Unsolicited Adverse Events (AEs): The clinical safety of FLUAD was assessed in fifteen (15) randomized, controlled studies. The total safety population in these trials included 10,952 adults 65 years of age and older, comprising 5,754 who received FLUAD and 5,198 who received other US licensed influenza vaccines. The percentage of subjects with an unsolicited AE within 30 days following vaccination was similar between vaccine groups (16.9% FLUAD vs. 18.0% active comparator).
Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) and Deaths: In Study 1, in which subjects were followed for SAEs and deaths for one year following vaccination (N=3,545 FLUAD, N=3,537 AGRIFLU), the percentages of subjects with an SAE were similar between vaccine groups (7% FLUAD vs. 7% AGRIFLU). Four SAEs (1 FLUAD and 3 AGRIFLU) were assessed as related to study vaccination over one year of observation and 2 of these occurred (1 FLUAD and 1 AGRIFLU) within 21 days following study vaccination. There were 98 deaths (N=52 FLUAD, N=46 AGRIFLU) over one year of which none occurred within the first 21 days following vaccination.
In 14 additional randomized, controlled studies, SAEs were collected over a 3 to 4-week period in 4 studies, over a 8-week period in 1 study, and over a 6-month period in 9 studies (N= 2,209 FLUAD, N=1,661 US licensed influenza vaccines). The percentages of subjects with an SAE within 30 days (1.1% FLUAD vs. 1.8% AGRIFLU) or within 6 months (4.3% FLUAD vs. 5.9% AGRIFLU) were similar between vaccine groups. The percentages of deaths within 30 days (0.3% FLUAD vs. 0.6% active comparator) or within 6 months (1.0% FLUAD vs. 1.5% active comparator) were also similar.
Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs): Rates of new onset neuroinflammatory and immune mediated diseases were assessed in a post hoc analysis of the 15 randomized controlled studies over the time periods specified above for SAEs. The percentage of subjects with an AESI at any time after vaccination was similar between vaccine groups (0.9% FLUAD vs. 0.9% active comparator). There were no notable imbalances for specific AESIs.
Safety of Annual Revaccination: In 5 of the randomized, controlled trials, subjects were followed for SAEs and deaths for 6 months following revaccination (N=492 FLUAD, N=330 US licensed and non-US licensed influenza vaccines). After the second annual vaccination, the percentages of subjects with an SAE were similar between vaccine groups (6.1% FLUAD vs.
5.5% comparator influenza vaccines); 23 deaths (N=17 FLUAD, N=6 comparator influenza vaccines) were reported. Causes of death included cardiovascular events, malignancy, trauma, gastrointestinal disorders, and respiratory failure. Clinical characteristics of the deaths, including the variable causes, timing since vaccination, and underlying medical conditions, do not provide evidence for a causal relationship with FLUAD.
Safety of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT
Study 2 (NCT02587221) was a multi-center, randomized, observer-blind, non-influenza comparator-controlled efficacy and safety study conducted in 12 countries during the 2016-2017 Northern Hemisphere and 2017 Southern Hemisphere seasons. In this study, 3381 subjects received FLUAD QUADRIVALENT and 3380 subjects received a US-licensed non-influenza comparator vaccine (Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine, Boostrix® [GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals]).
Serious adverse events (SAEs) and potentially immune-mediated adverse events of special interest (AESIs) were collected up to 366 days after vaccination. SAEs were reported by 238 (7.0%) FLUAD QUADRIVALENT recipients and 234 (6.9%) comparator recipients. There were no SAEs, AESIs or deaths in this study that were related to FLUAD QUADRIVALENT.
Study 3 (NCT03314662) was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, comparator-controlled study conducted during the 2017-18 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. In this study, 888 subjects received FLUAD QUADRIVALENT, 444 subjects received FLUAD (aTIV-1) and 444 subjects received FLUAD (aTIV-2). FLUAD (aTIV-1) contained hemagglutinin from a Type B virus of the Victoria lineage, and FLUAD (aTIV-2) contained hemagglutinin from a Type B virus of the Yamagata lineage.
Serious AEs and AESIs were collected up to 181 days after vaccination. Within 6 months after vaccination, 37 (4.2%) FLUAD QUADRIVALENT recipients, 28 (6.3%) FLUAD (aTIV-1) and 18 (4.1%) FLUAD (aTIV-2) recipients experienced an SAE. There were no SAEs, AESIs or deaths in this study that were related to the study vaccine. There were no AEs leading to withdrawal from the study.
Risk Summary
FLUAD is not approved for use in persons < 65 years of age.
All pregnancies have a risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. The data are insufficient to establish if there is vaccine-associated risk with FLUAD in pregnant women.
A developmental toxicity study was performed in female rabbits administered FLUAD prior to mating and during gestation. A 0.5 mL dose was injected on each occasion (a single human dose is 0.5 mL). Animals were administered FLUAD by intramuscular injection twice prior to gestation, during the period of organogenesis (gestation day 7) and later in pregnancy (gestation day 20), 0.5 mL (45 mcg)/rabbit/occasion. No vaccine-related fetal malformations or variations and no adverse effects on pre-weaning development were observed in the study. FLUAD did not affect female fertility in the rabbit developmental toxicity study.
Risk Summary
FLUAD is not approved for use in persons < 65 years of age. It is not known whether FLUAD is excreted in human milk. Data are not available to assess the effects of FLUAD on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for FLUAD and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from FLUAD or from the underlying maternal condition. For preventive vaccines, the underlying maternal condition is susceptibility to disease prevented by the vaccine.