Study finds higher-dose vaccine for seniors protects better – but not great – against flu

ATLANTA – A long-awaited study shows that a high-dose flu vaccine for seniors works better than the standard shot.

Standard flu vaccines are only about 30 to 40 per cent effective in people 65 and older, who tend to have weaker immune systems. The new study suggests Sanofi's Fluzone High-Dose vaccine boosts protection to about 50 per cent.

The vaccine maker is scheduled to present preliminary results Thursday at a medical meeting in Atlanta.

The study was done during the past two flu seasons, and is the first to measure how much protection the new vaccine actually provides against the flu.

In younger adults, regular vaccines work better, with effectiveness of 60 per cent or better. Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone except for babies under 6 months.