~111 spots leftby May 2026

Intradermal Flu Vaccine for Vaccine Reaction

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
AJ
Overseen byAndrew Johnston
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Phase < 1
Recruiting
Sponsor: Yale University
Must not be taking: Glucocorticoids, Immunoglobulin therapy
Disqualifiers: HIV, Autoimmune diseases, Cancer, others

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this study is to characterize the immune response, both innate and adaptive, as well as locally and systemic, to intradermal (ID) vaccination in healthy individuals. The intervention involves intradermal administration of an FDA-approved intramuscular seasonal influenza vaccine, using an FDA-approved device MicronJet. Investigators will measure antibody titers, cell subtypes, and multi-omic profiles, by collecting skin and peripheral blood at baseline and at several time points after vaccination. The primary objective is to identify baseline correlates of immune response in the skin and peripheral blood to the seasonal influenza vaccine. The investigators secondary goals are to describe the inflammatory response in the skin over time.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, certain medications like oral glucocorticoids, immunoglobulin therapy, and recent vaccines may affect eligibility, so it's best to discuss your current medications with the study team.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Fluzone® Quadrivalent, Fluzone Quadrivalent, Fluzone Intradermal, MicronJet, MicronJet device for intradermal vaccination?

Research shows that the Fluzone Intradermal vaccine is safe and produces a strong immune response in adults aged 18-64, similar to traditional flu shots. It uses a smaller needle, which may make it more acceptable to people who are hesitant about vaccines.12345

Is the intradermal flu vaccine safe for humans?

The intradermal flu vaccine, including versions like Fluzone Intradermal and MicronJet, has been shown to be safe in adults, with studies indicating it is well-tolerated and comparable in safety to traditional flu shots. It has also been used safely in pregnant women, according to a global pregnancy registry.12467

How is the Fluzone® Quadrivalent intradermal flu vaccine treatment different from other flu vaccines?

The Fluzone® Quadrivalent intradermal flu vaccine is unique because it uses a smaller needle and delivers the vaccine just under the skin (intradermally) rather than into the muscle (intramuscularly), which can make it more acceptable to patients. It also contains a lower amount of antigen per strain compared to traditional flu vaccines, which may help increase vaccination coverage among adults aged 18-64.12458

Research Team

AJ

Andrew Johnston

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Eligibility Criteria

Healthy individuals who can consent, follow study procedures, and are in good general health as per medical history. Excluded are pregnant women or those planning pregnancy, people with certain abnormal lab results, HIV/hepatitis infections, recent vaccines or blood products, surgery or severe infections within specific time frames, immunodeficiencies, other trial enrollments without PI approval, severe vaccine reactions history.

Inclusion Criteria

Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
In good general health as evidenced by medical history
Able to proficiently speak, read, and write English
See 1 more

Exclusion Criteria

I am currently receiving treatment for cancer.
You have had a condition where your immune system attacks your own body in the past.
I have received this season's flu vaccine.
See 26 more

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Vaccination and Initial Monitoring

Participants receive intradermal flu vaccination and undergo skin biopsies at various time points (2 hours, 6 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 28 days) to assess immune response.

4 weeks
Multiple visits for biopsies and sample collection

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for immune response and safety, with sample collection up to 365 days post-vaccination.

12 months
Periodic visits for sample collection

Annual Extension (optional)

Participants may optionally repeat study visits and vaccination annually through the 2025-26 influenza season.

Annually

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Fluzone® Quadrivalent (Cancer Vaccine)
  • MicronJet (Procedure)
Trial OverviewThe study tests the immune response to an FDA-approved seasonal flu shot given intradermally using MicronJet. It measures how the body's defense system reacts both at the skin level and in the blood after vaccination by checking antibody levels and various cell types over time.
Participant Groups
9Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Placebo Group
Group I: ID-6hourExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants receive intradermal flu vaccination in the upper arm and will have skin biopsy of vaccination site 6 hours after vaccine administration.
Group II: ID-3dayExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants receive intradermal flu vaccination in the upper arm and will have skin biopsy of vaccination site 3 days after vaccine administration.
Group III: ID-2hourExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants receive intradermal flu vaccination in the upper arm and will have skin biopsy of vaccination site 2 hours after vaccine administration.
Group IV: ID-28dayExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants receive intradermal flu vaccination in the upper arm and will have skin biopsy of vaccination site 3 days after vaccine administration.
Group V: ID-1dayExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants receive intradermal flu vaccination in the upper arm and will have skin biopsy of vaccination site 1 day after vaccine administration.
Group VI: Intramuscular (IM) ControlActive Control1 Intervention
An intramuscular control group, from which no skin biopsies will be taken after vaccination. Only the intramuscular cohort will receive the flu vaccine via standard IM route in the deltoid region of the upper arm.
Group VII: Sal-1hourPlacebo Group2 Interventions
A control group in which bacteriostatic saline is injected intradermally in lieu of influenza vaccine. A skin biopsy will be taken from the "vaccination" site 1 day after administration.
Group VIII: Sal-2hourPlacebo Group2 Interventions
A control group in which bacteriostatic saline is injected intradermally in lieu of influenza vaccine. A skin biopsy will be taken from the "vaccination" site 2 hours after administration.
Group IX: Sal-6hourPlacebo Group2 Interventions
A control group in which bacteriostatic saline is injected intradermally in lieu of influenza vaccine. A skin biopsy will be taken from the "vaccination" site 6 hours after administration.

