Research on the Epidemiology, Prevention, Vaccine Effectiveness and Treatment of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses in South Africa

the components of the Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine. In collaboration with NCIRD ID, South Africa has expanded their influenza surveillance activities to include respiratory hospitalizations in five of nine provinces following the 2009 pandemic. This surveillance platform has allowed them to better understand some risk factors for severe disease; however, it has not generated significant data on the burden of influenza or influenza vaccine effectiveness in some groups targeted for vaccination, particularly pregnant women and their young infants. This new cooperative agreement will allow NCIRD ID to expand collaborations with NICD to look at these and other at risk populations.