The SENIEUR protocol and the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination in healthy elderly persons by age, gender, and vaccine route.

Background: Reduced response to hepatitis B vaccines is associated with aging, confounding and comorbid conditions, as well as inadvertent subcutaneous (SC) inoculation. We hypothesized that the antibody and T cell-mediated immune responses (T-CMI) of elderly adults to a vaccine intended for intramuscular (IM) administration would be attenuated when deposited into SC fat, independent of confounding conditions.

Results: Fifty-two healthy, community dwelling elderly adults (65-82 years), seronegative for HBV, were enrolled in the SENIEUR protocol as a strictly healthy population.

Racial differences in service utilization: the Forsyth County Aging Study.

Racial differences in correlates and use of formal home and community services and in the predictive ability of the Andersen-Newman model were examined in older African American and white, community-dwelling adults. Results show greater service use by older African Americans and suggest racial differences in the correlates of service use. Racial differences in the predictive ability of the Andersen-Newman model were also evident.