Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) provided advice to the Minister for Health and Health Service Executive (HSE) regarding a potential switch from a standard to an enhanced influenza (flu) vaccine for people aged 65 years and older as part of the HSE Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme.

HIQA’s health technology assessment found evidence that two types of enhanced flu vaccines (adjuvanted and high-dose flu vaccines) may be more effective than standard flu vaccines in preventing cases of flu or flu-related hospitalisation in this age group.

The assessment also found that some of the enhanced vaccines are associated with a higher risk of certain side effects (such as headache, pain at the injection site or fever) 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.”

This assessment included a public consultation held from 30 May to 11 July this year, during which input was sought from the public on a preliminary draft report. Feedback received was considered in the finalisation of this assessment, and is summarised in a separate statement of outcomes document.

HIQA undertook this assessment 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, a plain language summary, the statement of outcomes from the public consultation, and an infographic can be found at the link at the top of the page.

ENDS

Further information:
Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement 085 805 5202 / mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to Editor:

• HIQA has today published the following document:
  • Health technology assessment of use of an enhanced inactivated influenza vaccine for those aged 65 years and older in the HSE Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme.
• Seasonal influenza (flu) is an acute viral infection that infects the lungs and upper airways, and causes respiratory and systemic symptoms including fever, malaise, myalgia, headache, sore throat and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are also common. More information on flu is available here.
• Some people have an increased risk of severe disease and may require hospitalisation. These high-risk groups include those with underlying medical conditions (such as chronic respiratory disease, chronic heart disease and diabetes), infants and young children, pregnant women and those aged 65 years and older. Antiviral agents are recommended for the treatment and prevention of influenza in those at risk of complicated influenza — see here.
• Vaccination can offer protection against seasonal flu by preventing infection and or reducing its severity, as well as preventing onward transmission to others. Annual vaccination is recommended because of waning immunity, and also due to the fact that flu strains can change each year.
• In Ireland, a free annual flu vaccine is provided by the HSE to certain groups of people and those who are at increased risk of developing severe illness from flu, including people aged 65 years and older. Currently, only standard flu vaccines are offered to this age group; however, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended an enhanced flu vaccine for those aged 65 years and older. Information in relation to NIAC is available here.
• Information on receiving a flu vaccine can be found here.