CompletedPhase 1

Heterosubtypic Immune Responses to Influenza in Older People

United Kingdom292 participantsStarted 2009-01

Plain-language summary

Vaccination is the principal means of combating epidemic and pandemic influenza. As vaccines induce relatively strain-specific and short-lived antibody responses, annual immunisation with regularly updated vaccine is recommended for seasonal influenza, but would not be expected to protect against a pandemic event. In clinical trials among young adults, at least two doses of avian influenza H5 or H9 subunit vaccine are needed to induce moderate antibody responses. However, studies including older subjects have unexpectedly found that some people aged over 65 yrs have pre-vaccination neutralising antibody to influenza H5 and H9 respectively. These subjects mount a robust antibody response to single dose H5 or H9 pandemic vaccine, suggesting that they are effectively primed to at least some strains of avian influenza. This exploratory proposal focuses on those elderly subjects whose immune systems already exhibit antibodies to H5 with a goal of investigating the humoral and cellular basis of the immune response to seasonal and pandemic vaccination. We will examine neutralising antibody responses to a range of human and non-human influenza viruses before and after seasonal and pandemic vaccination and evaluate cellular B and T cell immune responses before and after pandemic H5 vaccination

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Subjects aged over 18 years of age, mentally competent, who have signed an informed consent form after having received a detailed explanation of the study protocol;
. Subjects willing to be enrolled in the vaccine study if appropriate from prescreening blood test results
. In good health as determined by:
. medical history,
. physical examination,
. clinical judgment of the Investigator;
. Able to understand and comply with all study procedures and to complete study diaries, can be contacted, and will be available for study visits

Exclusion criteria

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Neutralising antibody to influenza subtypes

Timeframe: 18 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00798343

SponsorUniversity Hospitals, Leicester

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2010-03

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