Inactivated influenza vaccine is safe for children and adults with stable asthma
QUESTION: In children and adults with stable asthma, is the inactivated trivalent split virus influenza vaccine safe?
Design
Randomised (allocation concealed), blinded (clinicians and patients), placebo controlled crossover trial with follow up to 14 days after each injection.
Setting
19 centres in the US.
Patients
2032 patients who were 3–64 years of age, had stable asthma, and had been taking prescribed treatment for asthma within the preceding 12 months. Exclusion criteria included hypersensitivity to egg products or thimerosal, inability to use the peak flow meter properly, lack of a telephone, history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, influenza vaccine in the previous 6 months, and a temperature ≥38.0oC within 24 hours before enrolment. 1952 patients (96%) (mean age 30 y, 62% girls and women) received vaccine and placebo injections and completed both 14 day postinjection diaries.
Intervention
Patients were allocated in a crossover design …
