Publication

Maternal influenza immunization and prevention of severe clinical pneumonia in young infants

Authored by:

Omer SB, Clark DR, Aqil AR et al.

Full Citation:

Omer SB, Clark DR, Aqil AR et al. 2018. Maternal influenza immunization and prevention of severe clinical pneumonia in young infants. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 37(5).

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Maternal immunization offers an opportunity to protect the mother and fetus, but also passes this protection on to the infant after birth.

Key Evidence: An analysis of data from three studies showed that the rates of severe pneumonia in infants in their first six months of life was 20% lower overall in infants whose mothers received the influenza vaccination during pregnancy than in infants whose mothers had not, and the rates of severe pneumonia was 56% lower during periods when influenza circulation was highest. These findings correspond with evidence that influenza infection predisposes individuals to pneumococcal infection.

From the VoICE Editors: The incidence rate of severe pneumonia in the vaccine group compared to the control group was 43% lower in South Africa, 31% lower in Nepal, but not significantly different in Mali.