Jolanta Airey, Frank R. Albano, Daphne C. Sawlwin, Alison Graves Jones, Neil Formica, Vince Matassa, Jane Leong, “Immunogenicity and safety of a quadrivalent inactivated influenza virus vaccine compared with a comparator quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in a pediatric population: A phase 3, randomized noninferiority study”. Vaccine. Volume 35, Issue 20, 2017, Pages 2745-2752, ISSN 0264-410X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.028.
The purpose of this article was to address the safety of the inactivated influenza virus vaccine (Seqirus/CSL IIV3). Fevers in children were reported after having received the vaccination; because of this a new strain of the vaccination (IIV4) was tested to determine if the resulting fevers were a side effect of the new vaccination.
The researchers conducted the study in 32 centers across the United States. 2278 children were involved in the study with a ratio of 3:1 receiving the IIV4 or the comparator IIV4. The children were stratified by age into groups consisting of the age group 5-8 and 9-17. In the 5-8 age group severe fever was reported for 1.2% in the IIV4 and for comparator IIV4 it was reported for 0.7%. In the 9-17% severe fever was reported for 0.5% in the IIV4 group and no severe fever was reported for the comparator IIV4 group.
The results for this study showed that the effects of each were similar in both groups and well tolerated for both age groups. Most of the side effects that arose were mild and were resolved within a few days. This study proved that the IIV4 is more favorable and safe to use in younger children.
