Beyond Vaccine Mismatch: Optimizing influenza protection in high-risk populations

Seasonal influenza continues to cause substantial morbidity, hospitalization, and death among older adults and other high-risk populations, yet vaccination rates remain suboptimal. Pharmacists play a critical role in improving influenza vaccine uptake by addressing the World Health Organization's Behavioural and Social Drivers (BeSD) of vaccination framework. This lesson reviews the impact of influenza disease, the evolving science of influenza vaccine technologies, and practical strategies pharmacists can use to increase vaccine uptake and protect high-risk patients from severe influenza-related outcomes.

Course Author: Ajit Johal, BSc (pharm), RPh MEd, CTH

Accredited for 1.25 CEUs by the Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy; CCCEP #1329-2026-4188-I-P.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the clinical and public health benefits of influenza immunization, including its role in reducing influenza-related morbidity, hospitalization, mortality, and cardiovascular complications.
2. Address common misconceptions regarding influenza vaccination, including concerns related to strain mismatch, antigenic drift, and vaccine effectiveness.
3. Compare available influenza vaccine options (adjuvanted, high-dose, egg-based, and cell-based) with respect to mechanism of action, immunogenicity, and clinical effectiveness.
4. Explain how enhanced influenza vaccines (e.g., adjuvanted and high-dose formulations) influence the strength and duration of immune response.
5. Identify patients who are most likely to benefit from enhanced influenza vaccines, by applying shared decision-making principles that are aligned with current National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidelines.

This learning activity has received financial support in the form of an unrestricted grant from Seqirus