Operational Framework and Feasibility of the GALFLU Study: A Pragmatic Individually Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating High-Dose Versus Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccination in Older Adults

BackgroundOptimizing influenza vaccination in older adults is a public health priority. While high-dose inactivated influenza vaccines (HD-IIV) have shown superior immunogenicity and efficacy over standard-dose vaccines (SD-IIV), there is a shortage of large-scale, individually randomized data evaluating real-world effectiveness against severe outcomes--especially within publicly funded health systems. MethodsGALFLU is a pragmatic, individually randomized, open-label clinical trial comparing HD-IIV and SD-IIV in adults aged 65-79 years in Galicia, Spain, during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 influenza seasons. The trial embedded individual randomization into the regional vaccination program and exploited digital health registries for comprehensive, low-burden data collection under real-world conditions. The primary outcome is relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) against a composite of influenza- or pneumonia-related hospitalizations. Secondary and exploratory outcomes include rVE against cardio-respiratory disease, laboratory-confirmed influenza, all-cause hospitalization, mortality, and healthcare utilization. ResultsGALFLU successfully demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale, pragmatic randomized controlled trials within routine clinical practice. Across both seasons, 133,822 participants were randomized (59,490 in 2023/24 and 74,986 in 2024/25), typically within 4-5 weeks per season. Automated linkage ensured >99% follow-up using electronic clinical and laboratory registries. ConclusionsGALFLU provides an effective, scalable operational framework for generating robust real-world evidence through pragmatic, individually randomized trials embedded in public health systems. This model serves as a blueprint for future vaccine evaluations, supports regulatory and policy decisions with high-quality, population-level data, and illustrates the evolution toward "learning health systems" that integrate pragmatic trials within routine care.