Responses to live attenuated influenza vaccine in children vaccinated previously with Pandemrix (ASO3 B adjuvanted pandemic A/H1N1pdm09)

Abstract Background We report a phase III/IV open-label study on the immunogenicity of a single dose of a Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) (Fluenz™) in children naive to, or in previous receipt of, AS03 B adjuvanted A/H1N1pdm09 influenza vaccine (Pandemrix™), to investigate whether early exposure to an adjuvanted subunit influenza vaccine impacts on subsequent response to quadrivalent LAIV (qLAIV). Method and findings Eligible children were enrolled to receive qLAIV and stratified according to previous Pandemrix™ vaccination. Functional antibody for the vaccine strains were analysed using Haemagglutination Inhibition (HAI); in addition antibodies to the A/H1N1pdm09 strain were measured by Neuraminidase Antibody Inhibition (NAI) and neutralisation assays. Fourfold titre increases by HAI were observed for 39% (95% confidence interval 33–46%) and 43% (37–51%) of subjects for the two influenza B vaccine strains and 8% (5–13%) for the A/H3N2 strain with no significant differences between the Pandemrix™ naive or previously vaccinated groups in antibody tites pre- or post-vaccination or seroconversion rates. In both groups, the response to the qLAIV A/H1N1pdm09 component was barely detectable, overall HAI seroconversion rate 1.8% (0.5–4.7%). Previous receipt of Pandemrix™ was associated with significantly higher levels of A/H1N1pdm09 neutralising antibody, but decreased NAI titres pre-vaccination, with the differences maintained post-vaccination. Conclusion Previous receipt of Pandemrix™ has had a significant impact on the influenza immune status of children several years later. Higher levels of neutralising antibody to A/H1N1pdm09 pre- and post-vaccination, but significantly lower levels of antibody to NA, were observed compared with Pandemrix™-naive children, while responses to influenza B and A/H3N2 and antibody levels prior to vaccination were similar in both groups. This suggests that early vaccination with a powerful adjuvant maintains functional immunity for several years, which prevents natural infection. Alternatively, the AS03 B adjuvant may have re-directed the immune response, with focus towards viral HA and away from viral NA.