tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Expert Rev Vaccines
. 2025 May 1.
doi: 10.1080/14760584.2025.2499728. Online ahead of print. Enhanced influenza vaccination for older adults in Europe: a review of the current situation and expert recommendations for the future
Gaëtan Gavazzi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Bertrand Fougère[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Olivier Hanon[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Isabel Leroux-Roels[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Etienne Brochot[SUP] 8 9 [/SUP], Elodie Blanchard[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Colin A Russell[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Marc Paccalin[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Tino F Schwarz[SUP] 13 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Introduction: Influenza causes considerable morbidity and mortality in Europe, particularly among older adults due to comorbidities, as well as immunosenescence and inflammaging, which contribute to a diminished immune response. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent poor outcomes; however, uptake is suboptimal and many countries recommend standard vaccines despite evidence supporting better protection with enhanced (adjuvanted and high-dose) vaccines.
Areas covered: A multidisciplinary group of experts reviewed the burden of influenza in Europe and evaluated data on enhanced vaccines, providing recommendations for their use in older adults. The group discussed barriers to vaccination and strategies to increase uptake.
Expert opinion: Improving protection of older adults against influenza relies upon increasing vaccine uptake and ensuring access to vaccines that overcome age-related immunological decline. Achieving higher uptake requires national policies that facilitate equitable access and clear communication about vaccine eligibility. Based on available evidence, enhanced vaccines offer better protection than standard vaccines against hospitalization and complications in older adults. National recommendations should prioritize the use of enhanced influenza vaccines over standard vaccines in older adults. Limitations to interpretation of evidence include discrepancies in reporting of influenza-related medical encounters, underreporting of complications, and lack of randomized studies comparing high-dose and adjuvanted vaccines.
Keywords: Epidemiology; adjuvant; older adults; prevention; public health; relative vaccine effectiveness; vaccination policy; vaccine coverage.
. 2025 May 1.
doi: 10.1080/14760584.2025.2499728. Online ahead of print. Enhanced influenza vaccination for older adults in Europe: a review of the current situation and expert recommendations for the future
Gaëtan Gavazzi[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Bertrand Fougère[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Olivier Hanon[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Isabel Leroux-Roels[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Etienne Brochot[SUP] 8 9 [/SUP], Elodie Blanchard[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Colin A Russell[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Marc Paccalin[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Tino F Schwarz[SUP] 13 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 40311084
- DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2025.2499728
Introduction: Influenza causes considerable morbidity and mortality in Europe, particularly among older adults due to comorbidities, as well as immunosenescence and inflammaging, which contribute to a diminished immune response. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent poor outcomes; however, uptake is suboptimal and many countries recommend standard vaccines despite evidence supporting better protection with enhanced (adjuvanted and high-dose) vaccines.
Areas covered: A multidisciplinary group of experts reviewed the burden of influenza in Europe and evaluated data on enhanced vaccines, providing recommendations for their use in older adults. The group discussed barriers to vaccination and strategies to increase uptake.
Expert opinion: Improving protection of older adults against influenza relies upon increasing vaccine uptake and ensuring access to vaccines that overcome age-related immunological decline. Achieving higher uptake requires national policies that facilitate equitable access and clear communication about vaccine eligibility. Based on available evidence, enhanced vaccines offer better protection than standard vaccines against hospitalization and complications in older adults. National recommendations should prioritize the use of enhanced influenza vaccines over standard vaccines in older adults. Limitations to interpretation of evidence include discrepancies in reporting of influenza-related medical encounters, underreporting of complications, and lack of randomized studies comparing high-dose and adjuvanted vaccines.
Keywords: Epidemiology; adjuvant; older adults; prevention; public health; relative vaccine effectiveness; vaccination policy; vaccine coverage.