Vaccinations more effective in morning, new research says

Flu vaccinations are more effective when administered in the morning and this could help improve public health in India, findings by the University of Birmingham said on Tuesday.

The study, published in the journal Vaccine, suggest administering vaccinations in the morning, rather than the afternoon, could induce greater, and thus more protective, antibody responses.

Many people at risk from the illness — particularly those aged 65 and over — receive the influenza vaccination as part of seasonal inoculation programmes in countries around the world, including India, the university release said.

Research at 24 general practices in the UK was analysed between 2011 and 2013 in a cluster-randomised trial, when 276 adults aged over 65 were vaccinated against three strains of influenza, either in morning surgeries (9-11am) or afternoon surgeries (3-5pm).

In two of the three given influenza virus strains, those in the morning cohort saw a significantly larger increase in antibody concentration one month following vaccination, when compared with those in the afternoon cohort. In the third strain, there was no significant difference between morning and afternoon, the release added.

Anna Phillips, the principal investigator, said: “We know that there are fluctuations in immune responses throughout the day and wanted to examine whether this would extend to the antibody response to vaccination.”

“Being able to see that morning vaccinations yield a more efficient response will not only help in strategies for flu vaccination, but might provide clues to improve strategies more generally.”