A study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine has shown that individuals aged 60 or older with weakened immunity, such as organ transplant recipients and those with immune system disorders, do not respond as effectively to vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) compared to those with normal immune function. This research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), aimed to understand how immunocompromised individuals’ immune systems react to vaccines against RSV, a contagious pathogen that affects the respiratory tract and can lead to serious respiratory illnesses, particularly in the elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
The study focused on 38 participants between the ages of 64 and 72 who self-identified as immunocompromised and had received either the RSVPreF3-AS01 or RSVpreF vaccine. The group included solid organ transplant recipients and individuals taking multiple immunosuppressive medications. Researchers observed that older adults with weakened immunity developed fewer antibodies against RSV following vaccination, with varying levels of immune response among participants. The vaccines targeted a critical protein on the surface of RSV, known as pre-fusion F, and were designed to generate significant levels of virus-neutralizing antibodies in healthy adults.
One notable difference between the two vaccines studied was the presence of an adjuvant in the Arexvy vaccine, which was found to result in higher levels of RSV-neutralizing antibodies compared to the Abrysvo vaccine, which did not contain an adjuvant. This finding suggests that adjuvant-enhanced vaccines may enhance immune response in immunocompromised individuals and warrants further investigation in larger studies. It is important to note that despite variability in immune response, RSV vaccines are still effective in reducing RSV disease in immunocompromised individuals, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for high-risk groups.
The study’s findings have implications for vaccine selection and timing for immunocompromised individuals, similar to previous research on COVID-19 vaccines that led to recommendations for additional vaccine doses for this population. Future research on RSV vaccine responses will provide guidance on optimizing vaccination strategies for immunocompromised individuals. The study authors, including lead author Andrew Karaba and senior author William Werbel from Johns Hopkins Medicine, emphasize the importance of continued research in this area to enhance protection against RSV and other infectious diseases in vulnerable populations.
The research team also included other members from Johns Hopkins Medicine and the New York University Grossman School of Medicine, with support from various grants and funding sources. Disclosure statements from the authors indicate potential conflicts of interest related to consulting and advisory roles in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of vaccine responses in immunocompromised individuals and highlights the need for tailored vaccination strategies to improve protection against respiratory illnesses like RSV.
