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High-dose influenza vaccine is recommended for adults older than 65; it contains four times more antigen than standard-dose vaccines, elicits higher antibody responses, and is thought to confer better protection. When the high-dose vaccine fails to prevent infection though, how do breakthrough cases fare?
In a retrospective, industry-supported study spanning three recent flu seasons, researchers analyzed data obtained from a nationwide U.S. Medicare database on almost 45,000 community-dwelling older adults who were either seen in an emergency department or were hospitalized for flu. After adjustment for age, comorbidities, and signs of frailty, those who had received high-dose vaccine had considerably lower post-flu mortality during all thre…