Ann Falsey, an infectious diseases specialist at Rochester General Hospital, presented her findings at the 48th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and the Infectious Diseases Society of America's 46th annual meeting.
Such a dose was found to boost antibodies that fight the flu virus by between 30 and 80 per cent in test subjects.
These findings may help to reduce the mortality rate associated with the disease as some 90 per cent of the 36,000 US citizens who die from flu-related illnesses every year are aged 65 or over.
"Without doubt, the influenza vaccine as it is today is beneficial for everyone - including older adults - and we strongly encourage every older person and every person with a chronic illness to get vaccinated," Ms Falsey explained.
Meanwhile, seniors who receive a regular flu shot have been found to be better at taking care of their general health, University of Alberta has found.
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