title: Safety and immunogenicity of a paediatric presentation of an influenza vaccine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Flu vaccination in otherwise healthy infants and young children is important to prevent severe disease, as well as to control epidemic spread of influenza infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the safety and immunogenicity of a paediatric presentation of a purified, inactivated, triton split influenza vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two doses of the vaccine, provided in prefilled syringes of 0.25 ml, were administered, one month apart, to 67 children under 3 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine cases of immediate reaction to vaccination (macules/papules) were observed after the second injection only. During the study period, 9% of children experienced at least one delayed local reaction, and 28% of children presented at least one systemic reaction. Almost all reactions were mild and transient. Immunogenicity results surpassed the European Community recommendations for a 0.50 ml dose of vaccine in adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paediatric formulation of inactivated flu vaccine appears safe and immunogenic in children from 6 months to 3 years of age; the convenient presentation in a prefilled syringe of 0.25 ml volume will facilitate administration of the dose recommended for young children.
authors.affiliation: Centro Materno-Infantil Maciel, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pirez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dibarboure
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Picolet
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated