Response to influenza virus vaccine in children receivingchemotherapy for malignancy

Repeated vaccination is required to optimize seroprotection against H1N1 in the immunocompromised host

“…16 The benefit of a seasonal influenza booster vaccine in patients with hematologic malignancies remains controversial despite a number of well-designed studies. 14,17,18 Even less is known about the safety, immunogenicity and optimal dosing regimen of 2009 H1N1 vaccine in this group of patients, although several investigators have reported efficacy of single dosing in healthy adults and children. [10][11][12][13] Our data demonstrate that vaccination against 2009 pandemic H1N1 is associated with an acceptable safety profile in patients with treated and untreated hematologic malignancies.…”

Childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

“…82 Herpes zoster and herpes simplex usually follow a self-limited, localized course, similar to that in the child with out ALL.8' We discontinue all chemo therapy during herpes infections, until resolution has clearly begun.…”

Influenza vaccination in children with cancer receiving chemotherapy

“…The results are often conflicting, and depend on the type of vaccine and viral strains involved, but all of them confirm that influenza vaccination is safe in such children as no serious adverse events have been observed and the proportion of mild adverse events is no different from that in healthy subjects. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] The data concerning the immunogenicity of influenza vaccines in children with cancer are are also contradictory, with some reports indicating a sufficient immune response and others not. However, it has been clearly shown that two vaccine doses lead to a better response than one, and that prior exposure to the circulating viral strain seems to increase the likelihood of response.…”

“…However, it has been clearly shown that two vaccine doses lead to a better response than one, and that prior exposure to the circulating viral strain seems to increase the likelihood of response. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] The most recent studies of currently available vaccines include two involving children with leukemia or solid tumors in the same study population. 20,21 Both found that influenza vaccination induces a better immune reaction in children who have completed …”