Bivalent influenza vaccine in children with cancer

Although it had been recommended that children with malignant diseases be immunized against influenza, few data were available to indicate the immune response or reactions that might be expected from this group. Forty-six children with malignant diseases received various dosages of killed split or whole bivalent (A/New Jersey/76-A/Victoria/75) influenza vaccine or a placebo by the intramuscular route. Two doses were administered four weeks apart. The children were receiving various regiments of cancer chemotherapy. The response to A/New Jersey/76 antigen in the children with malignant diseases was similar to that found in normal children who were immunized with bivalent or monovalent (A/New Jersey/76) vaccine in the National Influenza Immunization Trials. Fourteen of 26 children had antibodies to A/Victoria/75 before immunization; nine of the 12 children without these antibodies developed them after the first dose of vaccine. Adverse reactions after vaccination were minimal.