Sequential immunization of laboratory personnel with influenza A/New Jersey/76 split- and whole-virus vaccines.
One hundred thirty-three healthy, at-risk Fort Detrick laboratory workers were inoculated with 400 chick cell-agglutinating (CCA) units of influenza A/New Jersey/76 split-virus vaccine (Wyeth Laboratories, Philadelphia, Pa.). Systemic and local reactions were infrequent, mild, and comparable to those of a sham-vaccinated group of volunteers. Only 28% of subjects 19-24 years old developed titers of hemagglutination-inhibiting (HAI) antibody of greater than or equal to 1:20, whereas titers of 91%-100% of subjects 25-62 years old reached this level. Thirty-one vaccinated subjects with no or low titers of antibody were given a booster dose (400 CCA units) of Wyeth vaccine six weeks after the first inoculation. Only 58%-67% of these vaccinees achieved HAI titers of greater than or equal to 1:20 after the booster. Fourteen persons required a second booster dose for protection; after vaccination with 400 CCA units of whole-virus vaccine from Merck Sharp and Dohme (West Point, Pa.), 89%-100% of the 14 vaccinees finally achieved HAI titers of greater than or equal to 1:20. The split-virus vaccine was safe, but it was poorly antigenic as a primary vaccine in persons 19-24 years old and as a booster in persons of all ages who have poor antibody responses in general.
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D013997:Time Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines