High-Dose or Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccine: Which Is Better for Older Adults?

Influenza is responsible for a significant proportion of office visits, hospital admissions, and excess deaths during flu season, especially among elderly individuals. Previous research has shown that annual standard-dose (SD) influenza vaccination elicits only a moderate immune response — and less than optimal protection — in those aged ≥65, and that vaccines with higher antigen content may provide better effectiveness.

In a retrospective observational study, French researchers compared the effectiveness of high-dose (HD) quadrivalent influenza vaccine (4-fold higher antigen content) with SD quadrivalent vaccine regarding prevention of hospital admissions during the 2021/2022 influenza season. In all, >8 million influenza vaccines were admi…