Photo Credit - CDC PHIL
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Sanofi Pasteur’s Fluzone High-Dose influenza vaccine was approved in 2010 for seniors over the age of 65, a group that normally doesn’t get as much protection from flu shots as do younger recipients. The problem of diminished vaccine effectiveness in the elderly has been frequently discussed in this blog, most recently in PLoS One: Limited Effectiveness Of Flu Vaccines In The Elderly and BMC Infectious Diseases: Waning Flu Vaccine Protection In the Elderly.
This new high-dose flu vaccine contains 4 times the normal amount of antigen; 60 µg of each of the three recommended strains, instead of the normal 15 µg (see MMWR On High Dose Flu Vaccine For Seniors).
Although more antigen ought to provide more protection, until now we haven’t had any large-scale studies showing just how effective this new formulation really is. Last August, Sanofi released a press statement with a preview of recently completed studies showing their High-dose Fluzone to be `significantly more effective’ in adults over 65 than their standard Fluzone vaccine.
Yesterday, Dr. David Greenberg from Sanofi Pasteur presented the findings of their two-season confirmatory efficacy trial to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Findings that suggest the high-dose Fluzone is roughly 24.2% more effective at preventing influenza than the standard dose in adults over 65.
Lisa Schnirring, writing for CIDRAP NEWS, has a long and informative article on this presentation.
Early results in large trial affirm high-dose flu vaccine for seniors
Lisa Schnirring | Staff Writer | CIDRAP News
Oct 24, 2013
