“Effect of Maternal Influenza Vaccination on Respiratory Disease among Infants”

Based on Protocol: “Effect of Maternal Influenza Vaccination on Respiratory Disease among Infants” [NNR-02-111]

Background

What is influenza ?

• Influenza is a germ that can make people of any age sick.

• Commonly known as “the flu”

• Is a winter time illness

• Can cause fever, muscle aches, cough, and runny nose, and serious symptoms that require hospitalization

Babies Everywhere Less than 6 Months Old are at High Risk for Influenza Hospitalization

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Izurietta 2000; Neuzil 2000

How do we prevent it?

** Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza!!

Problem: There is no vaccine for babies less than 6 months of age …

Possible Solution?

…We wanted to see if giving the flu vaccine to pregnant women can protect their babies from the flu

Study Conduct

How was the maternal flu study conducted?

• Study conducted during the “flu season” (cold months of the year) between 2002-2005.

• Enrolled mother-infant pairs immediately after birth and followed infants for 6 months or to the end of “flu season”.

• Tested whether giving the flu vaccine to pregnant women can prevent their babies from getting the flu.

Before Starting the Study We Needed to Get Approval…

• We got approval from Navajo and White Mountain Apache Tribes.

• We also asked mothers for permission to enroll them and their infants in the study.

Who participated in the Study?•1162 infant and mother pairs.

•Service Units participating in the study were: Fort Defiance, Gallup, Chinle, Shiprock, Tuba City, Winslow and Whiteriver.

How was the maternal flu study conducted?

• Blood was collected to test for antibodies (germ fighters) to the influenza virus.

How was the maternal flu study conducted?

• Babies followed throughout the study to see if they went to the doctors for flu-like illness.

How was the maternal flu study conducted?

• If a baby went to the doctors for flu-like illness, secretions from the baby’s nose were collected to test for influenza virus.

How was the maternal flu study conducted?

• All information collected was entered into computer for analysis.

Study Results

1160 mother-infant

pairs

573 given the flu shot

31Lab-confirmed flu

cases

293 Flu-like Symptoms

76 Hospitalized for

flu like symptoms

587 not given the flu

shot

52Lab-confirmed flu

cases

312Flu-like Symptoms

117 Hospitalized for

flu like symptoms

Maternal influenza vaccination helps protect baby against influenza

Conclusions

Influenza vaccination during pregnancy …

1.) Helps prevent babies less than 6 months from getting the flu

2.) Reduces chance of hospitalizations for babies with flu-like symptoms

Acknowledgements

• Participants from the Navajo and White Mountain Apache tribes

• Community members who supported the project• Nurses and research program assistants • IRBs of the Navajo Nation, Phoenix Area IHS, and

Johns Hopkins School of Public Health• The Centers for Disease Control• Indian Health Service for their collaboration and

support

Thank You!!