MF59-adjuvanted vaccine: a safe and useful tool to enhance and broaden protection against seasonal influenza viruses in subjects at risk.
BACKGROUND
Vaccination is universally considered as the most effective tool for the prevention of influenza, which represents a significant burden, both from a health-care and a socio-economic viewpoint. Conventional non-adjuvanted vaccines have shown suboptimal immunogenicity in the elderly, in patients with serious chronic diseases or the immunocompromised and in young children. The protection offered by non-adjuvanted vaccines may be further reduced by periodic antigenic drifts.


METHODS
Between the several strategies proposed to address the need for more immunogenic vaccines than the conventional ones, the most successful strategy is represented by the use of adjuvants. Since 1997, an MF59-adjuvanted subunit influenza vaccine has been licensed in several countries and used in the elderly worldwide. Available data on the safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness of this vaccine have been reported and discussed in details.


RESULTS
The MF59-adjuvanted vaccine has been shown to enhance immunogenicity and to confer cross-reactivity against heterologous influenza viral strains in the elderly, in adults with serious underlying medical conditions and in healthy infants and young children. Furthermore, its effectiveness has been demonstrated in older adults, reducing hospitalizations for pneumonia, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
The vaccine is safe, with an acceptable tolerability profile, thus representing a valid option to optimize the control of seasonal influenza.
Durando
Paolo
P
Department of Health Sciences-Section of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Genoa, Head of the Outpatient Clinic of the Hygiene Unit, San Martino University Hospital, Via Pastore 1 - 16132, Genoa, Italy. durando@unige.it
Icardi
Giancarlo
G
Ansaldi
Filippo
F
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012621:Seasons; D013185:Squalene / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; C089950:MF59 oil emulsion; D011136:Polysorbates; D013185:Squalene