May 21, 2020 / By Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Meg Wagner and Zamira Rahim, CNN
Vaccine doctor says seniors must be included in studies.
Seniors must be included in therapeutic and vaccine studies, because they have a weaker immune system and respond differently to medicines, Dr. Mark Mulligan, director of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at the Langone Vaccine Center, told senators today. 
Speaking before Senate Aging Committee hearing on “Caring for Seniors Amid the Covid-19 Crisis,” Mulligan said the participation of older adults in studies is already common practice in things like the flu vaccine.
“Having a stronger vaccine, one with an adjuvant, one with a higher dose may be necessary for Covid-19 and seniors as well,” Mulligan
Adjuvants are ingredients added to vaccines to help them work better, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We also want to be sure that treatments are tolerated well and are safe in seniors; their system is different. So we need to be sure to include seniors in our treatments, as well as our vaccine studies,” Mulligan said.