Age-Specific Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness against Different Influenza Subtypes in the Hospitalized Population in Lithuania during the 2015-2019 Influenza Seasons

Background: Continuous monitoring of seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness (SIVE) is needed due to the changing nature of influenza viruses and it supports the decision on the annual update of vaccine composition. Age-specific SIVE was evaluated against different influenza subtypes in the hospitalized population in Lithuania during four influenza seasons. Methods: A test-negative case-control study design was used. SIVE and its 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated as (1 - odds ratio (OR)) x 100%. Results: Adjusted SIVE in 18-64-year-old individuals against influenza A, A(H1N1)pdm09 and B/Yamagata were 78.0% (95% CI: 1.7; 95.1%), 88.6% (95% CI: -47.4; 99.1%), and 76.8% (95% CI: -109.9; 97.4%), respectively. Adjusted SIVE in individuals aged 65 years and older against influenza A, influenza B, and B/Yamagata were 22.6% (95% CI: -36.5; 56.1%), 75.3% (95% CI: 12.2; 93.1%) and 73.1% (95% CI: 3.2; 92.5%), respectively. Unadjusted SIVE against influenza A(H3N2) among 18-64-year-old patients was 44.8% (95% CI: -171.0; 88.8%) and among those aged 65 years and older was 5.0% (95% CI: -74.5; 48.3%). Conclusions: Point estimates suggest high SIVE against influenza A in 18-64-year-old participants, and against influenza B and B/Yamagata in those 65 years old and older.