Tropical Influenza Control Strategies for the Elderly

TROPICS1 is a randomized, observer-blind, active comparator-controlled, single-center, Phase IV trial in 200 participants aged ≥65 years. The control group will receive a standard dose licensed trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine at day 1, and an active-comparator (Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine) at day 180. Participants in the experimental group will receive the same influenza vaccine at day 1 and day 180. Endpoints are immunological, and include measures of haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) titres, micro-neutralisation titres and cell-mediated immunity at 4 time points after the initial vaccination up to Day 360. The primary hypothesis is that participants receiving an influenza booster at day 180 will achieve superior influenza seroprotection (HI titre ≥1:40) at day 208, compared to controls.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the global annual burden from seasonal influenza as 1 billion infections, with 3-5 million severe cases and 300,000-500,000 deaths. The pattern and impact of these infections varies considerably with climate. In temperate countries, influenza epidemics characteristically occur during the cold winter months, while in sub-tropical countries, they coincide with the rainy seasons. Closer to the equator, influenza virus activity is more complex. In Singapore, biannual epidemics are usual, but with continuous transmission year-round. Bi-annual epidemics, tri-annual epidemics and year round virus activity have also been described in other tropical countries, from Indonesia and Malaysia to Peru and Mexico.

There is no published data reporting year-round influenza vaccine effectiveness in the elderly from countries with continuous influenza virus activity. Despite numerous studies worldwide exploring the HI antibody response to influenza vaccination, the majority of these do not continue follow up beyond seroconversion (21-28 days). However, of the few available, HI antibody titres declined following influenza vaccination in the elderly, such that within 6-12 months geometric mean titres approached pre-vaccination levels. With biannual epidemics and year-round transmission in tropical regions, year-round seroprotection may be important to reduce influenza infections in this environment. A six-monthly vaccination cycle would correspond with the decline in vaccine-induced seroprotection in the elderly, and the 6-monthly periodicity of outbreaks in Singapore and other tropical countries.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥65 years on the day of inclusion
2. No influenza vaccination in the previous 10 months
3. No tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis vaccine in the previous 1 year
4. No virologically confirmed influenza infection in the previous 10 months
5. Able to provide written informed consent
6. Able to attend all scheduled visits and comply with all trial procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participation in the 4 weeks preceding the first trial vaccination or participation during the present trial period in another trial investigating a vaccine, drug, medical device, or medical procedure
2. History of a life threatening reaction to the vaccine used in the trial, or to a vaccine containing any of the same substances
3. Known systemic hypersensitivity to any of the vaccine components, including:

   * Egg protein (eggs or egg products)
   * Chicken products
   * Formaldehyde
   * Neomycin or kanamycin
   * Octoxinol 9 (Triton X-100)
   * Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)
4. History of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks following previous influenza vaccination
5. Acute respiratory infection on the day of enrolment
6. Moderate or severe acute illness/infection (according to investigator judgement) on the day of vaccination, or febrile illness (temperature ≥ 37.5°C). A prospective subject should not be included in the study until the condition has resolved or the febrile event has subsided.
7. Self-reported thrombocytopenia, contraindicating Intramuscular vaccination
8. Known or suspected congenital or acquired immunodeficiency; or receipt of immunosuppressive therapy, such as anti-cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy, within the preceding six months; or long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy (prednisolone ≥ 7.5mg/day or equivalent for more than 2 consecutive weeks within the past 3 months)
9. Chronic illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, is at a stage where it might interfere with trial conduct or completion
10. Deprived of freedom by an administrative or court order, or in an emergency setting, or hospitalized involuntarily
11. Current alcohol abuse or drug addiction that might interfere with the ability to comply with trial procedures in the opinion of the Investigator