Abstract
Influenza is a respiratory infection caused primarily by influenza A and B viruses. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provides recommendations regarding seasonal influenza vaccines annually to the Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency). To summarize the NACI recommendations regarding the use of seasonal influenza vaccines for the 2016-2017 influenza season. Annual influenza vaccine recommendations are developed by NACI's Influenza Working Group for consideration and approval by NACI, based on NACI's evidence-based process for developing recommendations, and include a consideration of the burden of influenza illness and the target populations for vaccination; efficacy and effectiveness, immunogenicity and safety of influenza vaccines; vaccine schedules; and other aspects of influenza immunization. These recommendations are published annually on the Agency's website in the NACI Advisory Committee Statement: Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter on Influenza and Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (the Statement). The annual NACI seasonal influenza vaccine recommendations have been updated for the 2016-2017 influenza season to include adults with neurologic or neurodevelopment conditions among the groups for whom influenza vaccination is particularly recommended; to include the new high-dose, trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine for use in adults 65 years of age and over; to recommend that egg-allergic individuals may also be vaccinated against influenza using the low ovalbumin-containing live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) licensed for use in Canada (NACI has previously recommended that egg-allergic individuals may be vaccinated using inactivated influenza vaccines); and to remove the preferential recommendation for the use of LAIV in children 2-17 years of age. Two addenda to the 2016-2017 Statement address these new LAIV recommendations. NACI continues to recommend annual influenza vaccination for all individuals aged six months and older, with particular focus on people at high risk of influenza-related complications or hospitalization, people capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk and others as indicated.
Highlights
Influenza is ranked among the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada [1]
The annual National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) seasonal influenza vaccine recommendations have been updated for the 2016-2017 influenza season to include adults with neurologic or neurodevelopment conditions among the groups for whom influenza vaccination is recommended; to include the new high-dose, trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine for use in adults 65 years of age and older; to recommend that egg-allergic individuals may be vaccinated against influenza using the low ovalbumin-containing live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) licensed for use in Canada (NACI has previously recommended that egg-allergic individuals may be vaccinated using inactivated influenza vaccines); and to remove the preferential recommendation for the use of LAIV in children 2–17 years of age
In order to prepare the 2016-2017 seasonal influenza vaccine recommendations, NACI’s Influenza Working Group (IWG) identified and reviewed evidence regarding adults with neurologic or neurodevelopment conditions as a risk group for complications of influenza; the new high-dose, trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine licensed for use in adults 65 years of age and older (Fluzone® High-Dose [Sanofi Pasteur]); the administration of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in egg-allergic individuals; and vaccine effectiveness (VE) of LAIV and inactivated influenza vaccine
Summary
Influenza is ranked among the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada [1]. NACI recommendations for the use of seasonal influenza vaccine for the 2016-2017 influenza season is summarized below. Complete details can be found in the Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2016-2017 [4], which includes the Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter on Influenza (Section II of the Statement) and in the two addenda to the Statement [5,6] published on the Agency’s website. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provides recommendations regarding seasonal influenza vaccines annually to the Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency)
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