In the United States, influenza vaccine is recommended for all children 6 months of age or older. Although children with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe influenza-related complications, vaccine effectiveness for this high-risk group is less understood. To determine the efficacy of influenza vaccine in higher-risk children, researchers from Vanderbilt University, in collaboration with several other pediatric research centers, studied 15,876 children with or without high-risk medical conditions (Hayek H, EK Noble, LS Stewart, et al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness among children with and without underlying conditions. Pediatrics. 2026 Feb 1;157(2):e2025072184.).
The researchers found that influenza vaccine effectiveness at preventing emergency department visits or hospitalizations was 43% for children with high-risk medical conditions and 53% for those without high-risk conditions. Vaccine effectiveness was lowest (31%) among children with chronic respiratory conditions. The authors concluded that “influenza vaccine provided protection in both children with and without underlying conditions.”
In the United States, influenza vaccine is recommended for all children 6 months of age or older. Although children with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe influenza-related complications, vaccine effectiveness for this high-risk group is less understood. To determine the efficacy of influenza vaccine in higher-risk children, researchers from Vanderbilt University, in collaboration with several other pediatric research centers, studied 15,876 children with or without high-risk medical conditions (Hayek H, EK Noble, LS Stewart, et al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness among children with and without underlying conditions. Pediatrics. 2026 Feb 1;157(2):e2025072184.).
The researchers found that influenza vaccine effectiveness at preventing emergency department visits or hospitalizations was 43% for children with high-risk medical conditions and 53% for those without high-risk conditions. Vaccine effectiveness was lowest (31%) among children with chronic respiratory conditions. The authors concluded that “influenza vaccine provided protection in both children with and without underlying conditions.”