Dose Sparing with Intradermal Injection of Influenza Vaccine

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 351; no. 22; pp. 2295 - 2301
• Main Authors: Kenney, Richard T, Frech, Sarah A, Muenz, Larry R, Villar, Christina P, Glenn, Gregory M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 25.11.2004
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Female; General aspects; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus - immunology; Humans; 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; Life sciences; Male; Medical sciences; Public health; Skin; Vaccines; United States > US; Infection; Medicine; Prevention; Immunoprophylaxis; Viral disease; Influenza; Vaccine; Intradermal administration; Injection; Dose
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa043540

In this trial, 50 healthy adults 18 to 40 years of age received an intradermal injection of one fifth the standard dose of an influenza vaccine. The resulting increases in hemagglutination-inhibition titers were at least similar to those elicited by the standard dose of vaccine administered intramuscularly to 50 control subjects. 50 healthy adults received an intradermal injection of one fifth the standard dose of an influenza vaccine. The use of reduced doses of vaccine may be one way of expanding a limited supply of vaccine. Vaccination against influenzavirus is an important public health measure to help protect against the annual morbidity and mortality associated with influenza. A major global supplier of influenza vaccine recently experienced manufacturing problems that led regulatory authorities to declare more than 48 million doses, almost half the U.S. supply of influenza vaccine, unfit for use. 1 This has created a public health crisis, with widespread shortages leaving many in the United States without vaccine coverage. Various emergency measures are being considered in an effort to expand the supply and consist either of reducing the intramuscular dose or importing doses from manufacturers that . . .