1. Influenza Activity — United States, 2014–15 Season and Composition of the 2015–16 Influenza Vaccine
- Author
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Appiah, G. R. D., Blanton, L., D’mello, T., Kniss, K., Smith, S., Mustaquim, D., Steffens, C., Dhara, R., Cohen, J., Chaves, S. S., Bresee, J., Wallis, T., Xu, X., Elal, A. I. A., Gubareva, L., David Wentworth, Katz, J., Jernigan, D., and Brammer, L.
- Subjects
Adult ,Adolescent ,Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ,Genetic Variation ,Infant ,Articles ,Pneumonia ,Middle Aged ,United States ,Hospitalization ,Influenza B virus ,Young Adult ,Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ,Influenza A virus ,Influenza Vaccines ,Child, Preschool ,Population Surveillance ,Child Mortality ,Influenza, Human ,Outpatients ,Humans ,Seasons ,Child ,Aged - Abstract
During the 2014-15 influenza season in the United States, influenza activity increased through late November and December before peaking in late December. Influenza A (H3N2) viruses predominated, and the prevalence of influenza B viruses increased late in the season. This influenza season, similar to previous influenza A (H3N2)-predominant seasons, was moderately severe with overall high levels of outpatient illness and influenza-associated hospitalization, especially for adults aged ≥65 years. The majority of circulating influenza A (H3N2) viruses were different from the influenza A (H3N2) component of the 2014-15 Northern Hemisphere seasonal vaccines, and the predominance of these drifted viruses resulted in reduced vaccine effectiveness. This report summarizes influenza activity in the United States during the 2014-15 influenza season (September 28, 2014-May 23, 2015) and reports the recommendations for the components of the 2015-16 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
- Published
- 2015