Influenza Vaccines: Is the Quality of Evidence the Same?

The flu is something we hear about every year at the turn of each respiratory disease season. Although some people diligently head to pharmacies or physicians’ offices for their annual vaccinations, others dismiss the trips as an inconvenience. However, what these people might not realize is that the flu can be much worse than they think.

“There is a perception that the flu is simply a short-term nuisance and illness that may last a few days to a week, causing fever, headache, malaise, muscle aches, cough, and a respiratory infection,” said Kristen Thorson, PharmD, medical values and outcomes director at Sanofi Vaccines at the April 2024 Total Pharmacy Solutions Summit. “But that is just the tip of the iceberg.”

The true medical, economical, and societal burden of influenza can be devastating. The virus can wreak havoc on vital organs, including the brain, heart, and lungs. Older adults are especially at risk of severe outcomes such as stroke, heart attack, and loss of independence. Fortunately, influenza vaccination remains an important tool for prevention.

According to Thorson, pharmacists play essential roles in promoting immunization and protecting the public from unanticipated adverse events.

“Pharmacists are uniquely positioned as immunizers. [They’re] aware of what medications patients are on, [they’re] aware of the chronic conditions that they are living with, and [they] are in a unique position to discuss those risks with patients and encourage vaccination not only of themselves, but of the family members that are in close contact with them,” said Thorson.

But despite the demonstrated efficacy of influenza vaccines in protecting the public from getting sick, they have become increasingly underutilized. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccine coverage rates were increasing each year, but since the public health emergency, flu vaccination coverage rates in all age groups have declined. The 2022-2023 flu season witnessed a new low overall flu vaccine coverage rate of 40%.

To that, Thorson urges pharmacists to think back to their pandemic immunization efforts and “know the power of their recommendation,” to boost public protection from influenza.

“Overall, pharmacists have been huge in vaccination efforts through and since the pandemic, and I ask for everybody’s assistance and continued work on raising overall flu vaccination coverage rates,” Thorson concluded.