Trivalent, inactivated influenza virus vaccine in children with sickle cell disease
W. P. Glezen, L. S. Glezen and R. Alcorn
School-aged children with sickle cell disease who were administered a
single dose of trivalent, inactivated influenza virus vaccine had serum
antibody titers comparable to titers achieved in the two-dose trials
carried out in 1978. The proportion exhibiting titers of 1:32 or greater
ranged from 84% to 68% for the three antigens. Preschool children with
sickle cell disease received two doses of the same vaccine four weeks apart
and their postimmunization titers to each of the antigens were slightly
lower. The vaccine, which contained 15 micrograms of hemagglutinin to each
of three influenza viruses, A (H1N1), A (H3N2), and B, in a volume of 0.5
mL, was adequately immunogenic for schoolchildren who probably had been
primed by previous natural infection. Younger children who received the
same quantity in two divided doses four weeks apart had slightly lower but
acceptable titers and tolerated the injections with few side reactions.
