Impaired response rates, but satisfying protection rates to influenza vaccination in dialysis patients.

Dialysis patients show impaired responses to several vaccines. Limited recent data are available on influenza vaccination in these patients. In the 1998-1999 influenza season, 44 dialysis patients received a standard trivalent vaccination followed by a booster two months later. The serum antibody responses in these patients were compared with those found in healthy subjects. A fourfold rise in serum hemagglutination inhibition titre was achieved in 23-58% of all patients. Protective titres were reached in 53-93% of the patients. Since protective antibody titers can be induced, it is recommended to vaccinate dialysis patients annually against influenza.