Systems Investigation of Vaccine Responses in Aging and Frailty

There are two vaccines currently approved for use in adults age 65 and greater: a high-dose (HD) influenza vaccine (Fluzone High-Dose) that contains 4 times the hemagglutinin dose found in the standard vaccine, and a standard-dose (SD) vaccine containing the proprietary MF59 adjuvant (Fluad). Both vaccines give significantly highly antibody responses to influenza in older adults. This study will directly compare the HD and SD vaccines in nursing home residents, the population of older adults most vulnerable to influenza outbreaks and morbidity and mortality. It will comprehensively study the innate and adaptive response to vaccination, as well as elucidate transcriptomic and proteomic signatures of vaccine response.

This is a randomized, open label study comparing the two vaccines currently approved for use in adults age ≥ 65 years: the high-dose influenza vaccine and the MF59 adjuvanted standard-dose vaccine, both quadrivalent. The young group will be comprised of individuals 21-30 years of age, and the older cohorts will consist of nursing home residents ≥65 years. Participants will also be evaluated for evidence of influenza-like illness (ILI). ILI is defined to include clinical presentation in older adults: by the presence of either two respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, and nasal stuffiness) or one respiratory and one systemic symptom (headache, malaise, temperature >99° F, report of feverishness and muscle aches, or altered mental status). Diagnoses of influenza will be confirmed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab specimen done by the hospital Virology Laboratory and facilitated by the participating medical directors.

Although this is neither an efficacy or effectiveness study, participants will be randomized 1:1 to either the high-dose influenza vaccine or the MF59 vaccine within age strata. This will ensure a non-biased allocation of the two vaccines and attempts to balance participant characteristics within age strata.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 21-40 or 65 and older
• Ability to understand and give informed consent (surrogate consent may apply to nursing home subjects who are decisionally impaired, with verbal assent to be obtained from subject)
• Plan to be in the New Haven, CT area for the next 4-6 weeks

Exclusion criteria

• Current use of medication, such as antibiotics in past two weeks. To clarify, patients taking antibiotics for the reason of a current acute infection will not be eligible. Those potential participants receiving antibiotics for prophylaxis purposes will be eligible to participate. The intention is not to create a separate group to drawn conclusions, but not to exclude these participants who are not acutely ill.
• Evidence of acute infection, identified by self- report of fever or symptoms in past two weeks
• Treatment for cancer in past three months.
• Previous adverse reaction to influenza vaccine requiring medical attention, such as allergic response (rash, anaphylaxis) or Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• Pregnant/possibly pregnant.
• History of organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant, liver cirrhosis, kidney disease requiring dialysis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C or active hepatitis B
• Blood donation of 1 pint or more in past 2 months
• Treatment with clinical trial medication
• Presence of any other condition (e.g., geographical or social), actual or projected, that the investigator feels would restrict or limit the patient's participation for the duration of the study. This provision includes participants who have 50% or more missed appointments in the last three months.