ASSOCIATIONS OF PREVACCINATION ANTIBODY-LEVELS WITH ADVERSE REACTIONSTO PNEUMOCOCCAL AND INFLUENZA VACCINES ADMINISTERED SIMULTANEOUSLY INTHE ELDERLY

The association of prevaccination antibodies with the adverse reaction s seen after vaccination was studied in 85 elderly subjects (65-90 yea rs) vaccinated simultaneously with pneumococcal and influenza vaccines . The subjects with a temperature rise (9% of vaccinees) had significa ntly higher prevaccination antibody levels to pneumococcal capsular po lysaccharides (PPSs) than those without a temperature rise, no differe nce was seen in their haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) influenza viru s antibody levels. Pain in the left arm (the pneumococcal vaccine inje ction site) occurred in 45% of the subjects and was likewise associate d with elevated PPS antibody levels. Pain at the site of influenza vac cine injection (the right arm) seen in 33% of the vaccinees was signif icantly more common among those who had previously received influenza vaccine, but was not associated with elevated HI antibody levels. In c onclusion, prevaccination pneumococcal but not influenza antibodies we re associated with both systemic and local reactions following vaccina tion. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.