title: Influenza vaccine in healthy children: a meta-analysis.
abstract: We conducted a meta-analysis of 13 randomised clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of influenza vaccine in healthy children. Against culture-confirmed influenza the overall efficacy was 74% (95% confidence interval, CI, 57%-84%), 65% for inactivated and 80% for live-attenuated vaccine. Corresponding figures were 59% (95% CI 43%-71%), 63% and 54% for serologically-confirmed influenza, and 33% (95% CI 29%-36%), 33% and 34% for clinical illness. Influenza vaccine is effective in preventing laboratory-confirmed and clinical influenza in healthy children, with no clear difference between inactivated and live-attenuated vaccine. Data on infants and younger children were too scanty to allow separate assessment.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Eritrea 62, 20157 Milan, Italy. evanegri@marionegri.it
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Apolone
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines