# Outpatient VE for seasonal flu, pandemic flu and RSV in a large, diverse network

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $2,400,000

## Abstract

Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) continue to
be major health burdens, each year causing millions of illnesses and tens of thousands of
hospitalizations & deaths in the U.S. Although designed to reduce this burden, influenza
vaccine has variable effectiveness (VE) from year to year due to host factors, environment, and
virus & vaccine characteristics. Data from the US Flu VE Network helps CDC to evaluate
vaccine policy, WHO to select vaccine strains and clinicians to use antivirals.
 We propose a test-negative case-control (TNCC) study to determine influenza VE in UPMC,
which serves diverse populations in 500 clinical sites. UPMC wins awards as one of the most
wired health systems in the U.S. UPMC preferentially uses high-dose vaccine for persons >65
years, routinely records vaccination status in its electronic medical record and has a two-way
interface with the state immunization registry.
 Our proposal has a strong foundation of current participation in the US Flu VE Network with a
multidisciplinary research team with the highest follow-up survey completion rate and enrollment
numbers exceeding requirements. Our award-winning, high-throughput lab proposes analyses
of influenza, RSV and HMPV. Each virus season definition is supported by >14,000 clinical
multiplex respiratory virus tests and ongoing syndromic surveillance. We add agent-based
modeling at the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center. We are a CDC inpatient VE network site,
thus we can compare VE for outpatients and inpatients.
 Specific aims include: 1) Using TNCC methods, determine annual influenza and RSV (after
licensure) VE against laboratory-confirmed, medically-attended, acute respiratory infections
among outpatients in 3 age groups: 6 mos.-18 yrs., 19-49 yrs., and >50 yrs.; 2) Determine the
annual, population-based burden of influenza, RSV and hMPV in the same age groups, using
the participating primary care sites as the source population, conduct sensitivity analyses and
agent-based modeling on the impact of vaccination options; 3) Prepare for studies related to an
influenza pandemic, describing the epidemiology, effectiveness of antivirals and/or pandemic
vaccines, including pilot studies on patient portal/phone enrollment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9953925
- **Project number:** 5U01IP001035-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD K ZIMMERMAN
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,400,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9953925

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9953925, Outpatient VE for seasonal flu, pandemic flu and RSV in a large, diverse network (5U01IP001035-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9953925. Licensed CC0.

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