Adjuvant-sparing multi-dose influenza vaccination regimen
View Patent ↗An influenza vaccine is administered by a multi-dose regimen, in which (i) a first dose is administered with an adjuvant and (ii) a later dose is administered either without an adjuvant or with a different adjuvant. Thus the invention provides the benefits of a two-dose regimen without also doubling the supply need for a given adjuvant.
1. A method for immunizing a patient against influenza virus infection, comprising the steps of:
(i) administering by intramuscular injection a dose of influenza virus vaccine comprising an inactivated influenza antigen in combination with a first adjuvant which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion; and
(ii) administering a further dose of influenza virus vaccine that is unadjuvanted, wherein the further dose is administered by the same route as the first dose.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaccines include hemagglutinin at less than 15 μg per strain per vaccine.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the influenza virus vaccines include an influenza virus antigen from a H1, H2, H3, H5, H7 or H9 influenza A virus subtype.
4. A method for immunizing a patient against influenza virus infection, wherein the patient has previously received a dose of influenza virus vaccine by intramuscular injection comprising an inactivated influenza antigen in combination with a first adjuvant which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion, and wherein the method comprises the step of administering by intramuscular injection to that patient a further dose of influenza virus vaccine that is unadjuvanted.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the influenza virus vaccines include an influenza virus antigen from a H1, H2, H3, H, H7 or H9 influenza A virus subtype.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering of step (ii) is within six months after administering the dose in step (i).
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the vaccines include hemagglutinin at less than 15 μg per strain per vaccine.