[Five years experience with an influenza subunit vaccine (author's transl)]

After a short review on development, production, and assay of influenza vaccines the authors discuss the special properties of influenza virus subunit vaccine which contains the purified protective antigens of the influenza virus. The results of pre-clinical and clinical studies allow the conclusion that subunit vaccine is better tolerated than and at least as potent as conventional influenza vaccines. It therefore seems to be especially suited for annual re-vaccinations of persons at high risk.