High-Dose, Quad Flu Shots Found Superior to Standard Influenza Vaccines

The journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection published the results from a post-hoc analysis regarding the relative effectiveness of high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV-HD) vs. standard-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV-SD) against recurrent hospitalizations for seniors.

Published on January 27, 2024, this analysis found that among 12,477 randomly assigned participants, receiving QIV-HD was associated with lower incidence rates of hospitalisations for pneumonia or influenza (10 vs. 33 events, IRR 0.30 [95% CI 0.14-0.64], p=0.002).

And all-cause hospitalisations (647 vs. 742 events, IRR 0.87 [95% CI 0.76-0.99], p=0.032) compared with QIV-SD.

These researchers wrote, 'Our exploratory results correspond to a number needed to treat 65 (95% CI 35-840) persons vaccinated with QIV-HD compared with QIV-SD to prevent one additional all-cause hospitalization per season.'

'Further research is needed to confirm these hypothesis-generating findings.'

As of January 29, 2024, over 156 million cell, egg, and nasal-based influenza vaccines were distributed in the U.S. during the 2023-2024 flu season.