Prevalence of Antibody to Current Influenza Viruses and Effect of Vaccination on Antibody Response

Pollard

1979

SUMMARYAn injection of influenza vaccine was offered to approximately 60000 Postal and Telecommunications staff at the beginning of five successive winters. The sickness absence of this group, which included those who accepted the offer of vaccine as well as those who did not, was compared throughout the winter with that of a similar number of employees who were not offered vaccine. The two groups, 'vaccinated' and control, comprised the staff of nearly 400 Post Office units scattered throughout Great Britain, the units of the two groups being matched as far as practicable for numbers employed, type of work, region and type of location.The proportion who accepted vaccine fell from 42 % in the first year (when only 26000 Telecommunications employees were offered vaccine) to 35 % in the second year, and 25 % by the fifth year.With the exception of Telecommunications employees in 1972-73, the sickness absence rate of the group offered vaccine was less than that of the group not offered vaccine, and the difference was evident during the winter observation periods both when influenza was prevalent and when it was not. In the last four years of the studythe average difference in sickness absence betweenthe 'vaccinated' and control groups was 1 26 days per 100 employees per week during and 1*12 days outside the influenza periods. Moreover, the difference during the influenza periods was greater than could be expected from the acceptance rate of vaccine and the estimated attack rate of influenza. The apparent reduction in sickness absence of the group offered vaccine in comparison with the group not offered vaccine represented an appreciable saving in cost.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccination against influenza: a five-year study in the Post Office

Pollard

1979

“…The possession of antibody at what are usually regarded as protective levels (an HI titre of 40 (Pereira et al 1972;Miller et al 1973)) does not appear to have been important in preventing the spread of influenza virus to other members of the families of cases of proven or probable influenza. There was no evidence that asymptomatic influenza was associated with the spread of virus in families.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Five-Year Study of Influenza in Families Joint Public Health Laboratory Service/Royal College of General Practitioners Working Group

Mann

Pereira

et al. 1981

Self Cite

SUMMARYA five year collaborative study of influenza in volunteer families from 1973-78 covered a period in which there were outbreaks every year but no major epidemics of influenza. Volunteers over the age of 15 years were bled before and after each of the five winters, and virus isolation was attempted from as many as possible when they reported episodes of illness. Children under 15 in the volunteer families were also swabbed when they were ill. Although most families experienced one or more attacks by influenza viruses, there was little transmission within families.

“…Much work has been done on the serological responses to vaccines of different types (Pereira et al 1972;Mostow et al 1973;Smith et al 1975). The response to challenge with live virus has been studied in animals (Kaye, Dowdle & McQueen, 1969;McLaren, Potter & Jennings, 1974) and more recently in human volunteers (Potter et al 1975;Andr6 et al 1976).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The response to inactivated influenza A (H3N2) vaccines: the development and effect of antibodies to the surface antigens

Davies

1977

SUMMARYA controlled trial of influenza vaccines in a boys' public school from November 1970 to October 1975 provided an opportunity to study the response to vaccine and the effect on subsequent natural challenge in boys with differing natural experience of influenza A strains. The response to influenza A (H3N2) vaccines was assessed by estimating homotypic and heterotypic antibodies to the surface antigens. Previous natural experience of influenza A was found to influence vaccine response and the effect of natural challenge. The antibody response to revaccination with the same strain showed a progressively poorer response to second and third doses. The protective effect of naturally acquired and vaccine-induced antibodies was assessed during two outbreaks of influenza A which occurred in the trial period.