Fluad Quad

Fluad Quad provides active immunisation against four influenza virus strains (two A subtypes and two B types) contained in the vaccine. Fluad Quad has been shown to evoke antibody responses to the viral surface glycoproteins, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase. These antibodies provide protection against clinical illness in a high proportion of vaccine recipients. The antibody response to Fluad Quad is similar to Fluad which is increased when compared to the response to vaccines without adjuvant, and is most pronounced for A/H3N2 influenza antigens. This increased response is even more pronounced in subjects 65 years of age and older. The inclusion of the second B strain in Fluad Quad also provides additional benefit compared to Fluad. The adjuvant MF59 broadens the overall immune response allowing the vaccine to offer greater protection against heterologous strains of the virus. This may be important when there is a mismatch between the virus strains included in the vaccine and the strains circulating in the community. The antibody response is increased when compared to the response to non adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine. This increased response is seen particularly in elderly subjects with low pre-immunisation titres and/or with underlying diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases) who are at increased risk of complications of influenza infection.