The simultaneous administration of the inactive quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4) and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) was as safe for patients with chronic diseases compared with healthy patients. Investigators of a study published in Frontiers Immunology said the results support the simultaneous administration of IIV4 and PPSV23 for patients with chronic diseases.1
Simultaneous vaccination with IIV4 and PPSV23 proves safe and effective for patients with chronic diseases, matching results of healthy individuals.
| Image Credit: Jacob Lund – stock.adobe.com
“The results demonstrated that, at 28 days after vaccination with inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4) and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), the post-vaccination influenza antibody geometric mean titers (GMTs) against the 4 influenza virus strains and pneumococcal antibody geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) against the 23 pneumococcal serotypes in the chronic disease group were all non-inferior to those in the healthy group,” the study authors said.1
Chronic diseases are defined as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention and/or limit daily activities, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. According to the CDC, 6 in 10 Americans have at least 1 chronic disease, and 4 in 10 have 2 or more chronic diseases.2 Certain chronic health conditions can put patients at risk for influenza and pneumococcal disease.
Patients with chronic diseases such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, and diabetes could be at higher risk of developing serious complications due to influenza, even when the disease is controlled. In recent years, 9 of 10 people hospitalized with influenza had at least 1 underlying condition, according to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases (NFID). For pneumococcal disease, chronic diseases can lead to serious pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. Pneumococcal meningitis causes death for about 1 in 6 older patients and bacteremia causes death for about 1 in 8 adults, according to NFID.3,4
In the current study (NCT05471531), investigators aimed to determine if a simultaneous vaccination strategy could be used in chronic disease populations and help develop vaccine strategies. Investigators included 480 patients who were 60 years or older and were able to comprehend and sign informed consent. There were 160 patients who received IIV4 and PPSV23 simultaneously, 160 who received a dose of IIV4 on day 0 and PPSV23 on day 28, and 160 patients who received PPSV23 on day 0 and IIV4 on day 28. Approximately 27.29% of patients had hypertension, 7.92% had obesity, and 5% had diabetes.1
Investigators found that the geometric titer ratios for influenza antibodies ranged from 1.04 to 1.37 in the whole population and 1.02 to 1.39 in the simultaneous population. For pneumococcal antibodies, the ranges were 0.87 to 1.12 and 0.97 to 1.33, respectively. Additionally, all ratios met the criteria for noninferiority, which supported the simultaneous administration.1
As for safety, at 28 days post-vaccination with both vaccines, the rate and severity of adverse events (AEs) were comparable between the healthy and chronic disease groups. In the healthy group the overall rate was 1.47% and the rate was 0.96% for the chronic disease group. The main AE of both groups included injection site reaction. In the healthy group, 1 patient reported a grade 2 AE and a grade 1 cough, but there were no grade 2 AEs or systemic AEs in the chronic disease group.1
“The immunogenicity and safety profiles of IIV4 and PPSV23 vaccination, especially simultaneous vaccination, in individuals with chronic diseases were comparable to those in healthy individuals,” the study authors concluded. “This study supports the vaccination strategy, particularly simultaneous vaccination, of 2 vaccines in chronic disease populations.”
READ MORE: Pneumococcal Resource Center
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