Abstract
The study was performed to evaluate the effects of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines administered alone or in combination. 124 elderly subjects living in community were vaccinated either with influenza split vaccine or with pneumococcal 23-valent or with both vaccines at the same time in different sites. Sera were tested for hemoagglutination inhibiting antibodies for influenza and for antibodies against 23-valent vaccine for streptococcus pneumoniae. No side effects were observed in the vaccinated population. Serological results indicated that influenza vaccine increased significantly antibody levels. No difference was observed between the group which received influenza vaccine alone and that which received influenza and pneumococcal vaccines associated, considering either G.M.T or the percentages of protected individuals or the percentages of subjects who seroconverted. When pneumococcal vaccine was administered at the same time with influenza vaccine, there was a not statistically significant reduction in both mean antibody concentration and mean fold increase. It is concluded that the simultaneous administration of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines to elderly individuals, including subjects at risk, is safe, effective and economically advantageous.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Broome CV, Breiman RF. Pneumococcal vaccine: Past, present, and future. New Engl J Med 1991; 325: 1506–1507.
Fedson D, Henrichsen J, Makela PH, Austrian R. Immunization of elderly people with polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine. Infection 1989; 17: 437–441.
Shann F. Pneumococcus and influenza. Lancet 1990; 335: 898–901.
ACIP: Prevention and control of influenza. MMWR 1995; 44: RR3.
Shapiro ED, Berg AT, Austrian R, Schroeder D, Parcells V, Margolis A, Adair KR, Clements JD. The protective efficacy of polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. New Engl J Med 1991; 325: 1453–1460.
Dowdle WA, Kendal AP, Noble GR. Influenza viruses. In: Lennette EM, Schmidt NJ (eds), Diagnostic procedures for viral, rickettsial and chlamidial infections. Washington: Am Pub Hlth Ass, 1979: 585–609.
Profeta ML, Ballerini P. La prova di inibizione della emoagglutinazione per i virus influenzali con antigeni trattati con tween-etere. Annali Sclavo 1981; 23: 530–542.
Plebani A, Ugazio AG, Meini A, Ruggeri L, Negrini A, Albertini A, Leibovitz M, Duse M, Bottaro A, Brusco R, Cariota U, Boccazzi C, Carbonara AO. Extensive deletion of immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region genes in the absence of recurrent infections: When is the IgG subclass deficiency clinically relevant? Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1993; 68: 46–50.
Smit P, Oberholzer D, Hayden-Smith S, Koornhoff HJ, Hilleman MR. Protective efficacy of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. JAMA 1977; 238: 2613–2616.
Carlson AJ, Davidson WL, Mc Lean AA, Vella PP, Weibel RE, Woodhour AF, Hilleman MR. Pneumococcal vaccine: dose, revaccination, and coadministration with influenza vaccine. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1979; 161: 558–563.
SAS/STAT User's guide, Volume 2, Version 6 Fourth Edition, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina.
NACI. Statement on influenza vaccination for the 1990–1991 season. Can Dis Weekly Rep 1990; 16: 117.
De Stefano F, Goodman RA, Noble GR, Mc Clary GD, Smith SJ, Broome CV. Simultaneous administration of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. JAMA 1982; 247: 2551–2554.
Fattal-German M, Bizzini B. Monitoring of the response of elderly individuals to pneumococcal vaccination with the aid of a novel ELISA. Eur J Epidemiol 1990; 6: 371–375.
Fattal-German M, Taillandier J, Mathieu D, Bizzini B. Pneumococcal vaccination of elderly individuals. Vaccine 1991; 9: 542–544.
Mufson MA, Hughey DF, Turner CE, Schiffman G. Revaccination with pneumococcal vaccine of elderly persons 6 years after primary vaccination. Vaccine 1991; 9: 403–407.
Profeta ML, Ruggeri M. Relative antigenicity in mice of H1N1, H3N2 and B strains present in inactivated influenza virus vaccines. Europ J Epidemiol 1987; 3: 61–66.
Iorio AM, Rivosecchi P, Zei P, Neri M, Merlett L. Immune response to trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in young and elderly subjects. Vaccine 1989; 7: 341–346.
Gross PA, Quinnan GV, Weksler ME, Setia U, Douglas RG. Relation of chronic disease and immune response to influenza vaccine in the elderly. Vaccine 1989; 7: 303–306.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grilli, G., Fuiano, L., Biasio, L. et al. Simultaneous influenza and pneumocococcal vaccination in elderly individuals. Eur J Epidemiol 13, 287–291 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007398606807
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007398606807