Atypical B cells and inflammatory profiles delineate immunity to influenza vaccination in First Nations and non-Indigenous people with chronic multimorbidity.

Abstract

Indigenous people are disproportionately impacted by influenza viruses and chronic multimorbidity. Yet, the impact of comorbidities on immunity towards influenza vaccination is unknown. We recruited Australian First Nations and non-Indigenous people vaccinated with seasonal inactivated influenza vaccines and assessed their humoral and cellular responses in the context of comorbidities at baseline and after immunisation. Our study highlights prevalence of multimorbidity in First Nations people, associated with elevated baseline cellular activation, pro-inflammatory cytokines and agalactosylated IgG. Following vaccination, all groups had increased antibody titres and haemagglutinin-specific Ig..