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Virosome influenza vaccine in children
Christian Herzog1, Ian C Metcalfe, Urs B Schaad
1Berna Biotech Ltd., Rehhagstrasse 79, CH-3018 Berne, Switzerland. christian.herzog@bernabiotech.com
Insights
Influenza vaccination for children is underutilized despite high infection rates and complications. A new virosome-formulated subunit vaccine shows promise, being immunogenic and well-tolerated in pediatric trials for influenza prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Vaccinology
- Public health
Background:
- Influenza poses a significant disease burden on infants and young children annually.
- Complications from influenza are particularly severe in children with chronic respiratory illnesses.
- Current influenza vaccination rates in children remain limited, despite the risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the disease burden of influenza in young children.
- To evaluate the potential health and socioeconomic benefits of influenza vaccination in healthy children.
- To present clinical data on a novel virosome-formulated subunit influenza vaccine for pediatric use.
Main Methods:
- Review of influenza disease burden in pediatric populations.
- Analysis of health and socioeconomic costs associated with pediatric influenza.
- Presentation of clinical trial data for a virosome-formulated subunit influenza vaccine in children.
Main Results:
- Clinical trials demonstrated the virosome-formulated subunit influenza vaccine to be immunogenic in children.
- The vaccine was found to be well-tolerated in pediatric participants.
- Data suggests potential for reduced influenza incidence and associated costs.
Conclusions:
- Influenza vaccination in children could mitigate significant health and socioeconomic impacts.
- The virosome-formulated subunit influenza vaccine is a safe and effective option for pediatric immunization.
- Wider recommendation of this vaccine could improve influenza prophylaxis in healthy infants and children.
Abstract:
The use of vaccines for the prophylaxis of influenza in children is limited. This is despite high annual rates of influenza in children and despite the complications caused by influenza in children with chronic respiratory illnesses. The disease burden of influenza on infants and young children is reviewed and the potential of recommended influenza vaccination in healthy children, to reduce the direct and indirect health and socio-economic costs, is considered. Clinical experience with a virosome-formulated subunit influenza vaccine in children is presented. These clinical trials in children have shown a virosome-formulated subunit influenza vaccine to be immunogenic and well tolerated, indicating that it might be recommended for immunising healthy infants and children against influenza virus.