Flu Vaccine in Preventing Influenza Infection in Healthy Volunteers and in Patients Who Have Undergone Stem Cell Transplant

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  * Patient at the City of Hope or Kaiser hospital who underwent prior autologous or allogeneic matched-related hematologic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or matched-unrelated HSCT for treatment of hematological malignancies, including aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndromes

    * Eligible (in accordance with physician's recommendation) to receive the vaccine influenza A serotypes specific for the 2006-2007 or 2007-2008 influenza season
    * Eligible (in accordance with physician's recommendation) to receive the vaccine influenza A or B serotypes specific for the 2009-2010 or 2010-2011 influenza season

      * Patients who are not vaccinated are followed under the study protocol once they are matched to a vaccinated patient on the date of transplant and source of transplant
    * All HLA serotypes allowed
  * Employee volunteer from the City of Hope

    * Meets the requirements for influenza vaccination
    * Eligible to receive the CDC recommended vaccine for influenza A serotypes specific for the 2007-2008 flu season as part of occupational health's vaccination initiative
    * All HLA serotypes allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Life expectancy \> 9 months
* No HIV seropositivity
* No hepatitis B or C seropositivity

  * Hepatitis B-positive serology by vaccination allowed

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior influenza vaccination after transplantation