02 Nov Statins May Dampen Efficacy of Flu Vaccination

Dr. Saad Omer

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Saad Omer MBBS MPH PhD
Associate Professor Emory Vaccine Center
Associate Professor Global Health and Epidemiology
Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University

MedicalResearch: Can you give us a little background on this study?

Dr. Omer: My background is in global health, epidemiology and pediatrics and I have been fortunate to conduct field and clinical vaccine trials in a number of countries and with multiple infectious diseases including influenza, polio, measles and pneumococcal vaccines.

We were familiar with the data on investigating the potential effects of statins on other infections i.e. sepsis and community acquire pneumonia including

Dr. Vandermeer’s study in 2012 suggesting that “statin use may be associated with reduced mortality in patients hospitalized with influenza”.

Statins have lipid-lowering effects but they also exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. For lack of a better image, I think of statins as acting like a ‘big hammer made of Jell-O’: they have a broad, small dampening effect on immune response (as opposed to a narrow or deep effect).

MedicalResearch: What are the main findings?

Dr. Omer: . The difference in vaccine effectiveness between statin users and nonusers was small but significant especially during periods of widespread influenza circulation.

MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from this report?

Dr. Omer: There are three main points:

• While these findings are interesting, it is important to note that this was an observational report that needs to be replicated in a prospective study.

• Our findings do not support an immediate change in recommendations regarding flu vaccinations,

• The flu vaccine remains the single most important tool to prevent flu infections and complications.

MedicalResearch: What future research are you planning?

Dr. Omer: We are planning to confirm these findings with a prospective study of flu vaccine efficacy in patients on statins.

We would also like to test whether an alternate flu vaccine schedule or vaccine itself might increase vaccine efficacy, for example giving the high-dose flu vaccine to patients on statins. 

Citation:

Saad B. Omer, Varun K. Phadke, Robert A. Bednarczyk, Allison T. Chamberlain, Jennifer L. Brosseau, and Walter A. Orenstein

Impact of Statins on Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Medically Attended Acute Respiratory Illness J Infect Dis. first published online October 28, 2015 doi:10.1093/infdis/jiv457

References:

1. Am J Respir Crit Care Med.2013 Apr 1;187(7):743-50. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201209-1718OC.

A multicenter randomized trial of atorvastatin therapy in intensive care patients with severe sepsis.

Kruger P¹, Bailey M, Bellomo R, Cooper DJ, Harward M, Higgins A, Howe B, Jones D, Joyce C, Kostner K, McNeil J, Nichol A, Roberts MS, Syres G, Venkatesh B; ANZ-STATInS Investigators–ANZICS Clinical Trials Group.

2. J Infect Dis.2012 Jan 1;205(1):13-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir695. Epub 2011 Dec 13.

Association between use of statins and mortality among patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infections: a multistate study.

Vandermeer ML¹, Thomas AR, Kamimoto L, Reingold A, Gershman K, Meek J, Farley MM, Ryan P, Lynfield R, Baumbach J, Schaffner W, Bennett N, Zansky S.

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Saad Omer MBBS MPH PhD (2015). Statins May Dampen Efficacy of Flu Vaccination 

Last Updated on November 2, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD