Vaccine strain affects seroconversion after influenza vaccination in COPD patients and healthy older people
Natale Snape,
Gary P. Anderson,
Louis B. Irving,
Andrew G. Jarnicki,
Aeron C. Hurt,
Tina Collins,
Yang Xi,
John W. Upham
Affiliations
Natale Snape
Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute
Gary P. Anderson
Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne
Louis B. Irving
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Andrew G. Jarnicki
Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne
Aeron C. Hurt
WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne
Tina Collins
Metro South Health, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Yang Xi
Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute
John W. Upham
Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute
Abstract Though clinical guidelines recommend influenza vaccination for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and other high-risk populations, it is unclear whether current vaccination strategies induce optimal antibody responses. This study aimed to identify key variables associated with strain-specific antibody responses in COPD patients and healthy older people. 76 COPD and 72 healthy participants were recruited from two Australian centres and inoculated with influenza vaccine. Serum strain-specific antibody titres were measured pre- and post-inoculation. Seroconversion rate was the primary endpoint. Antibody responses varied between vaccine strains. The highest rates of seroconversion were seen with novel strains (36–55%), with lesser responses to strains included in the vaccine in more than one consecutive year (27–33%). Vaccine responses were similar in COPD patients and healthy participants. Vaccine strain, hypertension and latitude were independent predictors of seroconversion. Our findings reassure that influenza vaccination is equally immunogenic in COPD patients and healthy older people; however, there is room for improvement. There may be a need to personalise the yearly influenza vaccine, including consideration of pre-existing antibody titres, in order to target gaps in individual antibody repertoires and improve protection.
