Flu vaccine showdown: do Egg-Free shots work better?

NCT ID NCT03598439

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study compared how well egg-based and non-egg-based flu vaccines trigger the immune system in adults aged 18 to 64. Researchers wanted to see if egg adaptation weakens the vaccine's effectiveness. Over two flu seasons, 366 participants received one of three vaccines: a standard egg-based shot, a cell-culture shot, or a recombinant shot. The main goal was to measure antibody levels against a lab-grown flu virus.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Influenza vaccines (Flulaval Quadrivalent, FluBlok Quadrivalent, Flucelvax Quadrivalent)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that non-egg-based flu vaccines produce stronger immune responses, potentially leading to better flu protection.

What could go wrong

This is a completed Phase 4 trial with 366 participants, so results are limited to immune response measurements and may not directly translate to real-world effectiveness or apply to all age groups.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

influenza prevention target

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Marshfield Clinic - Marshfield Center

    Marshfield, Wisconsin, 54449, United States