Response to influenza vaccine by renal transplant patients

Twenty-five renal transplant patients and 17 controls were vaccinated with influenza vaccine. Antibody titres were estimated before and one, three, and 12 months after vaccination. On the basis of antibody titre measurements the transplant group showed a similar qualitative and quantitative response to that of the controls. No rejection episodes occurred among the transplant patients as a result of vaccination and nobody in the trial developed influenza. We conclude that it is safe to vaccinate transplant patients with an inactivated influenza vaccine and that protection (haemagglutination-inhibiting antibody) can be induced.