As we know, the health of older adults has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. UConn Health, Center on Aging in partnership with The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), is committed to protecting the health and safety of our community with a shared mission of uncovering answers to the most pressing challenges of aging and health. If you have had a positive COVID-19 diagnosed test and are recovered we would like to invite you to participate in a new study aimed at better understanding immune system response to influenza (Flu) in adults who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past. We will also be recruiting some participants who have no history of a positive COVID-19 test result.
What are we studying? Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can become very sick from the flu and spread it to others. As we age, our immune defenses become weaker, which places older people at a greater risk for severe illness from influenza. We also know that with aging, the body’s ability to have a good immune response after receiving the influenza vaccine decreases. What we hope to learn from this study is how having had COVID-19 may impact influenza vaccine response in both younger and older adults.
Who is eligible to participate? You must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to participate:
- You must not have any immunosuppressive disorders or be on any immunosuppressive medications.
- Be willing to receive the FDA approved seasonal influenza vaccine as part of the study.
What participation involves?
- Participants will be asked to receive an approved influenza vaccine at the usual time (October through early December). Participants 65 years of age and older will receive the Fluzone High-Dose while those 25-50 years of age will receive the standard Fluzone vaccination.
There will be 5 visits over a period of two months at the UConn Center on Aging with blood samples collected at all 5 visits and nasal swab samples collected at two of these visits.
All treatment and lab testing will be provided at no charge and you will receive monetary compensation for your participation.
If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please call (860) 679-3043 or email Lisa Pesce at Kenyon-Pesce@uchc.edu. Someone from the study team will call you back for a 5-minute screening interview.
IRB#21-070J-1 Study PI: George Kuchel, M.D.
For more information, contact: Lisa Pesce at Kenyon-pesce@uchc.edu