Adults ages 65+ have a higher risk for developing complications from the flu and account for more than 60% of the flu-related hospitalizations each year. Recent studies show that people ages 65+ may not respond as well to standard-dose flu shots because they do not produce as high of an antibody response following vaccination as do younger people. People with low antibody levels may be at higher risk of catching the flu. While adults ages 65 + may receive a standard flu shot, there are vaccines, such as Fluzone High - Dose and FLUAD, designed specifically for patients ages 65 + that work by improving the production of antibodies in order to provide a stronger immune response to the flu than traditional vaccines .Like the standard flu shot, these vaccines are given as an injection in the arm and the side effects are similar, though some patients may experience increased pain, redness, or swelling around the injection site compared to standard - dose flu vaccines.