Influenza vaccines in children. Comparison of new cetrimonium bromide and standard ether-treated vaccines.

We compared a new cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) subunit vaccine with a conventional polysorbate (Tween)-ether split-product vaccine in 63 children and young adults. The vaccines each contained influenza A/Bangkok/79, A/Brazil/78, B/Singapore/79; two doses were given one month apart. Among persons initially seronegative for A/Bangkok/79, the geometric mean antibody titer rose to more than 100 following one dose of vaccine, while those initially seropositive had titers of greater than 200 after one dose of either vaccine.

Potential for single high-dose influenza immunization in unprimed children.

High concentrations of split-product vaccine (SPV) are more immunogenic than lower concentrations. These studies were verified with another influenza strain, B/Singapore/22/79. Two ether-treated SPVs were compared in 80 children and young adults.

Influenza immunization in immunosuppressed children.

Optimal influenza immunization of individuals with malignancy and other immunodeficient states requires and understanding of responses to currently recommended regimens. Children with acute lymphocytic leukemia and other malignancies between three and 17 years of age were immunized with bivalent influenza vaccine containing A/New Jersey/76 and A/Victoria/75. Folowing a two-dose immunization schedule, only 37% (25468) on cancer chemotherapy seroconverted to a hemagglutination inhibition titer greater than or equal to 20 for A/NJ/76; the seroconversion rate in those not on chemotherapy was 92% (68/74, P less than 0.