Alum-adjuvanted H5N1 whole virion inactivated vaccine (WIV) enhanced inflammatory cytokine productions

► Alum-H5 WIV induced febrile reactions with strong antibody responses in children. ► Cytokine profile was investigated in PBMCs from non-vaccinated volunteers. ► H5 WIV induced inflammatory cytokines. ► Alum-adjuvanted H5 WIV enhanced the productions of IFN-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. ► It would be associated with the higher incidence of febrile reactions in children.