By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos

I write, as a longstanding global health professional, about vaccinating our seniors against influenza and the “flu shot clinics” sponsored by the Senior Centers.

These local clinics can be an important service to the community. This is especially so given the heightened risks of influenza to seniors. However, as we get ready for flu season, it is important that those responsible for the flu shot clinics, as well as our local seniors, have seen the newest CDC recommendations on flu vaccines for those over 65.

The main point of the new recommendations is the following:

“For the 2022-2023 flu season, there are three flu vaccines that are preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older. These are Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine and Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine. This recommendation was based on a review of available studies, which suggests that, in this age group, these vaccines are potentially more effective than standard dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines. There is no preferential recommendation for people younger than 65 years.”

In light of the new CDC recommendations, it would not be appropriate for the Senior Centers to offer an influenza vaccine other than a high potency one to those over 65, unless such a vaccine was clinically contraindicated. Thus, for the sake of “simplicity” the flu shot clinics sponsored by the Senior Centers may wish to focus only on vaccinating those over 65 and only with a high potency vaccine.

In addition, when people at these clinics give consent for vaccination, they must do so knowing what type of vaccine they are getting. If, despite the new CDC recommendations, the Senior Centers were to offer the standard vaccine dose to those over 65, then the consent form for that vaccine would have to note that the patient is willingly receiving a vaccine that is not among those preferentially recommended by CDC for those 65 and over.

The comments above are meant to help inform the community about the important change in CDC recommendations on influenza vaccines for those over 65. They are not meant to substitute for our discussing with a primary care provider what is the most appropriate formulation for each of us of the influenza vaccine.

In addition, the community should note that these comments refer only to influenza vaccines. They do not refer to COVID vaccines, including the new bi-valent vaccines. Individuals will also want to pay careful attention to CDC and their physician’s advice about the timing of COVID and influenza vaccines, for which there are a number of alternatives.