Seqirus Canada recognizes the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)’s recent recommendation for adults 65 years of age and older to preferentially receive an enhanced influenza vaccine, which includes adjuvanted and higher dose i. This recommendation is based on the clinical benefits compared to standard egg-based influenza vaccines, as demonstrated within the total body of evidence.
"It is critical that we do everything we can to help protect vulnerable populations like older adults against influenza,” said Gregg Sylvester, MD, Chief Health Officer, Seqirus. "We are proud to offer one of the enhanced flu vaccines that was preferentially recommended by the ACIP for adults 65 years and above in the U.S."
Influenza causes an average of 12,200 hospitalizations and approximately 3,500 deaths each year in Canada ii.
Adults over 65 years of age are greater risk due to immunosenescence, the age-associated decline of the immune system, and may result in a reduced immune response to antigens in the vaccine iii,iv,
“This news from the United States has an impact on public health around the world, including Canada,” said Bertrand Roy, Ph.D., Country Head Medical Affairs Canada at Seqirus. “This is a milestone as we prepare for the upcoming influenza season, as it provides guidance to healthcare providers on the standard of care to protect an at-risk population. We look forward to a similar recommendation in Canada to help immunizers optimize the delivery of annual influenza immunizations.”
The ACIP is composed of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the civilian population of the United States. The recommendations stand as public health guidance for safe use of vaccines and related biological products v.
i CDC. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). General Committee Information. Retrieved June 28, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/committee/index.html
ii Government of Canada. (2020). Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter on Influenza and Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2020–2021. Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/vaccines-immunization/canadian-immunization-guide-statement-seasonal-influenza-vaccine-2020-2021.html. Accessed November 2020.
iii FLUAD® QUADRIVALENT (Influenza Vaccine, Adjuvanted) [package insert]. Holly Springs, NC: Seqirus Inc; 2019.
iv Frey SE, Aplasca-De Los Reyes MR, Reynales H, et al. (2014). Comparison of the safety and immunogenicity of an MF59®-adjuvanted with a non-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine in elderly subjects. Vaccine. 2014;32:5027-5034.
v CDC. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). General Committee Information. Retrieved June 28, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/committee/index.html