University of Michigan - Henry Ford Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness (MFIVE Study)

Principal Investigator

Arnold Monto

Co-Principal Investigator

Suzanne Ohmit

Funding Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

About this Project

We are one of four sites funded by the CDC to assess the annual effectiveness of the influenza vaccine in preventing medically-attended influenza. We have established surveillance programs at ambulatory care and hospital sites throughout southeast Michigan that are associated with the University of Michigan and Henry Ford Health Systems. Patients seeking care for influenza-like illnesses at participating sites are consented and enrolled in the study. Patients are interviewed about the characteristics of their illness and their influenza vaccination status and have a throat and nasal swab specimen collected. Specimens are tested using real-time PCR and viral culture methods to determine if illnesses were caused by influenza. Results from laboratory assays confirming illnesses as influenza positive (cases) or negative (controls) are used in our analyses of influenza vaccine effectiveness as well as in pooled analyses (across all 4 sites) conducted by CDC. These analyses also require determination (by patient self-report) and verification (by electronic medical record and administrative data sources) of influenza vaccination status and determination of comorbidity risk status (by administrative data source).