title: Summary of clinical trials of influenza virus vaccines in adults.
abstract: Trials in approximately 3,900 adults were conducted with influenza A/New Jersey/76, A/Victoria/75, and B/Hong Kong/72 virus vaccines. Subjects were observed following a standard protocol, and serologic testing was performed in a single laboratory. The data indicate that prior experience of the population with earlier influenza viruses ("priming") is a determinant in response to vaccination. Thus, participants older than 25 years showed good serologic response following a single inoculation of A/New Jersey/76 virus, while younger persons responded poorly. Serological responses to A/Victoria/75 and B/Hong Kong/72 viruses were, in contrast, equally good in the younger and older adults. Whole-virus vaccines were measurably more reactive than split-virus vaccines, a finding more easily discernined in unprimed populations. In the unprimed persons, a single dose of split-virus vaccine was less immunogenic than a single dose of whole-virus vaccine. The presence of preexisting antibodies appeared to reduce systemic reactivity. For adequate immunization of a totally unprimed population, a single relatively large and reactive dose of whole-virus vaccine or two, properly spaced, smaller nonreactive doses of either whole-virus vaccine or split-virus vaccine would be required.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004739:England; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines