title: [Vaccine protection in the elderly: are Austrian seniors adequately protected by vaccinations?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate, if elderly persons are sufficiently protected against infectious diseases by vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  300 elderly (> 60 years) and 300 young (< 35 years) persons from five Austrian cities were recruited according to the criteria of a field study. Antibody concentrations against tetanus, diphtheria, tickborne encephalitis and influenza were assessed by ELISA or by haemagglutination inhibition test. Disease and vaccination histories were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the study demonstrate that protection against infectious diseases was frequently insufficient in the elderly. This was partly due to the fact that old persons were not vaccinated according to recommended strategies. However, low antibody concentration and a short duration of protective humoral immunity were also observed in many elderly persons in spite of regular vaccination. This was not only the case in frail, but also in healthy elderlies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data demonstrate that vaccination has a relatively weak and short-lasting effect in old age. The results of the study should stimulate discussions about strategies how vaccinations can be made more effective in old age. Improved campaigns, shortened vaccination intervals as well as the design of novel vaccines tailored to fulfill the specific demands of the aging immune system are imaginable.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biomedizinische Altersforschung, Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Innsbruck.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hainz
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asch
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Böhmer
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feldkircher
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horwath
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jenewein
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kassal
authors.forename: Otfried
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kistner
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: Karl-Peter
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pils
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plank
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saurwein-Teissl
authors.forename: Erhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwanzer
authors.forename: Klemens
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trieb
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grubeck-Loebenstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001317:Austria; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies