Sanofi launches high-dose flu vaccine in the UK

New vaccine aims to protect older adults from severe flu complications

Sanofi has announced the launch of its high-dose egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV-HD) in the UK. This vaccine is designed for people aged 65 and older, as well as clinically at-risk individuals aged 60 to 64.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended QIV-HD, and it is reimbursed by the NHS. The vaccine is now available for pre-order for the 2025/26 flu season.

Dr Yassir Javaid, a General Practitioner with a Special Interest in Cardiology, highlighted the importance of this development. “Flu can be a potentially devastating multi-system disease. The elderly are at greatest risk of severe complications, associated with high rates of hospitalisation and mortality.

“We are practicing in an evidence based world where, as far as possible, our treatment decisions should be based on high quality evidence and data. It is exciting to see the introduction of vaccines designed to address immunosenescence in older adults, irrespective of the season and circulating strain,” he added.

The high-dose vaccine has shown increased effectiveness compared to standard-dose vaccines. Over a decade of data, including randomised studies, supports its use. Sanofi manufactures and distributes over 250 million doses of influenza vaccines globally each year.

QIV-HD is the quadrivalent version of the high-dose trivalent influenza vaccine (HD-TIV). In a clinical trial with 31,989 participants aged over 65, HD-TIV was 24.2% more effective than standard-dose vaccines in preventing lab-confirmed influenza. These results have been inferred to QIV-HD through an immunobridging approach.

A meta-analysis of 21 studies involving over 45 million people aged 65 and over found that high-dose influenza vaccines reduce serious complications.

These include a 27.8% reduction in pneumonia hospitalisations and a 16.7% reduction in cardiorespiratory hospitalisations compared to standard-dose vaccines.