Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
New Herpes Zoster Vaccine Boosts Immunity
Open Forum Infect Dis; 2017 Oct 4; Grupping, et al
A non-live herpes zoster vaccine that contains varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E subunit and ASO1B adjuvant—called HZ/su—has been found to generate a strong immune response in adults aged ≥65 years who have already received the ZVL live-attenuated zoster vaccine, according to a recent report. Among the details:
- Among 430 adults who were vaccinated with the new HZ/su, M3 humoral immune response was as effective in those who had previously been vaccinated with the live-attenuated zoster vaccine (ZVL) as it was in adults who had not received the ZVL vaccine.
- Researchers did not detect any clinically important differences in adverse effects or serious adverse effects between the 2 groups.
Citation:
Grupping K, Campora L, Douha M, et al. Immunogenicity and safety of an adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine in older adults previously vaccinated with a live-attenuated herpes zoster vaccine: a phase III, group-matched, clinical trial. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2017;4 (Suppl 1):S414. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofx163.1038.
These are early data on an ongoing study following 2 groups of adults over 65, one group having previously received the live HZ vaccine, and one group not previously vaccinated. The important finding is that there was no difference between the 2 groups in the immune response to the vaccine. The reason this is important is that we know that it is possible that previous vaccination could change and blunt or diminish the response to a different vaccine. Since the 2 groups were essentially the same, the good news is that this vaccine will work in all kinds of people with varying levels of prior immunity.
-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