The study results come as the ACIP is reviewing data to provide guidelines for flu vaccines in older adults.
A majority of health care providers in the United States said that if they could recommend one flu vaccine for adults 65 and older to the CDC, they would choose a vaccine with the clinical profile of the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine.
The study, involving 700 healthcare providers in the United States, was conducted by Ipsos and sponsored by Sanofi. It is designed to evaluate the flu vaccine brand preference of providers for 3 different flu vaccines.
According to the study, 66% of respondents said that if they were voting members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), they would recommend a vaccine such as the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent for older adults. These responses cited several reasons, including the vaccine’s superior efficacy compared to a standard-dose flu vaccine and the total number of years evaluated in real-world studies.
The study results come as ACIP is reviewing data to provide guidelines for flu vaccines in older adults. According to a Sanofi press release, the results underline the importance of an ACIP preference recommendation.
Influenza can lead to life-threatening complications, especially in older adults, including pneumonia and serious heart disease. Estimates have shown that between 70% and 85% of flu-related deaths and between 50% and 70% of flu-related hospitalizations occurred in adults aged 65 and older. However, ACIP recommendations for flu vaccines in that population have not changed since 2010. Currently, ACIP does not provide preferred vaccine recommendations for these patients.
Presenting blinded clinical profiles of 3 vaccines (the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Fluzone Quadrivalent and Fluad Quadrivalent), nearly 74% of respondents said they would recommend a vaccine with the clinical profile of the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine in compared to another flu vaccine designed for this patient population.
In addition, 76% of respondents said they would recommend a vaccine with the same clinical profile to their own family and friends who are 65 or older, and 72% of healthcare providers said they would prefer a vaccine with this clinical profile for themselves if they are in this age range. Finally, 96% of health care providers are very or somewhat likely to follow ACIP guidelines when vaccinating older adults against the seasonal flu.
“Given the importance of protecting this vulnerable population from influenza, this new study underscores the need for clear and specific guidance, ideally with a recommendation for Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, based on demonstrated clinical results and real-world evidence,” said Michael Greenberg, MD, North America medical chief of vaccines at Sanofi, in the press release. “In fact, most health care professionals surveyed said they would prefer a vaccine with the clinical profile of Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent for themselves, their families and friends.”
The Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent Vaccine has protection against 4 strains of flu and is the only flu vaccine approved for use in adults 65 and older that has shown superior efficacy in a randomized controlled trial compared to a standard-dose flu vaccine, according to Sanofi. According to the press release, it is also the only flu vaccine with 10 years of data demonstrating protection against flu and its complications.
In a meta-analysis of 15 published reports, including approximately 34 million vaccine recipients, those receiving the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent experienced an approximately 18% reduction in cardiorespiratory hospitalizations and a greater than 27% reduction in pneumonia hospitalizations, both of which were are reductions above what the standard dose vaccines provided.
†[ACIP] guidance could help improve patient and caregiver confidence, patient outcomes and patient access to the recommended vaccine,” Greenberg said in the press release. “It’s important for ACIP guidance to follow the science, especially for older adults who are most affected by seasonal flu.”
REFERENCE
Survey: Doctors and pharmacists would tell the CDC to recommend a vaccine like Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent (influenza vaccine) for people age 65 and older. news item. Sanofi; June 22, 2022. Accessed June 22, 2022. https://www.news.sanofi.us/2022-06-21-Survey-Physicians-and-pharmacists-would-tell-CDC-to-recommend-vaccine-like – Fluzone-High-Dose-Quadrivalent-Influenza-Vaccine-For-People-65 Years And Older