Serum Antibody Responses after Intradermal Vaccination against Influenza

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 351; no. 22; pp. 2286 - 2294
• Main Authors: Belshe, Robert B, Newman, Frances K, Cannon, Joan, Duane, Carol, Treanor, John, Van Hoecke, Christian, Howe, Barbara J, Dubin, Gary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 25.11.2004
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Aged; Aging - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Female; General aspects; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus - immunology; Humans; Immunization; Influenza; Influenza A virus - immunology; Influenza B virus - immunology; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Influenza Vaccines - adverse effects; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; Influenza, Human - immunology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Injections, Intradermal; Injections, Intramuscular; Licenses; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Vaccines; United States > US; Infection; Medicine; Prevention; Immunoprophylaxis; Immune response; Antibody; Viral disease; Influenza; Vaccination; Serum; Intradermal administration
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa043555

In a randomized trial, 238 healthy adults received either the full dose of a candidate influenza vaccine administered intramuscularly or 40 percent of the dose administered intradermally. The antibody responses among those who were 18 to 60 years of age were similar in the intradermal and intramuscular groups, but the responses were somewhat less vigorous in those over the age of 60 years. 238 healthy adults received either the full dose intramuscularly or 40 percent of the dose administered intradermally. Intradermal injection of a reduced dose of influenza vaccine may be an effective strategy when the vaccine supply is limited. Intradermal administration of antigens is expected to facilitate their exposure to antigen-presenting cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells, which are present at higher levels in skin than in muscle. 1 Therefore, as compared with intramuscular vaccination, intradermal vaccination may induce similar serum antibody responses with a smaller quantity of antigen. The intradermal route has been evaluated for influenza, rabies, and hepatitis B virus vaccines. 2 – 5 Brown et al. found that the intradermal administration of one fifth of the standard dose of A/Swine/NJ/76 influenza vaccine produced antibody titers similar to those elicited by the standard intramuscular dose in healthy adults and . . .