Pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 infection in Victoria, Australia: No evidence for harm or benefit following receipt of seasonal influenza vaccine in 2009

Conflicting findings regarding the level of protection offered by seasonal influenza vaccination against pandemic influenza H1N1 have been reported. We performed a test-negative case control study using sentinel patients from general practices in Victoria to estimate seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness against laboratory proven infection with pandemic influenza. Cases were defined as patients with an influenza-like illness who tested positive for influenza while controls had an influenza-like illness but tested negative. We found no evidence of significant protection from seasonal vaccine against pandemic influenza virus infection in any age group. Age-stratified point estimates, adjusted for pandemic phase, ranged from 44% in persons aged less than 5 years to −103% (odds ratio = 2.03) in persons aged 50–64 years. Vaccine effectiveness, adjusted for age group and pandemic phase, was 3% (95% CI −48 to 37) for all patients. Our study confirms the results from our previous interim report, and other studies, that failed to demonstrate benefit or harm from receipt of seasonal influenza vaccine in patients with confirmed infection with pandemic influenza H1N1 2009.This study was supported in part by the National Health and Medical Research Council Strategic Awards, Urgent Research—H1N1 Influenza grant number 60492