Effects of immunizing school children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) monovalent vaccine on absenteeism among students and teachers in Maine

► We assessed the effects of immunizing school children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) vaccine on absenteeism. ► We estimated the daily association between school absenteeism and student immunization coverage. ► Increasing student vaccine coverage was associated with reduced absenteeism during periods of high influenza activity. ► Immunization of Maine school children had modest overall and indirect effects on all-cause absenteeism.