Inactivated influenza vaccine is safe for children and adults
with stable asthma QUESTION: In children and adults with stable
asthma, is the inactivated trivalent split virus influenza
vaccine safe? Randomised (allocation concealed), blinded
(clinicians and patients), placebo controlled crossover trial
with follow up to 14 days after each injection. 2032 patients
who were 3–64 years of age, had stable asthma, and had been
taking prescribed treatment for asthma within the preceding 12
months. Exclusion criteria included hypersensitivity to egg
products or thimerosal, inability to use the peak flow meter
properly, lack of a telephone, history of Guillain-Barré
syndrome, influenza vaccine in the previous 6 months, and a
temperature ≥38.0oC within 24 hours before enrolment. 1952
patients (96%) (mean age 30 y, 62% girls and women) received
vaccine and placebo injections and completed both 14 day
postinjection diaries. Patients were allocated in a crossover
design to receive an injection of inactivated (heat killed