Safety of influenza vaccination in adults with asthma

The results of a study to investigate whether influenza vaccination produces symptoms or exacerbations in adults with asthma are reported. Twenty-eight subjects with asthma were followed up over three-week periods, during which they received both influenza vaccinations and placebo injections. Subjective assessment of asthma symptoms and objective assessment of bronchoconstriction by means of peak expiratory flow rate measurements were carried out each day. No evidence for the asthmagenicity of influenza vaccination was found. The relevance of this finding in the assessment of patients for influenza vaccination is discussed.