The InFLUence of Vaccine Technology on Pediatric Influenza Outcomes

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 symposium, clinician experts in pediatric vaccination will 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 will 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.