by Camilo Mejia Giraldo
Researchers analysed a demographic that has increasing issues with their immune system’s response to vaccines. Credit: BromfordGroup
A recent study has strengthened the current knowledge of the increased effectiveness of adjuvanted flu vaccines in the elderly—a population highly affected by seasonal influenza.
Adjuvants are substances that can be added to vaccines to aid the body's immune response to the vaccine.
The 'real world' study, based in Canada, assessed less than 300 elderly participants for adjuvanted vaccine effectiveness.
It found an MF59 adjuvanted vaccine provided more protection (60 per cent effectiveness) against influenza compared with the unadjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine.
"We've seen data before that said if you just measure [the patient's] blood anti-body levels, it shows that they do better with the adjuvanted [vaccines]," says Dr Paul Van Buynder, a UWA appointee and co-author of the study.
"What we weren't sure of was whether that would turn into better protection against actual flu, and that is what we were looking at," he says.
Researchers contacted people over 65 years-old who had been routinely lab tested after they had exhibited influenza-like symptoms.
"We have different polices in different parts of British Columbia, some clinics give the adjuvanted vaccines and some do not, so the study was a natural experiment," he says.
After the participants were interviewed, their vaccination status, date and type were confirmed through healthcare records.
Dr Van Buynder says even though adjuvanted vaccines are known to have superior effects, researchers of the study were pleased at the positive results showed by MF59—which is a oil-in-water adjuvant containing a shark oil derivative and two surfactants.
With participants of the study at a median age of 83 years, researchers analysed a demographic that has increasing issues with their immune system's response to vaccines.
"It's a thing called immunosenescence, the older you get, the worse your white cells produce anti-bodies," he says.
"This is a new generation of adjuvants … it actually has an impact on stimulating the antigen production cells, particularly the dendritic cells in the skin area, so they bring a lot more antibodies across to where the vaccine has been administered."
Dr Van Buynder says adjuvanted vaccines are widely used throughout Canada and the EU, but not in the United States or Australia—although some adjuvanted vaccines are licensed in Australia.
"We were looking at what whether in the real world it actually made a difference," he says.
"Because it's one thing to look at the blood levels in a lab and what we wanted to say is that this actually produces a difference."
Explore further: New research finds flu shot effective regardless of circulating flu strain
More information: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X13010451
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
No substantial link between swine flu vaccine and Guillain-Barre syndrome, confirm experts
Jul 13, 2011
Adjuvanted vaccines used during the 2009 swine flu pandemic did not increase the risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome substantially, if at all, finds a large Europe-wide study published in the British Medical Journal today. ...
New development could increase flu vaccine supply
Jun 02, 2011
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical company Novartis announced today in the journal Science Translational Medicine that they have developed a new adjuvant, or com ...
Young children respond well to recommended swine flu vaccine
May 28, 2010
The first head to head study of the two H1N1 vaccines used in the UK during the recent pandemic finds that the adjuvanted split virus vaccine induced higher immune response rates in young children, but was associated with ...
New research finds flu shot effective regardless of circulating flu strain
Jun 25, 2013
New research out of St. Michael's Hospital has found that despite popular belief, the flu shot is effective in preventing the flu, even if the virus going around does not match the vaccine.
Mayo Clinic expert explains new vaccine options for next influenza season
Jul 16, 2013
The next flu shot season will include several new vaccine options for consumers, Mayo Clinic vaccine expert Gregory Poland, M.D., says. Fearful of needles? There's now an influenza vaccination just for you. Allergic to eggs? ...
Recommended for you
New blood test could help millions of patients with gastrointestinal disorders
19 minutes ago
For the first time, a simple blood test may be the best way to determine if a patient is suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or another serious condition such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD,) according to Cedars-Sinai ...
Antibiotic use to treat catheter-associated bacteriuria futile in decreasing risk of mortality
20 minutes ago
With 30 million indwelling bladder catheters placed annually nationwide, patients face an increased risk of developing catheter-associated bacteriuria (bacteria in the urine). Many patients with indwelling urinary catheters ...
Rodents provide clues as to causes of human illness in African slums
30 minutes ago
One in five rodents in a Kenyan slum carries a disease that causes fever and illness in humans, a study has found.
Some mind-body therapies may reduce effects of functional bowel disorders
1 hour ago
(Medical Xpress)—Although some health care providers may overlook alternative therapies when treating functional bowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, University of Florida faculty members have found evidence ...
Moderate to severe psoriasis linked to chronic kidney disease, say experts
15 hours ago
Moderate to severe psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease independent of traditional risk factors, such as diabetes and heart disease, finds a study published in BMJ today.
In Europe 3.5 million new fragility fractures occur annually, shows data published today
20 hours ago
A new report published today by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) warns that as a result of ageing populations and osteoporosis not being treated as a priority, health care providers will be faced with an avalanche ...
