Influenza Vaccines Do Not Confer Significant Protection Against Flu-Associated Hospitalization For Most Patients With Liver Disease

Infectious Disease Advisor (4/28) reports, “Influenza vaccination does not confer significant protection against influenza-associated hospitalization for most patients with liver disease, according to results of a study published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.” While patients with liver disease “more commonly reported prior influenza vaccination than those without liver disease (57.8% vs 52.4%; P <.001), there was no significant between-group difference in the likelihood of testing positive for influenza.” However, “Further studies are warranted to evaluate VE in patients with different types of liver disease and to investigate whether specific vaccine formulations or strategies are able to enhance influenza vaccine effectiveness.”