Researchers begin trial for high-dose flu vaccine

KPWHRI is seeking volunteers ages 50 to 64 who have not received this season’s flu vaccine to join the trial

Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) are inviting people ages 50 to 64 to take part in a trial evaluating the effectiveness of an investigational high-dose flu vaccine. The vaccine includes higher amounts of antigen — the material that creates an immune response — than standard-dose flu vaccines.

The high-dose vaccine is already approved for use in people ages 65 and older in the United States, and KPWHRI has previously collaborated on research showing that the vaccine offers enhanced protection against the flu for this age group.

“As people get older, they have weaker immune systems, making it harder for them to fight off infections,” said Lisa Jackson, MD, MPH, a senior investigator at KPWHRI who leads the institute’s vaccine research. “We know the high-dose vaccine can be beneficial for people ages 65 and above. Now we want to learn whether it might also be beneficial for younger adults.”

About the trial

The trial is sponsored by vaccine-maker Sanofi. Study participants will be randomly assigned to receive one injection of either the high-dose flu vaccine or the standard-dose flu vaccine. Neither the participants nor the researchers will know which vaccine each participant receives. To be eligible, volunteers must not have had this season’s flu vaccine. They do not have to be Kaiser Permanente members to take part in the trial.

Participants will have 2 in-person visits at the KPWHRI research clinic in downtown Seattle during the first month of the study. For 8 days after their vaccination, participants will use a phone app to report any reactions they may have. They will also have a follow-up phone call 6 months after they enrolled in the study. Study participants will be compensated for their time and effort.

How to take part in the trial

To learn more about participating, please email KPWA.Vaccine@kp.org with your full name, date of birth, and the best phone number and time to reach you (please do not include personal identifiers in the subject line of the email). The study will only be open for enrollment for a few weeks.

Visit ClinicalTrials.gov for additional details.

By Sophie Ramsey