HOW DO GRIPPOL VACCINES DIFFER AND WHAT ARE THEIR OVERALL BENEFITS?
Grippol is the name of several Russian vaccines developed and produced by the Russian company Petrovax Pharm. These are subunit adjuvanted vaccines developed for influenza vaccination.
Grippol®: The Start of the Way
Grippol is the first Russian Influenza Prevention Vaccine It contains 5 µg each of the haemagglutinins of influenza virus subtypes A/H1N1 and A/H3N2, and 11 µg of influenza virus type B haemagglutinin, as well as the adjuvant Polyoxidonium 500 µg per dose. Thiomersal was used as a preservative. This vaccine is well proven: it has been used for 20 years with sufficient efficacy and an acceptable rate of post-vaccination side effects.
Grippol® has been produced for more than 20 years by NPO Microgen (Russia) under license from NPO Petrovax Pharm. In 2017, the vaccine was taken out of production: the developers were looking for a way to improve the efficacy of flu vaccination and reduce the frequency of side effects to the vaccination. In addition, this vaccine was only available in ampoules, which caused some inconvenience in use, increasing the likelihood of incorrect injection, for example by using the wrong syringe needles.
Grippol® plus: protection against three strains of influenza
The Grippol® plus vaccine has been in use since 2008. It also refers to a subunit adjuvanted vaccine, but has significant differences from the first vaccine.
- Grippol® plus contains 5 µg each of three influenza virus antigens: two type A (H1N1 and H3N2) and one type B of the Yamagata or Victoria strain, manufactured by Abbott Biologicals of the Netherlands. As an adjuvant, Polyoxidonium, 500 µg per dose is used.
- It contains no preservatives or additives, as it is produced on a modern product line which ensures absolute sterility and eliminates the ingress of components of any kind, including germs. This fact is particularly important when vaccinating young children, pregnant women and persons affected with chronic diseases.
- It is released in two dosage forms: individual syringe doses and 5-dose ampoules.
This vaccine is intended for vaccinations in adults and in children starting at 6 months of age, and can be used for annual flu vaccinations, as recommended by the National Preventive Vaccination Calendar.
Grippol® Quadrivalent: Four Strains Protection
A modern Russian subunit adjuvanted influenza vaccine, Grippol® Quadrivalent, was registered in 2018. Unlike previous vaccines, it contains 4 strains of influenza virus: two are type A (H1N1 and H3N2) and two are type B in the Yamagata and Victoria strains. The addition of a second B strain has extended protection against influenza infection — group B viruses also circulate frequently in the Northern Hemisphere and cause incidence and severe infection course.
The Polyoxidonium adjuvant at a rate of 500 µg per vaccine dose reduced antigen content and reduced the likelihood of developing reactions in response to vaccination.
This vaccine contains no preservatives or antibiotics and, like Grippol® Plus, is produced in a GMP-compliant facility: any foreign particles or germs are excluded.
Grippol® Quadrivalent is used to vaccinate people aged 6 to 60 years and is highly effective and safe.
Common Benefits of Russian Grippol Vaccines
Which strains of influenza virus will be included in the vaccines depends on the current epidemic situation. If a different strain is known to be more active in the upcoming “flu season” than in the past, the current strain will be introduced.
A personalized syringe with a specially coated needle reduces pain during injection, which is especially important when vaccinating infants, and eliminates incorrect dosage.
Modern Grippol vaccines have no preservatives, ensuring that the product is absolutely sterile. This has significantly reduced the frequency of reactions to the vaccination.
The safety of Grippol vaccines has been proven by practical experience, which has also been confirmed by clinical trials: these vaccines have been protecting children and adults since 2008. Each indication in the package leaflet is based on the results of targeted Clinical Trials.
The differences between Grippol® vaccines are shown in the table below.
| Grippol® | Grippol® plus | Grippol® Quadrivalent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of production | 1996, currently discontinued | 2008 | 2018 |
| Manufacturer | NPO Microgen, Russia, under license by NPO Petrovax Pharm | NPO Petrovax Pharm | NPO Petrovax Pharm |
| Group name | Influenza Prevention Vaccine (inactivated) + Azoximer bromide | ||
| Production technology | Subunit adjuvanted | ||
| Age of use | From 6 months without age restriction | from 6 to 60 years | |
| Number of antigens per influenza virus strain, µg | 5 µg A (H1N1) +5 µg A (H3N2) +11 µg (B/Victoria or Yamagata) | 5 µg A (H1N1) +5 µg A (H3N2) +5 µg (B/Victoria or Yamagata) | 5 µg A (H1N1) +5 µg A (H3N2) +5 µg (B/Victoria) +5 µg (B/Yamagata) |
| Total antigens per vaccine dose, mcg | 21 | 15 | 20 |
| Number of strains in the vaccine | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Adjuvant | Polyoxidonium® 500 µg (MNN: Azoximer bromide) per dose of vaccine | ||
| Preservative availability (thiomersal) | yes | no | no |
| GMP manufacture | no | yes | yes |
| Product presentation | Ampoules No.10 | Syringe dose No. 1, ampoules No. 5 | Syringe dose No. 1 |