Low effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza in primary care in the United Kingdom: 2014/15 mid–season results

R G Pebody; F Warburton; J Ellis; N Andrews; C Thompson; B von Wissmann; H K Green; S Cottrell; J Johnston; S de Lusignan; C Moore; R Gunson; C Robertson; J McMenamin; M Zambon

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES2015.20.5.21025

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Low effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza in primary care in the United Kingdom: 2014/15 mid–season results
R G Pebody¹ , F Warburton¹ , J Ellis² , N Andrews¹ , C Thompson² , B von Wissmann³ , H K Green¹ , S Cottrell⁴ , J Johnston⁵ , S de Lusignan⁶ , C Moore⁷ , R Gunson⁸ , C Robertson^9,10 , J McMenamin³ , M Zambon²
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Affiliations: ¹ Public Health England Centre of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, London, United Kingdom ² Public Health England Operations Directorate, Microbiology Services, Colindale, London, United Kingdom ³ Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom ⁴ Public Health Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom ⁵ Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, Belfast, United Kingdom ⁶ Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre, United Kingdom ⁷ Public Health Wales Molecular Diagnostics Unit, Cardiff, United Kingdom ⁸ West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre, Glasgow, United Kingdom ⁹ University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom ¹⁰ International Prevention Research Institute, Lyon, France

Correspondence:
R Pebody
Richard.Pebody phe.gov.uk
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Citation style for this article: Pebody R G, Warburton F, Ellis J, Andrews N, Thompson C, von Wissmann B, Green H K, Cottrell S, Johnston J, de Lusignan S, Moore C, Gunson R, Robertson C, McMenamin J, Zambon M. Low effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza in primary care in the United Kingdom: 2014/15 mid–season results. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(5):pii=21025. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2015.20.5.21025 Received: 30 Jan 2015

Abstract

In 2014/15 the United Kingdom experienced circulation of influenza A(H3N2) with impact in the elderly. Mid-season vaccine effectiveness (VE) shows an adjusted VE of 3.4% (95% CI: ?44.8 to 35.5) against primary care consultation with laboratory-confirmed influenza and ?2.3% (95% CI: ?56.2 to 33.0) for A(H3N2). The low VE reflects mismatch between circulating viruses and the 2014/15 northern hemisphere A(H3N2) vaccine strain. Early use of antivirals for prophylaxis and treatment of vulnerable populations remains important.