A health technology assessment conducted by HIQA has found evidence that two types of enhanced flu vaccines may be more effective than the standard flu vaccine in preventing cases of flu or flu-related hospitalisation in those aged 65 and older.
The assessment also found that some of the enhanced vaccines are associated with a higher risk of certain side effects compared with standard flu vaccines, but these reactions are usually mild and short-lived.
Overall, the assessment noted that flu vaccines are generally safe and well tolerated, and that serious side effects are rare with both standard and enhanced flu vaccines.
Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA’s Deputy CEO and Director of Health Technology Assessment, said: “People aged 65 years and older are disproportionately affected by the flu resulting in a substantial burden on patients, carers and healthcare services every winter. In Ireland, this burden has continued to exist despite a well-established Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme that offers a free standard flu vaccine to those aged 65 years and older, among others.
“While our assessment found that switching to an enhanced flu vaccine for this age group may reduce the burden of influenza, there is substantial uncertainty in relation to the cost of these vaccines to the HSE. HIQA has advised that the choice of enhanced vaccine and whether such a switch would represent a good use of HSE resources will depend on the price the HSE has to pay relative to the price of a standard flu vaccine.”
The assessment was undertaken at the request of the Department of Health to inform the Minister for Health’s decision on funding a potential switch by the HSE from a standard to an enhanced flu vaccine for this age group.
The full report can be read on our website.
(Pictured at the beginning of this article: Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA’s Deputy CEO and Director of Health Technology Assessment.)