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To the Editor: Dr Hoberman and colleagues¹ reported that trivalent influenza vaccine did not reduce the risk of AOM among children aged 6 to 24 months. This finding is in contrast with the findings from 4 previous reports^2-5 in which use of the vaccine was associated with an approximate one-third reduction in AOM occurrence. Two important considerations are missing from the article by Hoberman et al. First, the authors did not address the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing influenza-associated AOM. As many as two thirds of children with influenza may have AOM.² The benefit of influenza vaccine derives directly from prevention of influenza-induced AOM cases. In the study by Hoberman et al, 50 children had proven influenza; it would be important to know the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing influenza-induced AOM in these cases.

Second, although the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing influenza during the first year . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Tasnee Chonmaitree, MD
Tchonmai@utmb.edu
Department of Pediatrics

James Grady, DrPH
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston

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