CEID members Zane Billings, Justin Bahl, and Andreas Handel are part of a team of researchers investigating the impact of demographic and host factors on influenza vaccine efficacy in different age groups.
All data used in the study derived from participants who were recruited from the University of Georgia and volunteered for at least two influenza seasons1. The researchers followed a group of 386 participants over a period of five influenza seasons from 2016 to 2021. Researchers collected blood samples from each study participant at baseline and at multiple points post-vaccination in order to measure their Hemagglutination Antibody Inhibition (HAI). This measurement provided data on the vaccine-induced immunity to influenza of each participant by measuring the concentration of antibodies each participant had in their blood against the circulating strain(s) of influenza virus, allowing researchers to determine if participants had developed an effective immune response post-vaccination.
Researchers analyzed demographic factors of the participants and arranged them into different age groups. The researchers conducted separate analyses for each homologous strain in the influenza vaccine. They explored the interaction between various factors like age, BMI, sex at birth, and number of previous vaccinations by utilizing a linear mixed-effect model to examine how they influence vaccine efficacy over time. Their results indicated that all of the above factors influenced vaccine efficacy.
Identifying and understanding the factors that influence vaccine-induced immune response is important as it can help to identify individuals at higher risk of vaccine failure or suboptimal protection and develop strategies to improve their vaccine efficacy. With further research, this can lead to better vaccine coverage and protection against seasonal influenza outbreaks, particularly in high-risk populations. This study provides useful insights into these dynamics and contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve influenza vaccination strategies and public health interventions.
For more information, find the article here.
Raymond Gabriel Schneider
[1] The Institutional Review Board of the University of Georgia reviewed and approved all study procedures, informed consent, and data collection documents.