The WAIVE study was conducted over the winter months at Princess Margaret Hospital for 9 years from 2008 to 2015 inclusive.
Recruitment has now finished but analysis still continues on the abundant data that was collected.
Thankyou to all those families that participated in the study!
What were the objectives of the study?
The main objectives of the WAIVE study were to evaluate the effectiveness of licensed annual influenza vaccine in young children (both full immunization and partial immunization) and the burden of influenza on young children and their families.
The WAIVE study looked at how influenza infection affects young children and their families including social costs such as lost time at work for parents who need to stay home to care for a sick child. Researchers were also looking at which factors influence parent's attitudes to immunisation and their decision to vaccinate against influenza.
Who was eligible to participate?
Children aged between 7mths and 5 years were recruited who visited the Princess Margaret Hospital Emergency Department, and those admitted to hospital with a fever above 37.5 and an influenza like illness (ILI).
What did participants have to do?
Participants provided 2 nasal swabs (one from each nostril) and parents completed 2 questionnaires about the symptoms experienced by the child, flu symptoms in other family members, duration of illness and lost time from work (parents/caregivers) or daycare (children).
When was the WAIVE Study conducted?
This study was seasonal and usually started anywhere from June/July and usually wound up in October/November (depending on the flu season). The study started in 2009 and finished recruiting in 2015.
The information collected during the study is still being analysed.
During the flu season, Vaccine Trials Group assembled a team of research assistants to recruit participants in the evenings on weekdays, and weekends. They were easily identified by their Blue T Shirts with the WAIVE logo on the front.