Deaths averted by influenza vaccination in the U.S. during the seasons 2005/06 through 2013/14.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Excess mortality due to seasonal influenza is substantial, yet quantitative estimates of the benefit of annual vaccination programs on influenza-associated mortality are lacking.

Methods

We estimated the numbers of deaths averted by vaccination in four age groups (0.5 to 4, 5 to 19, 20 to 64 and ≥65 yrs.) for the nine influenza seasons from 2005/6 through 2013/14. These estimates were obtained using a Monte Carlo approach applied to weekly U.S. age group-specific estimates of influenza-associated excess mortality, monthly vaccination coverage estimates and summary seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness estimates to obtain estimates of the number of deaths averted by vaccination. The estimates are conservative as they do not include indirect vaccination effects.<

SUBMITTER: Foppa IM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4834450 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature