Power vaccination for seniors

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The flu is particularly dangerous for the elderly. But it is precisely with them that a vaccination does not work as well. Researchers are looking for the turbo.

For people, the winter months are one thing above all else: cold and uncomfortable. However, they offer many viruses optimal living conditions: In the cold, these pathogens feel right at home and bring their human victims to their knees particularly quickly. Young, healthy adults almost always win the battle against influenza viruses, but for older people such a battle can be fatal in the worst case. For this reason, an annual flu vaccination is recommended for people aged 60 and over. However, it does not always offer them really effective protection - because older people, of all people, respond less well to vaccination than boys. Experts are therefore looking for new ways to better protect them. They want to boost their weakened immune system more.

Weak immune system

The real flu - caused by influenza viruses and not to be equated with a cold - is often underestimated. “The health risk of a flu infection always depends on physical fitness. In elderly or sick people, the efficiency of the immune system is often reduced, so that the flu can have serious effects, ”says Prof. Klaus Cichutek, head of the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI). Every year, an average of five to ten thousand people die in Germany as a result of the flu. Worldwide there are up to half a million - of which around 90 percent are over 65 years old, estimates the World Health Organization (WHO).

Older people often have worse cards due to their weaker immune response, and not only in the event of an infection. “They usually respond less to vaccinations, too,” explains Cichutek. The immune system is less stimulated. This means that the vaccination protection is lower.

Mild course

The immune system is particularly easy to stimulate in children: the vaccination works 85 percent of the time. In healthy adults, 50 to 60 percent are still protected, elderly people only respond to the vaccine by 30 to 50 percent.

The fact that a flu vaccination never offers 100 percent protection is due to the fact that virus strains can change within a season or new strains are added - drug developers cannot foresee that. Nevertheless, it is important: "A vaccination not only protects against influenza, but also mitigates the course," explains Cichutek's colleague Dr. Michael Pfleiderer, Head of the Viral Vaccines Division. Even if someone falls ill with the flu despite being vaccinated, the immune protection reduces the severity and duration of the illness. "Three days in your own bed are better than a longer stay in hospital," says Dr. Cornelius Remschmidt from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) told

Quadruple the dose

There are currently two approaches to improve vaccination protection for older people. First, high-dose vaccines could be used. In the USA, research is currently being carried out on vaccines with four times the active ingredient content. However, whether these are actually more effective is controversial. "The goal is to stimulate the less efficient immune system of older people more," says vaccine researcher Michael Pfleiderer.

The second approach: Combining conventional vaccines with enhancers, so-called adjuvants - this improves the immune response. Since 2000, one of these potentiometers or "boosters" has been used in seasonal influenza vaccines for people over 65 years of age. "However, we need even better immune stimulators for this age group," emphasizes Cichutek.

A third option would also be to combine both approaches. So to combine high-dose vaccines with active enhancers. This might also be a better way to stimulate a weaker immune system.

Future music

The vision of many researchers is a universal vaccine that is effective against all strains of influenza and does not have to be administered annually. A single vaccination would protect you for life. Cichutek says: "But there is still a very long way to go."

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