Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at increased risk of influenza disease and associated complications. The mainstay of prevention is the annual standard-dose influenza vaccine, as studies showed decreased influenza-related morbidity and mortality in vaccinated SOT recipients compared to those unvaccinated. Nonetheless, the immune response in this high-risk population is suboptimal compared to healthy individuals. Over the past two decades, several vaccination strategies have been investigated to overcome this inadequate immune response in SOT recipients. Howbeit, the best vaccination strategy and optimal timing of influenza vaccination remain unclear. This review will provide a detailed summary of studies of various influenza vaccination strategies in adult SOT recipients, discussing immunogenicity results, and addressing their limitations and knowledge gaps.
Keywords: clinical research/practice; editorial/personal viewpoint; immunobiology; infection and infectious agents-viral: influenza; infectious disease; organ transplantation in general; preventive healthcare; vaccine.
© 2020 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.