Influenza Vaccine Linked to Fewer Influenza-Related Hospitalizations in COPD, but Confounding Remains a Concern September 24, 2026

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/influenza-vaccine-linked-fewer-influenza-related-2026a1000zmw?ecd=wnl_tp10_daily_260926_MSCPEDIT_etid8728689&uac=148436CN&impID=8728689 Influenza vaccination was associated with a 39% lower risk for hospitalization for influenza among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during epidemic periods across six influenza seasons in England. However, vaccination was also linked to a 17% lower risk for urinary tract infection, which served as a negative control outcome with no plausible causal connection to the vaccine, suggesting that residual confounding may have biased the findings.