Short communicationThe virosomal influenza vaccine Invivac®: Immunogenicity and tolerability compared to an adjuvanted influenza vaccine (Fluad®) in elderly subjects
Introduction
Current available influenza vaccines are safe and effective in preventing influenza. Nevertheless, there is a need for influenza vaccines with improved efficacy particularly in the elderly. Several approaches are currently being pursued in order to improve the efficacy of influenza vaccines in elderly individuals and others who have impaired immune responses to conventional influenza vaccines. The present clinical study assessed the immunogenicity and tolerability of two commercially available vaccines for elderly subjects as compared to a standard influenza vaccine.
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Methods
We carried out a randomized, endpoint-blind, parallel group study in elderly subjects. Subjects were 61 years of age or older and had not been vaccinated with influenza vaccine within 6 months of the study. Exclusion criteria were allergy to any constituent of the vaccines, presenting with fever, having an auto-immune disease or using immunosuppressive medication or having had a serious adverse reaction to previous influenza vaccination.
Results
The demographic characteristics were comparable between the three groups, mean ages were 70.5, 69.8 and 70.3, respectively, for Influvac, Invivac and Fluad; about 50% of subjects was aged over 70 years.
Conclusions
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In elderly subjects, the virosomal influenza vaccine Invivac is not inferior to the conventional influenza vaccine Influvac or to the adjuvanted influenza vaccine Fluad with respect to the immunogenicity of the HA of the three viral strains contained in the vaccines.
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All vaccines met all three CHMP criteria for immunogenicity in the elderly, for all three strains.
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Invivac was safe and well tolerated in elderly subjects. The safety and tolerability of Invivac was similar to the standard influenza