Estimated Vaccine Effectiveness for Pediatric Patients With Severe Influenza, 2015-2020.

Importance: Increasing the understanding of vaccine effectiveness (VE) against levels of severe influenza in children could help increase uptake of influenza vaccination and strengthen vaccine policies globally.

Objective: To investigate VE in children by severity of influenza illness.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This case-control study with a test-negative design used data from 8 participating medical centers located in geographically different US states in the New Vaccine Surveillance Network from November 6, 2015, through April 8, 2020.

Surveillance of Human Adenovirus Types and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Reporting - United States, 2017-2023.

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are typically associated with mild respiratory illnesses, although severe disease and outbreaks in congregate settings occur. The National Adenovirus Type Reporting System (NATRS) is a passive, laboratory-based surveillance system that monitors trends in circulation of HAdV types in the United States. This report summarizes the distribution of HAdV types reported to NATRS during 2017-2023.

An influenza mRNA vaccine protects ferrets from lethal infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.

The global spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus poses a serious pandemic threat, necessitating the swift development of effective vaccines. The success of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology in the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by its rapid development and scalability, demonstrates its potential for addressing other infectious threats, such as HPAI A(H5N1). We therefore evaluated mRNA vaccine candidates targeting panzootic influenza A(H5) clade 2.

Antiviral Use Among Children Hospitalized With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Illness: A Prospective, Multicenter Surveillance Study.

Background: Guidelines state that all hospitalized children with suspected or confirmed influenza receive prompt treatment with influenza-specific antivirals. We sought to determine the frequency of, and factors associated with, antiviral receipt among hospitalized children.

Methods: We conducted active surveillance of children presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms from 1 December 2016 to 31 March 2020 at 7 pediatric medical centers in the New Vaccine Surveillance Network.

Influenza vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations and emergency department or urgent care encounters for children, adolescents, and adults during the 2023-2024 season, United States.

Background: The 2023-2024 influenza season had predominant influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus activity, but A(H3N2) and B viruses co-circulated. Seasonal influenza vaccine strains were well-matched to these viruses.

Methods: Using health care encounters data from health systems in 8 states, we evaluated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza-associated medical encounters from October 2023-April 2024.

Prevention of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Among Black or African American Children With and Without Sickle Cell Disease in the United States After Introduction of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, 2005 Through 2019.

Background: Administration of pneumococcal vaccines and oral penicillin prophylaxis has been recommended for children with sickle cell disease (SCD) to reduce the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Characterizing changes in IPD cases among children with SCD after 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) introduction could help inform the need for additional prevention measures.

Methods: Using data from Active Bacterial Core surveillance, we characterized IPD cases among Black or African American (Black) children aged less than 18 years with SCD, non-SCD IPD risk factors, and no IPD risk factors across three time periods (pre-PCV13 [2005-2009], early-PCV13 [2010-2014], and late-PCV13 [2015-2019]), and assessed proportion of IPD cases caused by serotypes in new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15, PCV20) recommended after 2019.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Burden and Nirsevimab Effectiveness in Young Children From 2023-2024.

Importance: During the 2023-2024 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season in the United States, 2 new RSV prevention products were recommended to protect infants in their first RSV season: nirsevimab and Pfizer's maternal RSV vaccine. Postlicensure studies are needed to assess prevention product impact and effectiveness.

Objective: To compare the epidemiology and disease burden of medically attended RSV-associated acute respiratory illness (ARI) among children younger than 5 years during the 2023-2024 RSV season with 3 prepandemic RSV seasons (2017-2020), estimate nirsevimab effectiveness against medically attended RSV-associated ARI, and compare nirsevimab binding site mutations among circulating RSV in infants with and without nirsevimab receipt.

Risk of Transmission of Vaccine-Strain Rotavirus in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit That Routinely Vaccinates.

Background And Objectives: Many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) do not give rotavirus vaccines to inpatients due to a theoretical risk of horizontal transmission of vaccine strains. We aimed to determine incidence and clinical significance of vaccine-strain transmission to unvaccinated infants in a NICU that routinely administers pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5).

Methods: This prospective cohort study included all patients admitted to a 100-bed NICU for 1 year.

Cytomegalovirus urinary excretion in children with congenital and postnatally acquired infection.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in children is associated with prolonged viral excretion in urine and saliva. This study characterizes CMV urinary excretion in children with congenital (cCMV) and postnatally acquired CMV infection.

Methods: Children with virologically confirmed cCMV (75 symptomatic and 105 asymptomatic at birth) and 51 children without cCMV were followed through median 11, 18 and 17 years of age, respectively.

