Are high dose flu vaccines better than normal doses for those over 65?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-08-30 22:00

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A series of papers comparing high dose flu vaccines with standard doses has found they may have benefits for those over 65. One large study in Denmark found a trend towards high dose vaccines being better at preventing hospitalisations, although the results were not statistically significant, while a second study in Spain found a significant benefit for high-dose flu vaccines. When the results of the two similar studies were put together and analysed, there was a significant reduction in influenza or pneumonia hospitalisations with high dose vaccines. A fourth study, which analysed the Danish data, also found that the risk of myocarditis or pericarditis was
lower among people taking the high dose vaccine.