[Vaccine protection in the elderly: are Austrian seniors adequately protected by vaccinations?].
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.
Hainz
Ursula
U
Institut für Biomedizinische Altersforschung, Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Innsbruck.
Aigner
Kurt
K
Asch
Esther
E
Berger
Peter
P
Böhmer
Franz
F
Feldkircher
Bruno
B
Horwath
Brigitte
B
Jenewein
Brigitte
B
Kassal
Hermann
H
Kistner
Otfried
O
Mack
Hans
H
Pfeiffer
Karl-Peter
KP
Pils
Katharina
K
Plank
Johannes
J
Renner
Doris
D
Saurwein-Teissl
Maria
M
Schwanzer
Erhard
E
Trieb
Klemens
K
Grubeck-Loebenstein
Beatrix
B
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*
D000906:Antibodies