The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has provided advice to the Minister for Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) regrding a potential switch from a standard to an enhanced influenza vaccine for those aged 65 and older.
The switch would be part of the HSE Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme.
HIQA said its 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.
HIQA deputy chief executive and director of health technology assessment, Dr Máirín Ryan, 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 May 30th to July 11th 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.
