associated mortality was higher prior to the vaccination period than after influenza was included in the immunization program for all-cause (mean 1660 vs. 780) and respiratory (mean 1063 vs. 563) mortality, but no reduction was seen for cardiovascular mortality. The proportion of all-cause and respiratory deaths attributable to influenza was significantly lower in the post-vaccine period compared with the pre-vaccine period (P &lt; 0.001), but no reduction was seen in the proportion of cardiovascular deaths. There was an average annual reduction of 66, 558 years of life lost in the post-vaccine compared with the pre-vaccine period. Conclusion: The introduction of influenza vaccination within the Mexican Immunization Program was associated with a reduction in mortality rates attributable to this virus among children younger than 5 years of age.