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Does an October Birthday Protect Kids From Flu?
TOPLINE:
Young children with October birthdays may be better protected against flu, a new study shows. Children tend to receive vaccinations at regular preventive visits the month they were born, and October happens to be an optimal time to get the flu vaccine, the researchers said.
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers analyzed data from the MarketScan Research Database between 2011 and 2018.
- They focused on 819,223 children aged 2-5 years who were vaccinated against influenza between August 1 and January 31 and whose birthdays fell during that window.
TAKEAWAY:
- Children born in October had the lowest rate of influenza diagnosis, with an average diagnosis rate of 2.7%, whereas those born in August had a diagnosis rate of 3%.
- Compared with children born in August, the adjusted odds ratio for influenza diagnosis in children born in October was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.85-0.92).
IN PRACTICE:
"The findings support current recommendations that children be vaccinated in October preceding a typical influenza season," the authors of the study wrote.
SOURCE:
Anupam B. Jena, MD, PhD, with Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, was the corresponding author on the study. The research was published online on February 21 in BMJ.
LIMITATIONS:
The availability of the influenza vaccine and the peak of seasonal flu infections vary by year and region.
DISCLOSURES:
Researchers disclosed consulting fees from pharmaceutical and healthcare companies unrelated to the study.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
