Comparison of the Immunogenicity, Safety and Reactogenicity of FluBlok, To a Licensed Vaccine In Elderly Adults

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ambulatory adults aged 65 and older
• Medically stable, as determined by oral temperature <100.0°F, medical history, and targeted physical examination based on medical history
• Able to understand and comply with planned study procedures
• Provides written informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedure.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known allergy to eggs or other vaccine components.
• Immunosuppression as a result of an underlying illness or treatment, or used anticancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy within the preceding 36 months.
• Any malignancy (excluding nonmelanotic skin cancer or lymphoproliferative disorder), other than localized prostrate cancer, diagnosed or treated actively during the past 5 years. Subjects with any history of lymphoproliferative disorder will be excluded, while subjects with a history of localized nonmelanotic skin cancer may be eligible.
• Long-term use of oral steroids, parenteral steroids, or high-dose inhaled steroids within the preceding 6 months (Nasal and topical steroids are allowed).
• Major psychiatric diagnosis including schizophrenia, bipolar disease or other major depression, or any diagnosis of dementia or associated concomitant medications (e.g., Aricept) used for treating dementia
• History of receiving immunoglobulin or other blood product within the 3 months prior to enrollment in this study.
• Receipt of any other licensed vaccines within 2 weeks (for inactivated vaccines) or 4 weeks (for live vaccines) prior to enrollment in this study.
• History of severe reactions following immunization with influenza virus vaccines.
• Moderate to severe acute illness or febrile illness (oral temperature greater than 100*F) within 1 week prior to vaccination.
• Receipt of an experimental agent (vaccine, drug, biologic, device, blood product or medication) within 1 month prior to enrollment in this study, or expects to receive an experimental agent during study period.
• Known active human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infection.
• History of alcohol or drug abuse in the last 5 years.
• History of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
• Any acute or chronic medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render vaccination unsafe, interfere with the evaluation of responses, or render the subject unable to meet the requirements of the protocol. These conditions include, but are not limited to: history of significant renal impairment (dialysis and treatment for kidney disease, including diabetic and hypertensive kidney disease); subjects with diabetes mellitus, well-controlled with oral agents may enroll as long there has been no dosage increase within the past 6 months; insulin-dependent diabetes is excluded; cardiac insufficiency, if heart failure is present (New York Heart Association Functional Class III or IV); an arteriosclerotic event during the 6 months prior to enrollment (e.g., history of myocardial infarction, stroke, recanalization of femoral arteries, or transient ischemic attack).