title: Influenza vaccination during the first 6 months after solid organ transplantation is efficacious and safe.
abstract: Preventing influenza infection early after transplantation is essential, given the disease's high mortality. A multicentre prospective cohort study in adult solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) receiving the influenza vaccine during four consecutive influenza seasons (2009-2013) was performed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of influenza vaccination in SOTR before and 6 months after transplantation. A total of 798 SOTR, 130 of them vaccinated within 6 months of transplantation and 668 of them vaccinated more than 6 months since transplantation. Seroprotection was similar in both groups: 73.1% vs. 76.5% for A/(H1N1)pdm (p 0.49), 67.5% vs. 74.1% for A/H3N2 (p 0.17) and 84.2% vs. 85.2% for influenza B (p 0.80), respectively. Geometric mean titres after vaccination did not differ among groups: 117.32 (95% confidence interval (CI) 81.52, 168.83) vs. 87.43 (95% CI 72.87, 104.91) for A/(H1N1)pdm, 120.45 (95% CI 82.17, 176.57) vs. 97.86 (95% CI 81.34, 117.44) for A/H3N2 and 143.32 (95% CI 103.46, 198.53) vs. 145.54 (95% CI 122.35, 174.24) for influenza B, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, time since transplantation was not associated with response to vaccination. No cases of rejection or severe adverse events were detected in patients vaccinated within the first 6 months after transplantation. In conclusion, influenza vaccination within the first 6 months after transplantation is as safe and immunogenic as vaccination thereafter. Thus, administration of the influenza vaccine can be recommended as soon as 1 month after transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Sevilla, Seville, Spain. Electronic address: mperez-ibis@us.es.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pérez-Romero
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulnes-Ramos
authors.affiliation: Reina Sofia University Hospital-Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research (IMIBIC), University of Cordoba (UCO), Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torre-Cisneros
authors.affiliation: Vall d'Hebron University Hospital-VHIR, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gavaldá
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Aydillo
authors.affiliation: University Clinic Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Cruces, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montejo
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fariñas
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Belltvitge-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carratalá
authors.affiliation: General University Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanes
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fortún
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suárez-Benjumea
authors.affiliation: University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Medrano
authors.affiliation: Reina Sofia University Hospital-Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research (IMIBIC), University of Cordoba (UCO), Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Barranco
authors.affiliation: Vall d'Hebron University Hospital-VHIR, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peghin
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.affiliation: Reina Sofia University Hospital-Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research (IMIBIC), University of Cordoba (UCO), Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cordero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Early vaccination; immune response; influenza vaccine; seroprotection; solid organ transplantation