Which flu vaccine is right for me?
When I got my flu shot last month, I saw there was also a more powerful vaccine for people 65 and over. I’m “only” 50. Is there a reason I have to wait another 15 years to get the good stuff?
Dr. Prescott prescribes
First of all, high five to you for getting vaccinated! It’s important to do this every year. Influenza strains are constantly changing, so last year’s vaccine won’t protect against this year’s flu bugs.
The vaccine you received contains a standard dose of immune-stimulating antigens. But almost a decade ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved a second vaccine, called Fluzone High-Dose.
That vaccine contains four times more immunity-boosting antigens. Consequently, it jumpstarts the production of more antibodies than the standard vaccine.
In studies of people age 65 and older, the high-dose vaccine has been found to be 24 percent better than the vaccine you received at preventing the flu. It also appears to reduce some serious complications — including pneumonia and heart issues — that can accompany the flu.
A few small trials have shown that the high-dose vaccine produces more antibodies in younger people. That suggests it would produce similar real-world results (better protection, fewer life-threatening complications) in people under the age of 65.
However, here’s the caveat: Fluzone was only approved for those 65 and older.
The reason for this is that the clinical trial leading to its approval only involved elderly patients. As a result, we don’t have sufficient data to know for sure if it works better in younger people. Similarly, we can’t know with certainty that it’s safe for this group.
Personally, I’d just enjoy my (relative) youth and receive the standard vaccine. It’s safe and, in most years, offers strong protection for young and middleage immune systems.
That said, there is another option. Physicians can prescribe medications for “offlabel” uses of medications. This would qualify as just such a use.
So, if you’re bent on supercharging your immunity and are OK with extra risks (increased injectionsite pains and muscle aches are most likely), talk to your doctor.
Prescott, a physician and medical researcher, is president of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Cohen is a marathoner and OMRF’s senior vice president and general counsel.