Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness: The Flu VE Study

U.S. Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network: Pittsburgh

Protocol Description

The purpose of this multi-center observational study by the U.S. Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network (Flu VE Network) is to help researchers understand how well the flu vaccine prevents outpatient medical visits due to laboratory-confirmed influenza infections from year to year.

Eligibility Criteria

Patients of both genders, ages 6 months through 17, who will be tested for influenza after presenting with cold and flu symptoms in the Emergency Room of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, or at Children’s Primary Care in Oakland, will be eligible to participate in this study.
Males and Females: Ages 6 months through 17 years

Requirements

Physical and medical record information, including vaccination history, will be collected for each participant as well as a nasal swab. For patients ages 2 and up, a throat swab will also be collected. A brief follow-up survey will be completed 1 to 2 weeks after the visit.
Visits: 1
Duration: 2 weeks

Status: Open to Enrollment

Source(s) of Support

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Additional Information

Influenza
Emergency Medicine Research

Primary Investigator

Richard Zimmerman, MD, MPH

Contact Information

For more information about the study, please contact:
Tricia Nowalk, PhD, RD
412-383-2355