Frequency of adverse reactions to influenza vaccine in the elderly. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Concern about side effects constitutes a major deterrent to patient compliance with influenza vaccination, yet there is a paucity of data about the occurrence of adverse reactions in the population targeted for immunization. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial to compare the frequency of adverse reactions following administration of 1988-1989 trivalent split-antigen influenza vaccine and saline placebo. Outpatient veterans 65 years of age or over (n = 336) were recruited by mail and were randomly assigned to receive vaccine followed 2 weeks later by placebo injection or placebo followed 2 weeks later by vaccine. There was no significant difference between influenza vaccine and placebo with respect ot the proportion of subjects reporting disability or systemic symptoms.
Margolis
K L
KL
Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415.
Nichol
K L
KL
Poland
G A
GA
Pluhar
R E
RE
D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008910:Minnesota; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011897:Random Allocation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D007252:Influenza Vaccines