Influenza, with adjuvanted vaccines more protection for over 65s

by time news

In Italy, influenza and its complications cause an average of 8,000 deaths a year of which, according to ECDC data, 90% are elderly. “The aging processes involving the immune system starting from 65 years of age – he explains Francesco Landi, president of the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics – result in a reduction in the ability to produce an efficient immune response in response to the attack of pathogens such as influenza viruses “.


For this reason, scientific research aims to provide increasingly innovative and appropriate tools to meet the needs of patients, also in the vaccination field. With this in mind last May the European Medicines Agency has granted authorization for Fluad Tetra to be used in European countries, adjuvanted quadrivalent vaccine for active influenza prophylaxis in subjects over 65 years of age. It will be available in Italy starting from the next 2021/2022 influenza vaccination campaign.

“The clinical evidence collected over the years – underlines Landi – testifies the importance of using adjuvanted vaccines in enhancing the protection of over-65s. The presence of the adjuvant component confers a series of additional benefits such as greater immunogenicity, a broader and more extended immune response over time, cross-protection against influenza viruses that can mutate during the flu season and thus differ from those included in the vaccine composition “.

The appropriateness of the vaccine is also important. “There are many flu vaccines in relation to the age and state of health of the subject – underlines Roberto Ieraci, infectious disease specialist and scientific referent for ASL Roma 1 vaccinations and vaccination strategies of the Lazio Region – Providing a fair vaccination offer, easily accessible for the presence in Italy of the 65 thousand offices of general practitioners enhanced by a personalized approach, prevention is carried out with precision adequate to the individual needs of the patient. What happened last year in various Italian regions where – Ieraci recalls – given to the vaccination services of family doctors a single type of vaccine that started from six months up to 100 years is inadmissible, because the flu vaccine must be given in relation to age and state of health “.

Covid, Ieraci infectious disease specialist: “Yes to co-administration with the flu vaccine”

You may also like

Leave a Comment