Assessment of inactivated influenza-A vaccine after three outbreaks of influenza A at Christ's Hospital

Lancet. 1979 Jan 6;1(8106):33-5. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)90468-9.

Abstract

The boys of Christ's Hospital experienced outbreaks of influenza A in 1972 (A/England/42/72), in 1974 (A/Port Chalmers), and in 1976 (A/Victoria). In each outbreak, the protective effect of inactivated influenza-A vaccine was limited to those boys, not already immune, who were vaccinated for the first time with the most up-to-date strain. Revaccination with the same strain did not increase the degree of protection, and revaccination with a later strain did not afford protection against subsequent challenge. The cummulative attack-rate in the three outbreaks was similar in all groups irrespective of vaccination history. These observations suggest that annual revaccination with inactivated influenza-A vaccine confers no long-term advantage.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Disease Outbreaks / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control*
  • England
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Influenza A virus
  • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Influenza Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / immunology
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • School Health Services*
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Attenuated