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2013, Phys.org network
by Camilo Mejia Giraldo
Researchers analysed a demographic that has increasing issues with their immune system’s response to vaccines. Credit: BromfordGroup
A recent study has strengthened the current knowledge of the increased effectiveness of adjuvanted flu vaccines in the elderly—a population highly affected by seasonal influenza.
Adjuvants are substances that can be added to vaccines to aid the body's immune response to the vaccine.
The 'real world' study, based in Canada, assessed less than 300 elderly participants for adjuvanted vaccine effectiveness.
It found an MF59 adjuvanted vaccine provided more protection (60 per cent effectiveness) against influenza compared with the unadjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine.
"We've seen data before that said if you just measure [the patient's] blood anti-body levels, it shows that they do better with the adjuvanted [vaccines]," says Dr Paul Van Buynder, a UWA appointee and co-author of the study.
"What we weren't sure of was whether that would turn into better protection against actual flu, and that is what we were looking at," he says.
Researchers contacted people over 65 years-old who had been routinely lab tested after they had exhibited influenza-like symptoms.
"We have different polices in different parts of British Columbia, some clinics give the adjuvanted vaccines and some do not, so the study was a natural experiment," he says.
After the participants were interviewed, their vaccination status, date and type were confirmed through healthcare records.
Dr Van Buynder says even though adjuvanted vaccines are known to have superior effects, researchers of the study were pleased at the positive results showed by MF59—which is a oil-in-water adjuvant containing a shark oil derivative and two surfactants.
With participants of the study at a median age of 83 years, researchers analysed a demographic that has increasing issues with their immune system's response to vaccines.
"It's a thing called immunosenescence, the older you get, the worse your white cells produce anti-bodies," he says.
"This is a new generation of adjuvants … it actually has an impact on stimulating the antigen production cells, particularly the dendritic cells in the skin area, so they bring a lot more antibodies across to where the vaccine has been administered."
Dr Van Buynder says adjuvanted vaccines are widely used throughout Canada and the EU, but not in the United States or Australia—although some adjuvanted vaccines are licensed in Australia.
"We were looking at what whether in the real world it actually made a difference," he says.
"Because it's one thing to look at the blood levels in a lab and what we wanted to say is that this actually produces a difference."
Explore further: New research finds flu shot effective regardless of circulating flu strain
More information: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X13010451
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
No substantial link between swine flu vaccine and Guillain-Barre syndrome, confirm experts
Jul 13, 2011
Adjuvanted vaccines used during the 2009 swine flu pandemic did not increase the risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome substantially, if at all, finds a large Europe-wide study published in the British Medical Journal today. ...
New development could increase flu vaccine supply
Jun 02, 2011
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical company Novartis announced today in the journal Science Translational Medicine that they have developed a new adjuvant, or com ...
Young children respond well to recommended swine flu vaccine
May 28, 2010
The first head to head study of the two H1N1 vaccines used in the UK during the recent pandemic finds that the adjuvanted split virus vaccine induced higher immune response rates in young children, but was associated with ...
New research finds flu shot effective regardless of circulating flu strain
Jun 25, 2013
New research out of St. Michael's Hospital has found that despite popular belief, the flu shot is effective in preventing the flu, even if the virus going around does not match the vaccine.
Mayo Clinic expert explains new vaccine options for next influenza season
Jul 16, 2013
The next flu shot season will include several new vaccine options for consumers, Mayo Clinic vaccine expert Gregory Poland, M.D., says. Fearful of needles? There's now an influenza vaccination just for you. Allergic to eggs? ...
Recommended for you
New blood test could help millions of patients with gastrointestinal disorders
19 minutes ago
For the first time, a simple blood test may be the best way to determine if a patient is suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or another serious condition such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD,) according to Cedars-Sinai ...
Antibiotic use to treat catheter-associated bacteriuria futile in decreasing risk of mortality
20 minutes ago
With 30 million indwelling bladder catheters placed annually nationwide, patients face an increased risk of developing catheter-associated bacteriuria (bacteria in the urine). Many patients with indwelling urinary catheters ...
Rodents provide clues as to causes of human illness in African slums
30 minutes ago
One in five rodents in a Kenyan slum carries a disease that causes fever and illness in humans, a study has found.
Some mind-body therapies may reduce effects of functional bowel disorders
1 hour ago
(Medical Xpress)—Although some health care providers may overlook alternative therapies when treating functional bowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, University of Florida faculty members have found evidence ...
Moderate to severe psoriasis linked to chronic kidney disease, say experts
15 hours ago
Moderate to severe psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease independent of traditional risk factors, such as diabetes and heart disease, finds a study published in BMJ today.
In Europe 3.5 million new fragility fractures occur annually, shows data published today
20 hours ago
A new report published today by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) warns that as a result of ageing populations and osteoporosis not being treated as a priority, health care providers will be faced with an avalanche ...
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2013, Phys.org network
0 comments:
Post a Comment