Effect of anti-influenza vaccination on immune system in the elderly

Abstract

Prophylaxis with vaccines is of great importance in geriatrics as, apart from specific protection, it reduces the incidence of potentially fatal infectious complications and exacerbations of existing medical conditions. The level of postvaccination protection strongly depends on immune system and therefore markers of its condition may be used to predict the efficiency of vaccination. From the practical point of view, a link between some clinical features of the health status and condition of immune system are desirable as they allow to find the patients who may need additional care necessary to avoid possible complications, in case the vaccination did not protect them against the infection. This chapter reviews immune phenomena associated with anti-influenza vaccination. Humoral and cellular markers of the immunization efficiency are discussed in respect of health status of the elderly.