Protective Effect of Maternal Influenza Vaccination on Influenza in Their Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background. Infants <6 months of age are too young to receive influenza vaccine, despite being at high risk for severe influenza- related complications. Methods. To examine the effectiveness of maternal influenza vaccination in preventing influenza in their infants, we conducted a prospective cohort study of 3441 infants born at participating hospitals before the 2013-2014 influenza season. At the time of recruitment, their mothers completed a questionnaire about influenza vaccination status for the 2013-2014 season. A follow-up survey was conducted after the end of the 2013-2014 season to collect information regarding influenza diagnosis and hospitalization among infants. Results. During the 2013-2014 influenza season, 71 infants (2%) had influenza diagnosed, and 13 infants (0.4%) were hospitalized with influenza. Maternal influenza vaccination (especially prenatal vaccination) decreased the odds of influenza among infants. The effectiveness of prenatal vaccination was 61% (95% confidence interval, 16%-81%), whereas that of postpartum vaccination was 53% (-28%-83%). Although maternal influenza vaccination was also associated with a decreased odds of influenza-related hospitalization among infants, vaccine effectiveness (73%) did not reach statistical significance, owing to the limited number of infants hospitalized because of influenza. Conclusions. The present findings indicated that pregnant women and postpartum women should receive influenza vaccination to protect their infants. The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.