Introduction Influenza is a potentially serious infection among haemodialysis (HD) patients, and the antibody response to vaccines among HD patients is thought to be weaker than that in healthy people. We conducted this study for the purpose of evaluating the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the pandemic vaccine among patients on long-term HD.

Materials and Methods During the 2009–2010 influenza season, 170 HD patients (108 men, 62 women; mean age: 62.2±13.2 years, mean and max duration of HD: 12.3 and 35 years, respectively) received two doses of monovalent inactivated unadjuvanted vaccine. Immunogenicity of the vaccine was evaluated according to conventionally used international criteria (EMEA, 1997; FDA, 2007).

Results The geometric mean of HI titre 4 weeks after vaccination increased from a pre-vac level of 7.0 to 32.5 for the first injection, and to 37.8 for the second injection. The sero-conversion rate was 48% and sero-protection rate was 54% for the first injection, and 53% and 57% respectively for the second injection. The occurrence of systemic rush was significantly higher compared with healthy adults.

Conclusions A two-shot influenza vaccination series showed a booster effect and achieved the EMEA criteria at the first vaccination. No serious adverse events were detected, but systemic rush occurred frequently. A Dysfunction in detoxification ability due to the patients' renal disease may have caused this.