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Impact of influenza vaccine on childhood otitis media in Taiwan: A population-based study

Pei-Wen Wu1,2, Chien-Chia Huang2,3, Wei-Chieh Chao1

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Keelung, Taiwan.

Plos One
|January 6, 2018
PubMed

Insights

The influenza vaccine significantly reduced acute otitis media (AOM) incidence in young children. This suggests herd immunity may also play a role in preventing AOM in vaccinated populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Acute otitis media (AOM) is a frequent childhood infection, often following viral respiratory illnesses.
  • Understanding preventative measures for AOM is crucial for public health, particularly in preschool-aged children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of influenza vaccination on the incidence of childhood acute otitis media.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the traditional injectable trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) in reducing AOM.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 803,592 children under 10 years old in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.
  • Poisson regression was used to compare AOM and tympanostomy tube insertion incidence before and after TIV introduction.
  • Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Main Results:

  • In children under 2 years old, seasonal AOM incidence decreased significantly after TIV introduction in 2004 (98.4 to 66.1 episodes/1000 person-seasons).
  • Increased TIV coverage correlated with significantly lower AOM outpatient visits in 2005 (IRR=0.85) and 2006 (IRR=0.80) compared to 2004.
  • Conversely, AOM incidence increased in older, unvaccinated children during the study period.

Conclusions:

  • TIV introduction in Taiwan led to a significant reduction in primary care consultations for AOM in children under 2.
  • Increased vaccine coverage enhanced this protective effect, potentially through direct protection and herd immunity.
  • The findings highlight the dual benefit of influenza vaccination in reducing both influenza and associated AOM in young children.
Abstract

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