The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on influenza-related hospitalization, intensive care admission and mortality in children in Canada: A population-based study

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented implementation of wide-ranging public health measures globally. During the pandemic, dramatic decreases in seasonal influenza virus detection have been reported worldwide. Information on the impact on paediatric influenza-related hospitalisations is limited. We describe influenza-related hospitalisation in children in Canada following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data on influenza-related hospitalisations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and in-hospital deaths in children across Canada were obtained from the Canadian Immunisation Monitoring Program, ACTive (IMPACT). This national active surveillance initiative comprises 90% of all tertiary care paediatric beds in Canada. The study period included eleven influenza seasons, from the 2010/2011 season until the 2020/2021 season inclusive. Time series modelling was used to compare the observed to predicted influenza-related hospitalisations following the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Following the COVID-19 pandemic there was a significant decrease in paediatric influenza-related hospitalisations compared to predicted influenza-related hospitalisations for this time period (p < 0•0001). No paediatric influenza-related hospitalisations, ICU admission or deaths were reported for the 2020/2021 influenza season. CONCLUSIONS: We show complete absence of paediatric influenza infection-related hospitalisation in a Canadian National Surveillance Network during the 2020/2021 influenza season. This significant decrease is likely related in large part to non-pharmacological public health interventions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, although the potential role of viral interference is unknown. FUNDING: The Canadian Immunisation Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT) influenza surveillance is a national surveillance initiative managed by the Canadian Paediatric Society and conducted by the IMPACT network of paediatric investigators on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada's Centre for Immunisation and Respiratory Infectious Diseases.