Reacción a "Reactions: Study says children born in October are less likely to get the flu"

In the study presented, the efficacy of influenza vaccination in children aged two to five years is analysed. It shows that children born in October tend to be vaccinated against influenza according to paediatric visit patterns, possibly coinciding with the administration of other vaccines. The study shows data suggesting that these children have better protection against influenza than those vaccinated in earlier or later months. The researchers conclude that optimal influenza vaccination should follow a seasonal recommendation, aligned with the influenza season, and not be determined by regular visits for other schedule vaccines that are fixed to the months after birth.  

The different vaccines in the vaccination schedule stimulate the humoral immune response, increasing antibody production and protection against the specific pathogens of each vaccine. With the exception of the first few days after vaccination, the magnitude of this immune response reaches higher levels the less time has passed since vaccination. Influenza vaccination in adults is based on the seasonality of influenza viruses in humans. For optimal protection, the influenza vaccination campaign in the northern hemisphere starts in some countries at the end of September and in others during October, before the incidence increases. Therefore, vaccinating against influenza in October aims to maximise the amount of antibodies during the following months, although this protection gradually decreases over time. Epidemic waves can vary from season to season, but may generally start in October or be delayed by a few weeks. Peak incidence usually occurs in December and January.  

What is remarkable about this study, based on US data, is that it suggests that optimal vaccination to improve protection against influenza (and possibly other respiratory viruses with similar epidemiology) should be guided by the epidemic season, rather than based on other parameters associated with the vaccination schedule.  Some bacteria that cause bacterial pneumonias, such as pneumococcus, also tend to follow a seasonal pattern that coincides with that of influenza. It is important to remember that influenza vaccination also reduces complications associated with co-infections caused by these bacteria.