title: Failure of influenza vaccination in the aged.
abstract: A cohort of 127 nursing home residents aged 60-98 years were vaccinated during the winter of 1985-86 with the A-Chile 1/83 (C), A-Philippines 2/82 (P), and B-USSR (B) commercial influenza vaccines. Before vaccination 40%, 23%, and 69% were susceptible to influenza Ac, Ap, and B, respectively [hemagglutinin inhibition (H.I.) titer less than 1:40]. One month following initial vaccination, 32 patients [25%] remained unprotected against two or all three vaccine strains. These patients were revaccinated with the same influenza vaccine and followed up. At five months 11%, 19%, and 23% of the initial cohort were still unprotected against Ac, Ap, and B strains, respectively. We conclude that two conventional influenza vaccines administered one month apart leave unprotected 30% of healthy elderly people who are initial influenza vaccine failures.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keren
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Segev
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morag
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zakay-Rones
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barzilai
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines