The InFLUence of Vaccine Technology on Pediatric Influenza Outcomes

Overview

Provider Statement

This continuing education activity is provided by

Support Statement

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Seqirus USA Inc.

Activity Description

Influenza causes a range of illnesses in children, from uncomplicated, self-limited illness to severe disease and death. The high infection rate of influenza in children leads to the spread of the virus in the community. If an outbreak of influenza coincides with that of COVID-19, the impact on the pediatric population will be even more severe. Among children 6 months and older who died from influenza between 2010 and 2016, only 22% were fully vaccinated against influenza. Although COVID mitigation measures may contribute to decreasing spread of respiratory illnesses including the flu, immunization is the most effective means of preventing influenza in children. Currently, there are two influenza vaccine production technologies approved by the FDA. The egg-based approach is the more common and traditional technology, whereas the newer cell culture–based influenza vaccines have been shown to possess several advantages over egg-based vaccines. In this important educational activity, clinician experts in pediatric vaccination discuss the differences between various influenza vaccines, including new indications for use in different age groups of children, their efficacy and safety, and the benefits and limitations of different vaccine technologies. They also provide expert guidance for interpreting real-world evidence regarding the use of pediatric influenza vaccines and how this information can be applied to clinical practice. 

Target Audience

The intended audience for this activity is pediatricians, pediatric nurses, pediatric nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals involved in the management of pediatric patients at risk for influenza.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Review evidence-based recommendations on the use, dosage, and administration of pediatric influenza vaccines.
• Examine the efficacy of currently available influenza vaccine technologies, as well as their differences in dosage, administration, and application in the pediatric population.
• Summarize real-world data pertaining to the use of influenza vaccines, their technology, and their ability to reduce morbidity and hospitalizations in the pediatric population.

Activity Chair

Victoria A. Statler, MD, MSc, FAAP
Associate Professor, Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Norton Children’s and University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisville, KY

Faculty

Gary S. Marshall, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
Chief, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Norton Children’s and University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisville, KY

Planners/Reviewers

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
Barbara A. Niedz, PhD, RN, CPHQ

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, Vindico Medical Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Designation

Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 0.75 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.

It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

Vindico Medical Education will provide a maximum of 0.75 contact hours for nurses. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse practitioners can apply for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). The AANPCB will accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ from organizations accredited by ACCME.

This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, January 20, 2023, to January 19, 2024.

How to Participate in This Activity and Obtain CE Credit

To participate in this activity, you must read the objectives, answer the polling and pretest questions, view the content, and complete the posttest and evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 2 of 3 of the posttest questions correctly. Upon receipt of the completed materials, if a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Certificate or Contact Hour(s) Certificate.

Disclosures

Vindico Medical Education adheres to the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s (ACCME) Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Activity Chair and Faculty report the following relationship(s)

Gary S. Marshall, MD
Advisor: GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Moderna, Pfizer, Sanofi, Seqirus
Independent Research Contractor: GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer, Sanofi, Seqirus

Victoria A. Statler, MD, MSc, FAAP
Consultant: Pfizer, Seqirus
Independent Research Contractor: Astellas, Gilead, Sanofi

Planners/Reviewers report the following relationship(s)

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Barbara A. Niedz, PhD, RN, CPHQ
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relationship(s)

No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.

Unlabeled and Investigational Usage

The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non–FDA-approved or investigational use of products/devices.

Copyright Statement

Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2023 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any of Vindico Medical Education continuing medical education activities does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.

CME Questions?

Contact us at cme@vindicoCME.com