Heterologous Effects of Vaccines Clinical Trial
Official title:
Clifford Craig Vaccine Trial Centre: Heterologous Effect of Diptheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis Vaccination on Influenza Vaccine Challenge in the Elderly
Vaccines can have non-targeted or heterologous (also called non-specific) immunological effects on the immune system i.e. effects other than inducing an immune response against the disease targeted by the vaccine. This trial aims to evaluate the non-specific immunological effects of two vaccines - diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTP) vaccine and seasonal influenza vaccine - in a cohort of elderly humans (>65 years of age) and healthy adult control subjects (30-50 years).
This prospective randomised study aims to investigate the heterologous immunological effects
of DTP and seasonal influenza (Flu) vaccination in an elderly Tasmanian population and
healthy adults. The study will assess whether prior or concurrent administration of DTP with
seasonal Flu vaccination affects generalised inflammation / immune homeostasis and gene
expression, with a particular focus of inflammation reactive cells. It will also analyse for
effects of DTP on the induction of vaccine-specific immunity to seasonal influenza
vaccination (antibodies and cellular). Volunteers will be randomised to one of three vaccine
groups and serial blood samples taken for immunological assays for up to 30 weeks.
The study is exploratory and will investigate vaccine effects on multiple immune parameters.
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