A high-dose flu shot can keep more older people out of hospital

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-05-27 01:00

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An influenza vaccine with a higher dose is more effective at preventing flu cases and hospitalisations in older people compared to the standard dose, according to an analysis of eight previous trials on the topic. An international research team funded by the high-dose vaccine manufacturer assessed randomised controlled trials comparing the high-dose option with the standard dose in a combined total of 600,000 people aged 65+, looking at the rate of pneumonia, influenza, hospitalisations and death. The researchers say the higher dose vaccine was linked to improvements in everything except deaths, with participants who had the higher dose vaccine less likely to develop influenza or pneumonia or end up in hospital.