Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Adjuvanted HZ Vaccine Compared to Live Vaccine
J Infect Dis; 2018 Dec 12; Oxman, et al
An adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine (HZ/su) is non-inferior in older adults who have already received live attenuated zoster vaccine (ZVL), when compared to adults who had not received ZVL, according to a recent report. Researchers found:
- Among patients who received HZ/su, the humoral immune response a month after the second of 2 doses was as effective as ZVL.
- The investigation included 215 adults aged ≥65 years who had been vaccinated with the live attenuated vaccine.
- Anti-gE antibody concentrations were similar in both groups at the start of the study but greatly increased after both HZ/su doses.
- When the study started, CD42+ cell frequency was similar in both study groups and increased after the Hz/su.
Citation:
Oxman MN, Harbecke R, Koelle DM. Clinical usage of the adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine (HZ/su): Revaccination of recipients of live attenuated zoster vaccine and co-administration with a seasonal influenza vaccine. J Infect Dis; 2018;216(11):1329-1333. doi:10.1093/infdis/jix484.
The new adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine (HZ/su) is superior to the previous live attenuated zoster vaccine (ZVL). It is more immunogenic in all age groups with boosting of antibody levels on repeat vaccination. However, it is very important that studies also show efficacy in a variety of different situations and different populations, since theoretically a second concomitant vaccine might alter the immune response. This study shows that the HZ/su vaccine worked just as well when given simultaneously with the influenza vaccine, which is good news as time and money are saved if you can give 2 vaccines in 1 visit rather than 2.
—Sarah Rawstron, MB, BS, FAAP, FIDSA
Pediatric Residency Program Director, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, NY
Clinical Associate Professor, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, NY