Vaccines for protecting against influenza

Abstract

A vaccine containing a H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin is either unadjuvanted or is adjuvanted but not with an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant. The vaccine is suitable for immunizing a patient against swine flu. The vaccine may be monovalent. The vaccine may include two different H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinins, wherein (i) the first H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin is more closely related to SEQ ID NO: 1 than to SEQ ID NO: 3 and (ii) the second H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin is more closely related to SEQ ID NO: 3 than to SEQ ID NO: 1. A monovalent vaccine may be administered in conjunction with a trivalent A/H1N1-A/H3N2 B seasonal influenza vaccine. Other embodiments are also disclosed, such as reassortant viruses.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for immunizing a subject, comprising administering two separate doses of unadjuvanted monovalent influenza vaccine to the subject, wherein (a) the two doses are administered from 1-6 weeks apart, and (b) each monovalent vaccine contains a H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin which is more closely related to SEQ ID NO: 1 than to SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
       2. A method for immunizing a subject, comprising administering two separate doses of unadjuvanted monovalent influenza vaccine to the subject, wherein (a) the two doses are administered from 1-6 weeks apart, and (b) each monovalent vaccine contains a H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin which has at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       3. A method for immunizing a subject, comprising administering to them by an intradermal route an unadjuvanted immunogenic composition comprising a H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin which is more closely related to SEQ ID NO: 1 than to SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
       4. A method for immunizing a subject, comprising administering to them by an intradermal route an unadjuvanted immunogenic composition comprising a H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin which has at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1.