Adults aged 50-64 years have a high incidence of symptomatic influenza associated with substantial disease and economic burden each year. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to compare the immunogenicity and safety of an adjuvanted quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV4; n = 1027) with a nonadjuvanted standard dose IIV4 (n = 1017) in this population. Immunogenicity was evaluated on Days 22, 181, and 271. On Day 22, upper limits (UL) of 95% confidence intervals (CI) for geometric mean titer (GMT) ratios (IIV4/aIIV4) were <1.5 and 95% CI ULs for the difference in seroconversion rate (SCR IIV4 - aIIV4) were <10% for all four vaccine strains, meeting primary endpoint noninferiority criteria. Protocol-defined superiority criteria (95% CI ULs < 1.0) were also met for A(H1N1) and A(H3N2). Immune responses following aIIV4 vaccination were more pronounced in persons with medical comorbidities and those not recently vaccinated against influenza. Safety data were consistent with previous studies of MF59 adjuvanted seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines. These findings support the immunological benefit of aIIV4 for persons aged 50-64 years, especially those with comorbidities.
Keywords: adjuvanted influenza vaccine; age 50–64 years; chronic medical condition; influenza; middle-aged adults.