Sample size considerations for mid-season estimates from a large influenza vaccine effectiveness network in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Mid-season influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates are a useful tool to help guide annual influenza vaccine strain selection, vaccine policy, and public health messaging. We propose using a sample size-driven approach with data-driven inputs for publication of mid-season influenza VE.

Methods

We used pooled inputs for VE by (sub)type and average vaccine coverage by age groups using data from eight seasons of the US Influenza VE Network to calculate sample sizes needed to estimate mid-season VE.

Results

We estimate that 135 influenza-positive cases would be needed to detect an overall VE of 40% with 55% vaccine coverage among test-negative controls. Larger sample sizes would be required to produce reliable estimates specifically against influenza A/

SUBMITTER: Chung JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8204739 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature