The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published the protocol for its health technology assessment (HTA) on the use of an enhanced inactivated influenza (flu) vaccine in those aged 65 years and older, as part of the HSE’s Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme. The protocol describes the approach that HIQA will use to complete its assessment.

HIQA agreed to undertake this work at the request of the Department of Health to inform the Minister for Health’s decision-making on the inclusion of enhanced flu vaccines in the national immunisation programme.

Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA’s Deputy CEO and Director of Health Technology Assessment, said: “Annual flu vaccination programmes aim to reduce the burden of flu by targeting those at highest risk of severe disease and hospitalisation.”

In Ireland, people aged 65 years and older can already receive the flu vaccine for free through the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme. Currently, a standard quadrivalent vaccine is used. In those aged 65 years and older, more than seven out of every 10 people have accessed the annual vaccine in recent years. Despite this, flu continues to represent a considerable burden in this age group with over 1,700 people admitted to hospital due to flu in the 2022-2023 flu season.

Dr Ryan continued, “The effectiveness of the flu vaccine can be reduced in some patient groups (for example, older adults) where the individual’s immune response to the vaccine can be suboptimal. Enhanced flu vaccines have been developed which aim to improve vaccine effectiveness.”

HIQA’s assessment will estimate the burden of flu in those aged 65 years and older in Ireland, and look at the clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and budget impact associated with changing the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme to include use of an enhanced flu vaccine in this population. The assessment will also look at the wider organisational, ethical and social issues associated with such a change.

HIQA will conduct a public consultation on this HTA before finalising the report. Following this consultation, the report will be updated as necessary based on the feedback received. The final HTA will be provided as advice to the Minister for Health to inform a decision on whether or not enhanced flu vaccines will be included in the HSE’s Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme.

Read the protocol on www.hiqa.ie.

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:
  • Use of an enhanced inactivated influenza vaccine for those aged 65 years and older in the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme: Protocol for a Health Technology Assessment
• Seasonal flu is characterised by 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. For most people, flu symptoms typically resolve in three to seven days, but some individuals are at higher risk of severe disease including hospitalisation and death. Groups at higher risk 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 or older. 
• You can find out more about the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2023/2024 here. 
• Information on receiving a flu vaccine can be found here.