The measles virus matrix F50S mutation from a lethal case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis promotes receptor-independent neuronal spread.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a lethal neurological disorder occurring several years after measles. Reconstruction of the evolution of the measles virus (MeV) genome in an SSPE case suggested that the matrix (M) protein mutation M-F50S, when added to other mutations, drove neuropathogenesis. However, whether and how M-F50S would promote spread independently from other mutations was in question.

SARS-CoV-2 coinfections among pertussis cases identified through the Enhanced Pertussis Surveillance system in the United States, January 2020-February 2023.

Background: Bacterial and viral respiratory coinfections are common, but the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among pertussis cases has not been estimated. We examine the prevalence and temporality of SARS-CoV-2 infections among pertussis patients and describe pertussis clinical severity among patients with and without SARS-CoV-2 coinfections.

Methods: Confirmed and probable pertussis cases among individuals with cough onset between January 1, 2020 and February 15, 2023 were identified through surveillance in seven Enhanced Pertussis Surveillance (EPS) sites.

Orthopoxvirus Genome Sequencing, Assembly, and Analysis.

Poxviruses have exceptionally large genomes compared to most other viruses, which represent unique challenges to sequencing and assembly due to complex features such as repeat elements and low complexity sequences. The 2022 global mpox outbreak led to an unprecedented level of poxvirus sequencing as public health and research institutions faced with large sample numbers and demand for fast turnaround, merged NGS protocols designed for small RNA viruses with poxvirus expertise. Traditional manual assembly, checking, and editing of genomes was not feasible.

Benefit of early oseltamivir therapy for adults hospitalized with influenza A: an observational study.

Background: clinical guidelines recommend initiation of antiviral therapy as soon as possible for patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected influenza.

Methods: A multicenter US observational sentinel surveillance network prospectively enrolled adults (aged ≥18 years) hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza at 24 hospitals during October 1, 2022-July 21, 2023. A multivariable proportional odds model was used to compare peak pulmonary disease severity (no oxygen support, standard supplemental oxygen, high-flow oxygen/non-invasive ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation, or death) after the day of hospital admission among patients starting oseltamivir treatment on the day of admission (early) versus those who did not (late or not treated), adjusting for baseline (admission day) severity, age, sex, site, and vaccination status.

Impact of the US Maternal Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid, and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccination Program on Preventing Pertussis in Infants 2 to <6 Months of Age: A Case-Control Evaluation.

Background: To protect infants aged <2 months against pertussis, the United States recommends Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) vaccination during each pregnancy. Data are limited on the strategy's effectiveness against pertussis in infants aged ≥2 months.

Methods: Pertussis case infants aged 2 to <6 months with cough onset between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2014 were identified in 6 US states.

Cost-Effectiveness of Maternal Vaccination to Prevent Respiratory Syncytial Virus Illness.

Background And Objectives: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) commonly causes hospitalization among US infants. A maternal vaccine preventing RSV in infants, RSV bivalent prefusion F maternal vaccine (RSVpreF), was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Our objective was to evaluate the health benefits and cost-effectiveness of vaccinating pregnant persons in the United States using RSVpreF.

Herpes zoster vaccination among Medicare beneficiaries with and without prescription drug coverage.

Introduction: The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) eliminated cost sharing for Medicare Part D-covered vaccines but did not address the cost burden faced by Medicare beneficiaries who did not have prescription drug coverage. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of beneficiaries without prescription drug coverage and to assess the association between the receipt of a herpes zoster vaccine and prescription drug coverage status.

Methods: We used the 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey and included Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older who enrolled in both Parts A and B or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination Coverage Among Adults - United States, Fall 2024.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months, including adults aged ≥18 years. ACIP also recommends a single lifetime dose of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for adults aged ≥75 years and for those aged 60-74 years who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease. Data from the National Immunization Survey-Adult COVID Module, a random-digit-dialed cellular telephone survey of U.

Attitudes and Experiences Regarding Communication About Maternal Vaccination: Qualitative Findings from Non-Hispanic Black Pregnant People.

Comprehensive prenatal care incorporates recommended vaccines to help protect the mother, the pregnancy, and the infant from adverse health outcomes and severe illness from vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). However, vaccinations during pregnancy remain underutilized, often influenced by concerns about vaccine safety and low perception of disease risk. Self-reported vaccine hesitancy among pregnant people in the United States has significantly increased in the last few years, and influenza and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccination rates have declined.

Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Hospitalizations During Pregnancy or the Early Postpartum Period - Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, 2018-2023.

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Pregnancy is associated with increased risk for severe illness and complications attributable to influenza infection. Information about the incidence of influenza hospitalization among pregnant and early postpartum women in China is limited.

What Is Added By This Report?: Population-based data from a large city in southern China estimated the annual influenza hospitalization rate to be 2.