Needle-free Jet Injection of Reduced-dose, Intradermal, Influenza Vaccine in >= 6 to < 24-month-old Children

Randomized, observer-blinded, clinical pilot (phase I) trial of safety, followed by a clinical (phase II) trial of safety and non-inferiority of immune response to the standard route and dose for the merged subjects from both phases.

Phase I - Influenza-vaccine naïve children (n = 48) aged >= 6 to < 24 months will be randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to the following three study arms, each to receive two doses on days 0 and 28 of trivalent inactivated influenza (INF) vaccine (Vaxigrip®, Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France) into the left thigh (< 12 months) or left deltoid (≥ 12 months):

• Group "ID-JI-0.1" (n = 16) - reduced 0.1 mL INF doses administered intradermally (ID) by needle-free jet injector (JI) (Biojector® 2000 subcutaneous syringe no. 2 [green color code], with 2 cm investigational spacer, Bioject Medical Technologies, Inc., Portland, OR, USA)
• Group "IM-NS-0.1" (n = 16) - reduced 0.1 mL INF doses administered intramuscularly (IM) needle-syringe (NS) (via 22-25 gauge needle, minimum 25 mm/1-inch length)
• Group "IM-NS-0.25" (controls) (n = 16) - full 0.25 mL INF doses administered intramuscularly (IM) by needle-syringe (NS) (22-25 gauge needle, minimum 25 mm/1-inch length)

Phase II - Upon assessment of the safety profile from phase I by the unblinded Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), with its approval an additional 402 children will be recruited and randomized (134 per group) as in phase I above. Total subjects in phase I and II = 450 (150 in each of three study arms).

Adverse Event Diaries: Parents will be trained to complete a diary form to observe, measure, and record solicited local reactions for the injection site and systemic signs and symptoms for the child for days 0 through 7 after vaccination, plus unsolicited symptoms, illness, and medications for days 0 through 28.

Followup: Return clinic visits will be scheduled on days 2, 7, and 28 after INF dose 1, at which times the diary card data will be recorded by staff and the card collected on day 28. Upon receiving dose 2 of vaccine, patients will be scheduled again to return to the study center 2, 7, and 28 days afterwards. The same procedures as for dose 1 regarding diary cards, telephone followup, and home visits will apply after dose 2.

Upon returning to clinic on day 28 after dose 2 (day 56 after dose 1), the child will receive an unblinded, "insurance", full-volume, 0.25 mL dose (#3) of influenza vaccine by NS IM, unless he or she is in the full-dose IM control group IM-NS-0.25, in which case a mock injection will be administered instead of a 3rd full dose beyond the usual 2-dose series. All participants will return 6 months after this third injection for a fourth "bonus" dose of influenza vaccine to ensure protection for the following season.

Serum Collection: Blood specimens to measure serologic responses will be collected three times, just prior to vaccination on day 0 (INF dose 1), on day 28 (INF dose 2), and on day 56 (INF "insurance" dose 3).

Ethical oversight additional to CDC IRB G by (1) World Health Organization Research Ethics Review Committee, (2) Consejo Nacional de Bioética en Salud, and (3) Fundación Dominicana de Infectología Comité de Etica/Investigaciones.

Inclusion criteria

• Age from > = 6 to < 24 months (not having reached 2nd birthday).
• Born after a full-term (≥ 37 weeks), and birth weight of >= 2.5 kg (>= 5 pounds, 8 ounces)
• History of prior or first attendance as a patient, or as a sibling of a patient, seeking routine immunization or other clinical care at the Hospital Infantíl Robert Reid Cabral (HIRRC)
• The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) provide(s) written informed consent and agree(s) to bring the infant back to the clinic for all visits scheduled in the study
• Up-to-date for routine doses of vaccines officially recommended for the patient's age in the Dominican Republic to prevent tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae B
• In good health, as determined by medical history and physical examination collected in accordance with the Case Report Form (CRF), and by the clinical judgment of the investigators.

Exclusion criteria

Infants WHOSE PARENT(S)/LEGAL GUARDIAN(S):

• Are unable or unwilling to give written informed consent for their infant to participate in the study
• Cannot be contacted by telephone (family's own or a neighbor's) if necessary for adverse events if scheduled followup return appointments are missed
• Are unable to complete the diary for adverse events; are unable to measure and record temperatures or maximal diameter of local reactions or limb circumference; or have difficulty understanding written instructions; or other factors which indicate exclusion in the judgement of the study staff.

INFANTS who:

• Have fever (by parental report or by rectal temperature ≥ 38.5° C or axillary ≥ 38.0° C) currently or within the past 3 days, or who are currently suffering from an acute or chronic infectious disease (including known HIV)
• Have had an acute or chronic infection requiring systemic antimicrobial therapy (antibiotic or antiviral) or other prescribed treatment within the past 21 days. This includes any underlying illness that may limit their response to vaccination, such as those receiving intravenous immunoglobulin for agammaglobulinemia, or systemic steroid therapy.
• Are malnourished, defined by weight less than two standard deviations below the median weight for their age
• Are allergic to eggs, or have a history of any anaphylactic shock, asthma, urticaria, or other allergic reaction after previous vaccinations, or have allergy or hypersensitivity to any component of the study vaccine
• Have ever previously received any influenza vaccine
• Have received within the prior 28 days, or for whom there is the indication to receive in the next 56 days, any non-study vaccination or investigational agent outside of the study
• Have a known bleeding diathesis, or any condition with a prolonged bleeding time
• Currently have any serious confirmed or suspected disease, such as metabolic, cardiac, or autoimmune disease, or diabetes
• Have a history of epilepsy or a seizure disorder, or neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism
• Have a genetic anomaly or known cytogenic disorder (e.g., Down's syndrome)
• Have leukemia, lymphoma, or any other cancer/neoplasm
• Have known or suspected immune dysfunction, including HIV infection, or receives(ed) immunosuppressive therapy, including systemic corticosteroids
• Have ever received blood, blood products, or parenteral preparations of immunoglobulin
• Have any other serious disease (e.g., with signs of cardiac or renal failure), including progressive neurologic disease
• Have any condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere in the evaluation of the objectives of the study