Immune response to influenza vaccination of elderly people. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
The objective of this study was to determine the immune response to influenza vaccination in elderly people, using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Venous blood was taken from 1838 people aged 60 years and older, prior to injection with the influenza vaccine or a placebo. A second blood sample was taken three weeks later. The antibody reaction was measured by comparing the geometric mean titre and the percentage of participants who had a protective antibody titre before and after vaccination and for all sera of each strain. A protective antibody titre was found in 43-68% of those who had received the vaccine, depending on the strain investigated. Patients potentially at risk showed a response similar to the other participants. We conclude that influenza vaccination in elderly people provides a reasonable to good immune response. Research is needed on whether a good immune response decreases the incidence of influenza.
Department of General Practice, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
T M
TM
Govaert
M J
MJ
Sprenger
G J
GJ
Dinant
K
K
Aretz
N
N
Masurel
J A
JA
Knottnerus
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; 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; D008875:Middle Aged; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines