The safety and immunogenicity of influenza vaccine in children with asthma in Mexico.
BACKGROUND
The morbidity and mortality associated with influenza is substantial in children with asthma. There are no available data on the safety and immunogenicity of influenza vaccine in children with asthma in Latin America. Furthermore, it is unclear if influenza vaccination may cause asthma exacerbations.


METHODS
We conducted a placebo-controlled trial to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of an inactivated trivalent split virus influenza vaccine in children with asthma in Mexico. We also measured the impact of influenza vaccination on pulmonary function tests in this population.


RESULTS
The inactivated influenza vaccine was immunogenic and safe in terms of local and systemic side effects compared to placebo. We observed no significant impact on pulmonary function tests among vaccine recipients.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the significant morbidity associated with influenza in children, strategies to promote increased influenza vaccination coverage in this high-risk group in Latin America and elsewhere are urgently needed.
Pedroza
Alvaro
A
Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaria de Salud México, Mexico.
Huerta
José G
JG
Garcia
Maria de la Luz
Mde L
Rojas
Arsheli
A
López-Martínez
Irma
I
Penagos
Martín
M
Franco-Paredes
Carlos
C
Deroche
Christele
C
Mascareñas
Cesar
C
D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D010919:Placebos; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012449:Safety; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000592:standards*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D010919:Placebos; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; C510901:trivalent baculovirus-expressed influenza-virus hemagglutinin vaccine