Study Examines Enhanced Flu Vaccine for Older Adults

Why it matters locally: Given that older adults in Illinois are susceptible to more severe flu outcomes, the availability of an enhanced vaccine could have a direct impact on public health initiatives within the state.

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MAIDENHEAD, United Kingdom – CSL Seqirus announced the publication of Phase 3 study results in The Lancet for an influenza vaccine developed for adults 65 years and older. The vaccine, called FLUAD QUADRIVALENT, integrates three established methods to enhance immune response in a single formulation. The trial, which included over 25,000 participants across 85 study sites in the United States, compared FLUAD QUADRIVALENT to a standard quadrivalent influenza vaccine. The primary goal of the study was to evaluate the comparative vaccine effectiveness in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza. Researchers reported a relative vaccine effectiveness of 24.2% for FLUAD QUADRIVALENT against influenza events compared to the standard vaccine. The study also examined specific influenza types, finding a 21.5% relative effectiveness against influenza A and a 35.1% relative effectiveness against influenza B. Safety data showed that FLUAD QUADRIVALENT demonstrated a similar safety profile to the comparator vaccine. Dr. Chris Roberts, Vice President of Research and Development at CSL Seqirus, commented on the findings. “These data illustrate how our adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine can improve protection for older adults,” Roberts said. He noted that influenza poses a significant public health challenge, particularly for this age group, due to changes in their immune systems. Influenza often causes more severe illness in older adults, leading to higher rates of hospitalization and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that individuals 65 and older account for a majority of influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths during most seasons. FLUAD QUADRIVALENT received licensure in the United States for adults 65 years and older in 2020. The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) also provided a positive opinion for its use in adults aged 65 and older in December 2020. Regulatory bodies in Australia, Canada, and various European countries have approved the vaccine.