Fluzone® Quadrivalent is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

🇨🇦
Approved in Canada as IDflu for:
  • Active immunization against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Yale University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,963
Recruited
3,046,000+
Nancy J. Brown profile image

Nancy J. Brown

Yale University

Chief Medical Officer since 2020

MD from Yale School of Medicine

Peter Salovey profile image

Peter Salovey

Yale University

Chief Executive Officer since 2013

PhD in Psychology from Yale University

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Grant

Collaborator

Trials
1
Recruited
250+

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Collaborator

Trials
6
Recruited
1,300+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials
2,896
Recruited
8,053,000+
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo profile image

Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Chief Medical Officer

MD from University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya profile image

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Chief Executive Officer

MD, PhD from Stanford University

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Collaborator

Trials
508
Recruited
1,090,000+
Dr. Lindsey A. Criswell profile image

Dr. Lindsey A. Criswell

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Director since 2021

MD, MPH, DSc

Dr. Robert Colbert profile image

Dr. Robert Colbert

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Clinical Director since 2014

MD

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Collaborator

Trials
6
Recruited
1,300+

University of Chicago

Collaborator

Trials
1,086
Recruited
844,000+
Pete Salzmann profile image

Pete Salzmann

University of Chicago

Chief Executive Officer since 2018

MD from University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine, MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business

Anh Nguyen profile image

Anh Nguyen

University of Chicago

Chief Medical Officer

MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, MBA from University of Chicago

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Collaborator

Trials
5
Recruited
1,900+

Findings from Research

Fluzone Intradermal, approved by the FDA in 2011, is the first influenza vaccine in the USA that uses a microinjection system for intradermal delivery, requiring a lower antigen content (9 µg) compared to conventional intramuscular vaccines (15 µg).
Clinical trials demonstrated that Fluzone Intradermal is safe and has immunogenicity comparable to traditional intramuscular vaccines, which may help improve influenza vaccination rates among adults aged 18 to 64.
Fluzone(®) Intradermal vaccine: a promising new chance to increase the acceptability of influenza vaccination in adults.Ansaldi, F., de Florentiis, D., Durando, P., et al.[2011]
The Fluzone Intradermal (ID) vaccine was found to be as immunogenic as the standard intramuscular (IM) vaccine, showing no significant differences in antibody responses for all three viral strains tested.
While the ID vaccine had higher rates of local reactions like erythema and swelling compared to the IM vaccine, it was well-tolerated overall, with no serious adverse events reported, indicating it can be safely used for annual revaccination in adults.
Safety and immunogenicity of revaccination with reduced dose intradermal and standard dose intramuscular influenza vaccines in adults 18-64 years of age.Gorse, GJ., Falsey, AR., Johnson, CM., et al.[2013]
In a study involving 367 participants, 67.8% chose the Fluzone Intradermal (ID) vaccine over the Intramuscular (IM) vaccine, indicating a strong preference for the ID method.
Participants reported significantly less preinjection anxiety and postinjection pain with the ID vaccine compared to the IM vaccine, with 99.6% satisfaction immediately after ID vaccination, highlighting its acceptability and potential benefits in clinical practice.
Acceptability of fluzone intradermal vaccine to patients and vaccine administrators.Foy, JE., Hendriksz, T., Malouf, P., et al.[2013]

References

Intradermally-administered influenza virus vaccine is safe and immunogenic in healthy adults 18-64 years of age. [2018]
Fluzone(®) Intradermal vaccine: a promising new chance to increase the acceptability of influenza vaccination in adults. [2011]
Safety and immunogenicity of revaccination with reduced dose intradermal and standard dose intramuscular influenza vaccines in adults 18-64 years of age. [2013]
Acceptability of fluzone intradermal vaccine to patients and vaccine administrators. [2013]
Fluzone® Intradermal Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine. [2018]
Intradermal vaccination using the novel microneedle device MicronJet600: Past, present, and future. [2018]
Exposure to quadrivalent influenza vaccine during pregnancy: Results from a global pregnancy registry. [2022]
Fluzone® intra-dermal (Intanza®/Istivac® Intra-dermal): An updated overview. [2018]