Immune imprinting refers to how the immune system's first encounter with a virus, such as influenza, leaves a lasting imprint that shapes future immune responses.1,2 However, influenza vaccines may affect this process—particularly when egg-based ones are used. Tune in to learn about the impact of immune imprinting, the role that vaccines play in this process, and how switching to non-egg-based vaccines could help redirect immune responses and possibly create more effective defenses in people of all ages.3,4

References:

1. King SM, Bryan SP, Hilchey SP, Wang J, Zand MS. First impressions matter: Immune imprinting and antibody cross-reactivity in influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Pathogens. 2023;12(2):169. doi:10.3390/pathogens12020169
2. Zhang A, Stacey HD, Mullarkey CE, Miller MS. Original antigenic sin: How first exposure shapes lifelong anti-influenza virus immune responses. J Immunol. 2019;202(2):335–340. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1801149
3. Rockman S, Laurie K, Ong C, et al. Cell-based manufacturing technology increases antigenic match of influenza vaccine and results in improved effectiveness. Vaccines (Basel). 2022;11(1):52. doi:10.3390/vaccines11010052
4. Liu F, Gross FL, Jefferson SN, et al. Age-specific effects of vaccine egg adaptation and immune priming on A(H3N2) antibody responses following influenza vaccination. J Clin Invest. 2021;131(8):e146138. doi:10.1172/JCI146138

USA-CRP-24-0038 July 2025

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Guest: Stephen I. Pelton, MD

In the last two pre-pandemic flu seasons, approximately half of hospitalizations from influenza in the US were in adults 65 and older.1,2 A recent real-world study evaluated the relative effectiveness of adjuvanted influenza vaccine versus high-dose vaccine in preventing test-confirmed influenza hospitalizations in this age group across three flu seasons between 2017 and 2020.3 Dr. Charles Turck sits down with Dr. Stephen Pelton, an author on this study, to explore the findings and their implications for influenza vaccination strategies in older adults. Dr. Pelton is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine.

References:

1. Pelton SI, Nguyen VH, Mould-Quevedo JF. The value of influenza vaccination in the older adult population. A stochastic model estimation of the benefit of vaccination to prevent the severe outcomes in the U.S. Poster presented at: IDWeek 2023; October 11-15; Boston, MA.
2. Pelton SI, Mould-Quevedo JF, Nguyen VH. The impact of adjuvanted influenza vaccine on disease severity in the US: a stochastic model. Vaccines. 2023;11:1525.
3. McGovern I, Chastek B, Bancroft T, et al. Relative vaccine effectiveness of MF59-adjuvanted vs high-dose trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines for prevention of test-confirmed influenza hospitalizations during the 2017-2020 influenza seasons. Int J Infect Dis. …

Guest: Ryan Maves, MD

Guest: Susan Corbridge, PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FCCP, FAAN

Although there have been several advances in vaccine technology and safety the past few years, the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among patients is increasing. Since vaccine hesitancy heightens the burden of potentially life-threatening viruses like RSV and influenza, Dr. Ryan Maves speaks with Dr. Susan Corbridge about why patients might be reluctant to get vaccinated and how we can use the First 5 Minutes approach to provide individualized counseling on the importance of vaccines. Dr. Maves is a Professor of Medicine and Anesthesiology in the Sections of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Dr. Corbridge is a Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing.

This episode is supported by an educational grant from Moderna.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA

Guest: Alissa Kanowitz, Founding Member Families Fighting Flu

Mrs. Alissa Kanowitz became a patient advocate after experiencing the absolute worst-case scenario: losing her four-year-old daughter Amanda to the flu. And now, she’s here with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley to share her and Amanda’s story as well as her experience working with the Families Fighting Flu organization. This is so we can all better understand the seriousness of influenza and work to stem the tide on this tragic disease.

Guest: Paul Hunter, MD

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently updated their recommendations for the 2024-2025 flu season. Here to give us a breakdown of the key updates so we can protect our patients from the flu is family medicine physician Dr. Paul Hunter.

Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA

Guest: Jill Foster, MD

Guest: John Russell, MD

According to recent studies, co-administering the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines is generally safe, which is why both the CDC and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices support this approach. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind when co-administering these three respiratory vaccines, which is why Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley speaks with Drs. Jill Foster and John Russell about best practices for co-administration and improving vaccination rates. Dr. Foster is the Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical School, and Dr. Russell is a family medicine physician at Jefferson Health System in Abington, Pennsylvania.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Guest: John Russell, MD

According to the CDC, flu vaccine coverage for all adults is about 47 percent, and there’s been a continued decline among pregnant patients and children since 2020. These reduced vaccination rates can have serious consequences for our patients and the healthcare system as a whole, which is why it’s so important for primary care providers to embrace their role in reversing this trend. To help in this mission, Dr. Charles Turck speaks with family medicine physician Dr. John Russell about strategies for boosting flu vaccination rates in the primary care setting.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Guest: Laila Woc-Colburn, MD, DTM&H, FACP, FIDSA

Since annual flu shots help alleviate the severe disease burden on patients and the healthcare system as a whole, it’s important to make flu vaccination a part of every patient visit. Fortunately, tools like appointment reminders, in-office discussions, and infographics can help us integrate this preventative measure into routine patient care and protect them from the flu. To learn more about these strategies, Dr. Charles Turck speaks with Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn, Associate Professor at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Guest: Darvin Scott Smith, MD

Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing the flu itself, but there are a lot of lesser-known benefits of flu vaccination as well, including its impact on reducing illness severity, hospitalization rates, and co-infections as well as its importance in managing chronic diseases and enhancing public health outcomes. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to examine the comprehensive advantages of flu vaccination is Dr. Darvin Scott Smith, who’s an infectious disease consultant at San Mateo Medical Center in California.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Guest: David Hamer, MD

Cases of dengue have more than doubled since 2023, especially in endemic areas like Latin America, the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia, and the coastal areas of Africa. This increasingly prevalence underscores the importance of knowing how to protect patients traveling abroad to those areas, which is why Dr. Charles Turck speaks with Dr. David Hamer about essential prevention strategies for dengue fever. Dr. Hamer is a Professor of Global Health and Medicine at the Boston University School of Public Health.