Boys and girls born in October are more likely to get a flu shot that month and less likely to be diagnosed with the disease than boys and girls born in other months, according to a study published in the BMJ.
Between 2011 and 2018, more than 800,000 U.S. children ages 2 to 5 participated in the study and received the flu vaccine between August 1 and January 31.
The results show that birth month is related to the time of influenza vaccination and the probability of influenza diagnosis, and October is the best month to receive influenza vaccine.
Getting an annual flu shot is especially important for young children because they are at higher risk for influenza and serious infections requiring hospitalization. Vaccination is recommended in September or October to maximize immunity during peak flu season.
Researchers used health insurance claims data to identify more than 800,000 children ages 2 to 5 who received a flu vaccine between August 1 and January 31, 2011-18.
They then analyzed influenza diagnosis rates among these children by month of birth.
After taking into account a number of potential influencing factors, including age, gender, existing conditions, health care use and household size, the results showed that October was the most common month for children to be vaccinated.
As a result, children born in October also have the lowest rates of influenza diagnosis. For example, among children born in August, the average diagnosis rate during the flu season studied was 3%, compared with 2.7% for children born in October and 2.9% for children born in December.
«Influenza vaccination is particularly important for young children because they are at high risk of severe infection requiring hospitalization. Vaccination is recommended between September and October to achieve adequate immunity when influenza infections peak. ” Paula López Monteagudo of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York (USA) told Science Media Center.. (USA).
In this sense, Estanislao Nistal, virologist and professor of microbiology at CEU San Pablo University, points out that this study is relevant because “it shows that optimal vaccination can improve protection against influenza (and possibly other respiratory viruses). Protection. Different epidemiological). Similar) should be guided by the epidemic season and not based on other parameters related to vaccination programmes.
The expert added to SMC, “Some of the bacteria that cause bacterial pneumonia, such as pneumococci, also tend to follow seasonal patterns consistent with influenza. It’s important to remember The flu vaccine may also reduce complications associated with mixed infections caused by these bacteria».
It is recommended to get vaccinated between September and October to achieve full immunity
Paula Lopez Monteagudo
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
This was an observational study, and the authors acknowledge that their findings are limited to insured children receiving medical care.
However, after additional analyzes to assess whether the relationship between birth month and flu risk was due to chance, the results were similar, providing greater confidence in their conclusions.
« This was a semi-experimental study, but it allowed arriveSupports current recommendations that children should be vaccinated in October before flu seasone», López Monteagudo.