Safety of and Immune Response to Two Influenza Vaccines in HIV Infected Children and Adolescents

Influenza virus infections are common among children, particularly during the winter season. The infections are often mild, but more serious cases can cause a number of complications, including respiratory illnesses and bacterial infections. HIV infected children may have an increased risk for developing influenza-related bacterial complications, and influenza infections among this population may lead to more rapid disease progression. The current standard of care for HIV infected children is vaccination with an inactivated influenza vaccine (IAIV). However, IAIV is limited in its ability to stimulate the immune systems of HIV infected children with advanced disease. FluMist, a cold-adapted live attenuated influenza vaccine, is both immunogenic and effective in HIV infected children; unfortunately, FluMist is associated with viral shedding, a period of time when the influenza virus used to produce the vaccine may be transmitted to other people. This study will compare the safety and immunogenicity of IAIV and FluMist in HIV infected children and adolescents. This study will also determine the prevalence and duration of FluMist viral shedding in HIV infected children and adolescents who have received the vaccination. Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of two arms. Arm A participants will receive FluMist; Arm B participants will receive IAIV. A single immunization will occur on Day 0 of the study. Arm A participants will have study visits on Days 3, 14, and 28 or home visits on Days 3 and 14. Participants in Arm B will have a study visit on Day 28. A physical exam will be performed at the initial study visit; blood will be collected at study start and at each visit thereafter. Phone calls will be made to participants throughout the study. All participants will have a final study visit after 6 months.