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.