High Dose Influenza Vaccine

influenza-virus

All adults 65 years of age and older are advised to receive an annual influenza vaccine, according to Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), as this age group is considered to be at particularly high-risk of influenza-related complications or hospitalization.

FLUZONE® High-Dose vaccine, developed for adults 65 years of age and older has shown to be significantly more effective in preventing lab-confirmed influenza illness versus a standard dose trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV).

As the immune system declines with age, older adults do not respond to standard dose influenza vaccines as well as younger adults. FLUZONE® High-Dose vaccine was developed to address the need for an enhanced immune response in those 65 years of age and older. FLUZONE®

Impact of Influenza on adults 65 years & older in Canada:

  • Adults 65 years and older experience heightened susceptibility to influenza-related complications due in large part to a natural and progressive weakening of the immune system with age.
  • Adults 65 years of age and older represent 15 per cent of Canadian population but account for 70 per cent of total influenza-related hospitalizations and 90 per cent of total influenza-related deaths
  • While most people can recover from influenza in as few as seven days, it may take longer for adults 65 years of age as they are at risk of developing more severe complications, including pneumonia or worsening underlying medical conditions.

About FLUZONE® High-Dose Vaccine

FLUZONE® High-Dose is a trivalent vaccine that contains four times the amount of hemagglutinin (HA) per strain as compared to a standard dose vaccine. FLUZONE® High-Dose is indicated for active immunization against influenza caused by the specific strains of influenza virus contained in the vaccine in adults 65 years of age and older. It is administered as a single 0.5 mL injection by the intramuscular route.

Remember:

Influenza vaccine is a very effective way to protect people from getting sick with influenza. You need to get immunized every year because the influenza viruses change. A new vaccine is made each year to protect against the viruses most likely to cause illness in that year. The best time to get immunized is in October or November, but you can get immunized any time during the influenza season.

X