Influenza vaccination strategies in haematological cancers

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What is this study about? We are looking at the immune response to influenza vaccine and how this can be improved in patients during or after treatment for certain types of blood cancers. When you are vaccinated, your body makes antibodies against influenza virus, which protect you from influenza infection. We know that the body’s immune response to influenza vaccine is not as strong after treatment for blood cancer. Currently, having one dose is recommended to try to protect you against influenza. We would like to study if two adjuvant dose influenza vaccines or two standard vaccines will improve the immune response. An adjuvant vaccine is a vaccine that contains an ingredient which can stimulate a stronger immune response and is generally used in people 65 years and above. Who is it for? You may be eligible to participate in this study if you are aged 18 years or older, have been receiving treatment for blood cancer (myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or non-Hodgkins lymphoma) or have received treatment for the listed blood cancers within the last 12 months, and have not yet received a flu vaccine for the current season of recruitment (i.e. 2022 influenza vaccine for 2022 recruitment, 2023 influenza vaccine for 2023 recruitment). Study details There will be two groups of participants and both groups will two doses of influenza vaccine, one month apart. One group (Group 1) will receive two doses of the adjuvant influenza vaccine 1 month apart and a second group (Group 2) standard dose influenza vaccine followed by the standard dose vaccine 1 month later. Blood samples will be collected at four time points: before the first vaccine, before the second vaccine, 21-28 days after the second vaccine, and 6 months after the first vaccine. Participants will also be asked to provide information on vaccination history, side effects and if an influenza-like illness (ILI) occurs. Participants will be contacted weekly to see if they have developed any influenza-like illness from first vaccination until 6 months later. If respiratory symptoms occur, the participant will be asked to give a nasal swab and get checked out by their regular treating or general practitioner. This study will help us understand if two doses of the adjuvant or standard dose vaccine should be used in patients.