Peer-reviewed article
Uptake and effectiveness of a novel seasonal influenza vaccination campaign for school-age children in the 2023/2024 influenza season in Shanghai, China.
Qi Ye, Honghong Chen, Biyun Jia, Xiaowei Chen, Jialei Fan et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001A vaccination campaign in Shanghai's Minhang District during the 2023/2024 influenza season targeted school-age children through community healthcare centers. Vaccination coverage among school-age children increased from less than 5% in the previous season to 20.84%, with community-level rates rising to 17.60-27.80%. Mathematical modeling showed the campaign prevented over 5,600 infections among school-age children and provided indirect protection to elderly populations, averting more than 4,300 infections in that age group.
Key points
- Vaccination coverage among school-age children increased from <5% to 20.84% following the campaign
- Community-level vaccination rates increased from 2.24-6.62% to 17.60-27.80%
- Model simulations estimated 5,627 infections averted among school-age children (2,733 per 100,000)
- Indirect benefits observed in elderly population with 4,391 infections averted
- Reductions across multiple outcomes: 3,313 symptomatic infections, 1,862 outpatient visits, 202 hospitalizations, and 12 deaths
Limitations
The study relied on mathematical modeling rather than direct observation of actual infection prevention, so the stated reductions are projections rather than confirmed outcomes. The campaign was implemented in one district of Shanghai, so results may not generalize to other regions or populations with different baseline immunity levels.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Influenza spreads rapidly among school-age children, but vaccination coverage in this population remains low in China. To enhance immunity and reduce seasonal influenza transmission, Minhang District in Shanghai implemented a community healthcare center-based influenza vaccination campaign targeting school-age children during the 2023/2024 season. This study evaluated the campaign's effectiveness in improving coverage and reducing population-level influenza burden. METHODS: Vaccination data for children were collected from 14 communities between September 2023 and March 2024. The population was stratified into five age groups: 6 months-2 years, 3-6 years, 7-18 years, 19-59 years, and ≥ 60 years. Using influenza surveillance data from 2016 to 2024, an age-structured dynamic transmission model assessed how increased coverage among school-age children influenced overall disease burden. RESULTS: Coverage among school-age children rose to 20.84%, compared with <5% in the previous season and < 1% before 2018/2019. Community-level rates increased from 2.24-6.62% to 17.60-27.80%. Simulations suggested 5627 infections averted among school-age children, equivalent to 2733 cases per 100,000-the largest proportional reduction across age groups. Symptomatic infections, outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and deaths declined by 3313, 1862, 202, and 12 cases, respectively. Indirect benefits were observed among the elderly, with 4391 infections averted (818 per 100,000). CONCLUSIONS: The campaign substantially increased vaccination coverage among school-age children and reduced influenza burden, with additional indirect benefits in other populations. As the first initiative of its kind in Shanghai, it provides practical and policy-relevant guidance for optimizing immunization strategies and enhancing influenza prevention among children.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Community healthcare center-based influenza vaccination campaign targeting school-age children during 2023/2024 season
- Population
- School-age children (7-18 years) in Minhang District, Shanghai, China; also evaluated indirect effects on other age groups
Key finding
Vaccination coverage increased to 20.84% among school-age children versus <5% previous season