Flu Vaccine Immunity Study

STUDY BASICS

Are you a healthy 18-21 year old? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study to help better understand how young adults respond to the flu vaccine given as a shot or a nasal spray and to better understand the body’s protective response against the flu. Compensation is provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

Getting a yearly flu vaccine can help prevent most cases of the flu—a common viral infection that affects millions of people in the United States each year. The flu vaccine is approved by the FDA to be given as a shot or as a nasal spray. The purpose of this study is to help researchers learn more about how young adults respond to the flu vaccine given as a shot or a nasal spray and to better understand the body’s protective response against the flu.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Healthy men and women ages 18-21
• Did not receive a flu vaccination last season (2018-2019)
• Do not have any health condition that reduces your ability to fight infection, such as cancer or HIV
• Not taking any prescription drugs that suppress the immune system
• No history of severe allergy to eggs or to the influenza vaccine
• Not pregnant

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Participation involves an initial questionnaire to find out if you are eligible to participate in the study. Eligible participants will have at least three in-person visits.

• Visit 1 includes a survey, a blood draw, and a possible nasal swab. Participants will also be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to receive either the FluMist vaccine given as a nasal spray or the Flucelvax vaccine given as a shot.
• Visit 2 will take place one week after the flu vaccine visit and will also involve a blood draw and possible nasal swab.
• Visit 3 will take place one month after the flu vaccine visit and will also involve a blood draw and possible nasal swab.