Birmingham, U.K. – July 9, 2008 – Led by Anna Catriona Phillips of the University of Birmingham, researchers assessed the response to a hepatitis A vaccine in young healthy adults and also examined responses to the annual influenza vaccination in older community-based adults.
In the first study, participants consisted of 75 University of Birmingham students who were vaccinated with the hepatitis A vaccine during a morning session (10 am to 12 pm) or early evening session (4 pm to 6 pm). In the second study, 90 older adults attended their medical practice for the annual influenza vaccination and received the vaccination in the morning between 8 am and 11 am or in the afternoon between 1 pm and 4 pm.
Men vaccinated in the morning showed the strongest immune response. Almost twice as many men showed a twofold increase in antibody response when vaccinated in the morning as opposed to the afternoon.
"If we can replicate these findings in a randomized controlled trial, there would be implications for the time of day for vaccinating those at risk," the authors conclude. "Adults could be vaccinated at a specific time of day to increase their protection against the flu."
This study is published in the July 2008 issue of Psychophysiology. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact journalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net.
Anna C. Phillips is affiliated with the University of Birmingham and can be reached for questions at A.C.Phillips@bham.ac.uk.
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