Hay fever and the effect of influenza vaccines

Hay fever is an increasing disease in Japan, and the prevalence of cedar pollinosis exceeds 20% nationwide. More than 50 kinds of pollen have been reported so far in Japan. Pollinosis often complicated other allergic conditions. Since patients with allergic diseases have lower s-IgA levels than healthy subjects, patients with hay fever have less weak mucosal immunity so that it would affect the efficacy of the influenza vaccine. Eight thousand three hundred thirty-seven (3885 men and 4452 women) participated in this survey to clarify the relationship between allergic diseases and the influenza vaccine's efficacy. In the no hay fever group, the effective vaccine rate against influenza disease was 0.2%, and in the hay fever group, it was 0.21%. No effect of the influenza vaccine was present in this population. Rather, vaccination seemed to increase influenza incidence in people with hay fever. The basic presence of allergic condition influenza vaccination increased susceptibility to influenza infection. (12.9% vs. 13.89%) (p<0.001). A tailor-made strategy for these patients should be necessary for preventing influenza.