ANTIBODY-RESPONSE AFTER INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION WITH VARIOUS VACCINE DOSES - A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, MULTICENTER, DOSE-RESPONSE STUDY IN ELDERLY NURSING-HOME RESIDENTS AND YOUNG VOLUNTEERS

The dose effect (0, 10, 20 and 60 mug) of influenza subunit vaccine on the antibody response was investigated in nursing-home residents and young controls. The vaccine antigens were: A/Taiwan/1/186(H1N1), A/Sichuan/2/87(H3N2) and B/Beijing/1/87. For the influenza B antigen, the post-GMT and the 'percentage protective titre' increased significantly both in the young controls and nursing-home residents. No dose effect was observed for the A/Taiwan, and a minor dose effect for A/Sichuan. All vaccine doses were well tolerated by both groups. We conclude from our data that higher vaccine doses may result in a better antibody response against some antigens but not against others. Therefore, in general, increasing the vaccine dose is no adequate method to improve the antibody response.