Trivalent inactivated subunit influenza vaccine Influvac®: 25-Year experience of safety and immunogenicity

Between 1982 and 2006, 76 clinical studies (including the annual update studies required for licensing in Europe) were performed with the trivalent inactivated subunit influenza vaccine Influvac®. In all, 6415 subjects were vaccinated, of whom 5034 were eligible for safety evaluation and 4534 for efficacy evaluation. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 13.7% of subjects. Transient mild-to-moderate local and systemic reactions occurred in up to half of subjects. Post-marketing surveillance confirmed the well-established safety profile reported for inactivated influenza vaccines. All three serological criteria for immunogenicity of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) were met for all three virus strain (sub)types in healthy adults, elderly (over 60 years), nursing home residents, and those at high risk of influenza-related complications. In an additional trial in children aged 3–12 years, all three CHMP criteria for adults were met for all three virus strains. Influvac® is thus immunogenic and safe, and is a suitable vaccine to combat the annually recurring medical and economic burden of influenza epidemics.