Immunogenic Properties and Safety of a Quadrivalent Inactivated Subunit Adjuvanted Influenza Vaccine in Adults Aged 18 to 85 Years at the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the 2022–2023 Season
<b>Background</b>: SARS-CoV-2 infection has raised concerns about altered immune responses, creating a need to evaluate influenza vaccine performance in the post-COVID period. This study aimed to compare the immunogenicity and safety of a quadrivalent inactivated subunit adjuvanted influenza vaccine in adults aged 18-85 years during the 2022-2023 season. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 144 adults were enrolled: group 1, aged 18-59 years (<i>n</i> = 124), and group 2, aged 60-85 years (<i>n</i> = 20). All received a quadrivalent inactivated subunit adjuvanted vaccine containing 5 μg of each influenza antigen and 500 μg of Azoximer bromide. IgG antibodies to vaccine strains were measured at baseline and days 30-32 using the hemagglutination inhibition assay. Participants were actively monitored for adverse events by telephone. <b>Results</b>: The Geometric Mean Fold Increase (GMFI) met the efficacy criteria in both age groups (≥2.5 for 18-59 years and ≥2.0 for 60-85 years), with no significant differences. The seroprotection rate reached accepted thresholds for most strains but was below criteria for B/Victoria in the 18-59 group (48%) and for B/Phuket in the 60-85 group (35%). Significant between-group differences were observed for B/Victoria (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and B/Phuket (<i>p</i> = 0.007). Seroconversion met criteria for all strains in younger adults, but for older adults, it was insufficient for B/Phuket (20%, below the ≥30% threshold; <i>p</i> = 0.05 vs. 18-59 years). Local reactions occurred in 24.2% and systemic in 11.3% of younger adults; in older adults, in 20% and 15%, respectively. All resolved spontaneously within 1-3 days. <b>Conclusions</b>: The quadrivalent adjuvanted influenza vaccine demonstrated acceptable immunogenicity and safety in adults aged 18-85 years despite potential post-COVID immune alterations.
Authors
- В. Б. Полищук (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0533-0909)
- А. Е. Власенко (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6454-4216)
- M. P. Kostinov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5818-9569)
- M.A. Kvasova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2244-0256)
- А. М. Костинова (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0584-2376)
- А. А. Камелева (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5895-2982)
- А. M. Kostinov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9665-1382)
- Irina V. Mekhantseva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6601-8172)
- E. V. Prutskova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4242-3904)
- Yvette Albahansa Mana
- Anna A. Khamidulina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5957-2318)
- Anastasia Kachnova
- Sofia Iushkova
- Irina Solovеva
- Lilia Gladkova
- Yulia Dagil
- Natalia Andreeva
Institutions
- Privolzhsky Research Medical University (RU)
- Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RU)
- Sechenov University (RU)
- Chuvash State University (RU)
- Ulyanovsk State University (RU)
- Moscow City Hospital No 29 (RU)
- Karaganda Medical University (KZ)
- Samara State Medical University (RU)
- Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera. Mechnikov of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RU)
- City Clinical Hospital (RU)
- Federal Medical-Biological Agency (RU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Vaccines
- Published
- 2026-02-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14020181
- Primary Topic
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University