Sanofi Begins Supplying High-Dose Flu Vaccine for Seniors Aged 65 and Over

Contains Four Times More Antigen Than Standard-Dose Flu Vaccines

Sanofi Korea, the Korean subsidiary of the global biopharmaceutical company Sanofi, announced on the 24th that it began nationwide distribution of its high-dose flu vaccine, 'Efluelda Prefilled Syringe,' on the 18th in preparation for the flu vaccination season.

High-dose flu vaccine for those aged 65 and over, 'Efluelda Prefilled Syringe'. Sanofi

Efluelda Prefilled Syringe is the first and only high-dose flu vaccine in Korea that contains four times more antigen than conventional (standard) dose flu vaccines. It was developed to enhance immune responses in the elderly and to strengthen flu prevention efficacy.

People aged 65 and over are more vulnerable to flu infections compared to younger adults, and they also face a higher risk of complications and hospitalization due to the flu. However, due to immunosenescence, their immune response to vaccination is reduced, which has highlighted the need for vaccines specifically designed for seniors.

Efluelda Prefilled Syringe is the only high-immunogenicity flu vaccine recommended by the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases for those aged 65 and over that has demonstrated superior preventive efficacy over conventional (standard) dose vaccines in randomized clinical trials.

Containing four times more antigen than standard-dose flu vaccines, it has shown 24% to 51% higher preventive effectiveness compared to conventional (standard) dose vaccines, as well as a 64% reduction in hospitalization rates related to pneumonia and influenza. The rate of discontinuation due to serious adverse events was 0.5% in both the high-dose and standard-dose groups, and these events were found to be unrelated to the vaccine, confirming its reliability in terms of safety.

Park Heekyung, Head of Vaccines at Sanofi Korea, stated, "In line with the World Health Organization's recommendation to switch to trivalent flu vaccines, we are pleased to have completed the timely supply of Efluelda Prefilled Syringe to help establish an effective flu prevention system for the elderly aged 65 and over."