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A high-dose flu shot has proven to be much more effective in keeping seniors healthy, according to a study by the Oregon Health Authority.
The state's public health agency collects annual data on hospitalizations related to influenza. The researchers tracked more than 144,000 Portland area residents aged 65 or older during last year's flu season. They found that seniors receiving the high-dose influenza vaccine were 30% less likely to be hospitalized.
The high dose vaccine is four times more potent than the standard because it contains more antigens that trigger an immune response to the virus. Older people often have a weaker immune system and may be susceptible to the flu, even with a standard vaccine.
Steve Robison, senior study author and epidemiologist of the Oregon Immunization Program, said older people should receive the flu vaccine best suited to boost their immune response. High dose vaccines are the best choice.
The study did not consider adjuvanted vaccines, which contain an additional chemical to create a stronger antigen response, but Robison said they were also a better option than the standard influenza vaccine.
The study looked at who had received the influenza vaccine before December 11, 2016. Influenza epidemics worsened in mid-January. This period allowed the vaccinated people to develop antibodies to fight against viruses.
Oregon is one of the few states to monitor influenza-related hospitalizations, which made this study possible.
This study took place during a particularly bad flu season. All age groups followed by the federal government had a high number of people who visited outpatient clinics and emergency departments and were hospitalized for influenza. The duration and geographical distribution of these reports was also unusually high.
The children died at the highest rate ever recorded. From autumn 2017 to spring 2018, 180 children died of the flu – the highest of all time in the United States – 171 in 2013.
About 80% of the deceased children have not received a flu shot.
For those who have received the vaccine, this has reduced the need for medical care by 40%.
The flu shot is covered by insurance and health insurance. Vaccination programs in pharmacies tend to charge about $ 30 for a standard trivalent vaccine, and other types are slightly more expensive.
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