The safety and efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine in young children with asthma or prior wheezing

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2012 Oct;31(10):2549-57. doi: 10.1007/s10096-012-1595-9. Epub 2012 Mar 14.

Abstract

In the European Union and Canada, an Ann Arbor strain live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is approved for use in children aged 2-17 years, including those with mild to moderate asthma or prior wheezing. The safety and efficacy of LAIV versus trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) in children with asthma aged 6-17 years have been demonstrated. However, few data are available for children younger than 6 years of age with asthma or prior wheezing. Safety and efficacy data were collected for children aged 2-5 years with asthma or prior wheezing from two randomized, multinational trials of LAIV and TIV (N = 1,940). Wheezing, lower respiratory illness, and hospitalization were not significantly increased among children receiving LAIV compared with TIV. Increased upper respiratory symptoms and irritability were observed among LAIV recipients (p < 0.05). Relative efficacies were consistent with the results observed in the overall study populations, which demonstrated fewer cases of culture-confirmed influenza illness in LAIV compared with TIV recipients. Study results support the safety and efficacy of LAIV among children aged 2-17 years with mild to moderate asthma or a history of wheezing. Data regarding LAIV use are limited among individuals with severe asthma or active wheezing within the 7 days before vaccination.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Influenza Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Influenza, Human / immunology
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Respiratory Sounds / immunology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vaccination / methods
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / immunology

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Attenuated
  • Vaccines, Inactivated