Fluzone^® Intradermal vaccine: a promising new chance to increase the acceptability of influenza vaccination in adults

Abstract

On May 9 2011, the US FDA approved Sanofi Pasteur’s Fluzone^® Intradermal influenza vaccine, the first influenza vaccine licensed in the USA that uses a new microinjection system for intradermal delivery of vaccines (Soluvia™, Becton Dickinson). Its antigen content is lower (9 µg hemagglutinin per strain) than the conventional intramuscular vaccine (15 µg) and it is indicated for active immunization of adults aged between 18 and 64 years. Data from the clinical trial assessing immunogenicity and safety of Fluzone Intradermal in adults were consistent with substantial experience accumulated with Intanza^® 9 µg, the intradermal vaccine licensed on February 26 2009 and launched during the 2010/2011 season in Europe. Fluzone Intradermal is safe and its immunogenicity comparable with that of conventional intramuscular vaccines. Obtaining optimal acceptability of intradermal vaccines may represent an additional asset to help increase the coverage of influenza vaccination in young adults.

Keywords::

• adult
• dose sparing
• immunogenicity
• influenza vaccine
• intradermal
• safety

Financial & competing interests disclosure

F Ansaldi has previously participated at speaker’s bureaus and advisory board meetings sponsored by Novartis Vaccines, GSK and Sanofi Pasteur and has received research funding as principal investigator or co-investigator from Pfizer, Novartis Vaccines and Sanofi Pasteur. P Durando has previously participated at speaker’s bureaus and advisory board meetings sponsored by Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur and has received research funding as principal investigator or co-investigator from Sanofi Pasteur and GSK. G Icardi has previously participated at speaker’s bureaus and advisory board meetings sponsored by GSK, Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur and has received research funding as principal investigator from Crucell Berna, GSK, Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.