The common flu vaccination given to protect people from the seasonal influenza is more effective if administered during the morning, suggests a new study led by researchers from the University of Birmingham.
The research trial performed by the university ran from 2011 to 2013. It was conducted by giving three different flu strains to 276 pensioners over the age of 65, at 24 different General Practices in West Midlands.
Some patients were vaccinated in the morning between 9 and 11 a.m., while others were in the afternoon between 3 and 5 p.m. They were then asked to come back a month later, wherein the researchers took blood samples of the participants to check their antibody concentration.
For two out of the three flu strains, the group vaccinated in the morning had significantly increased levels of antibody concentration than those vaccinated in the afternoon. Similar antibody concentration levels were observed for the third strain, though.
"We know that there are fluctuations in immune responses throughout the day and wanted to examine whether this would extend to the antibody response to vaccination. Being able to see that morning vaccinations yield a more efficient response will not only help in strategies for flu vaccination, but might provide clues to improve vaccination strategies more generally," said Dr. Anna Phillips, the Principal Investigator of the study from the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham.
Influenza and the common flu still remain one of the major causes of death in pensioners and was at its highest over the last 12 years in the UK in 2015. On average, a staggering 250,000 to 500,000 people die due to the flu every year, either due to the lack of vaccination or because the antibody concentration levels not reaching a desired high level despite being vaccinated.
Therefore, the research may prove fruitful for older people who, due to low immunity, are at a higher risk of catching the flu than younger, healthier people.
Dr. Richard Pebody, head of flu surveillance for Public Health England said that the new study findings were really interesting and call for more research to be done on the subject.
He further highlighted that the flu vaccine is apparently one of the best vaccines in existence today to help combat any new virus that can create havoc for at-risk groups such as the elderly, pregnant women and those already struggling with a health condition.
The study has been published in the journal Vaccine.
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