Prospective Trial of Vaccine Responses Against Pneumococcus and Influenza in Adult Cancer Patients 65 Years of Age and Older

Exclusion Criteria

• •Karnofsky score \<40%:
• •Patients who have received an autologous or allogeneic HCT
• •Active uncontrolled bacterial or fungal infection
• •Hypersensitivity to egg protein (eggs or egg products), chicken proteins, or any component in the influenza vaccine
• •Prior history of any life-threatening reaction after previous administration of any influenza vaccine or any component such as thimerosal (inclusion of thimerosal varies among packaging)
• •Latex allergy if going to receive the influenza vaccine
• •On-going neurologic disorder (mental status change, uncontrolled seizures, encephalopathy)
• •Treatment or planned treatment with cyclophosphamide, ifosphamide, or \> or = to 1 mg/kg prednisone or its equivalent 12 weeks within 12 weeks of vaccination.
• •HIV-1,2 seropositive patients.
• •Patients not signing informed consent.
• •Patients receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine may not have had it within 6 months of enrollment
• •Healthy controls exclusion:
• •Volunteers ineligible to receive either vaccine
• •Volunteers unwilling or unable to sign consent
• •Hypersensitivity to egg protein (eggs or egg products), chicken proteins, or any component in the influenza vaccine
• •Latex allergy