How To Give Flu Vaccine Injection

Doses For Children < 9 Years Of Age

How is the flu shot given?

Children aged 6 months to < 9 years receiving influenza vaccine for the first time need 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart. This maximises the immune response to the vaccine strains.

Children who received 1 or more doses of influenza vaccine in a previous season only need 1 dose of influenza vaccine in the current and future seasons. 49,50

Follow standard recommendations when giving any extra dose during the current or future seasons .

Pregnancy And Influenza Immunisation

Pregnant women are at increased risk of complications from influenza. Influenza vaccine is strongly recommended and safe for pregnant women at any time during pregnancy. It can also be safely given while breastfeeding.

Influenza vaccination of pregnant women also protects infants against influenza for the first 6 months after birth due to transplacental transfer of antibodies from the vaccinated woman to the unborn baby.

How The Second Flu Shot Works

The second flu shot is a booster dose to improve the effectiveness of the flu vaccine in children. The second dose is given at least 28 days after the first dose. That first dose stimulates the child’s immune system, but it may not be enough to produce the level of antibodies needed for protection from the flu.

The second dose results in the child’s immune system producing enough antibodies so they will be able to fight off influenza when exposed. If your child didn’t receive the second dose, they likely have some protection against the flu, but it may not be enough.

Children Who Shouldnt Get The Nasal Spray Vaccine

Your child shouldn’t get the vaccine as a nasal spray if they:

have a severely weakened immune system due to certain conditions or medical treatments, ask your GP for advice
had a severe reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine, or any of the substances included in it, tell the person giving the vaccine about any allergies
take salicylates including acetylsalicylic acid
have a history of active wheezing at the time of vaccination
have severe asthma

If you have a severely weakened immune system and need treatment in an isolation unit, you should avoid close contact with vaccinated children for two weeks. There is a low risk that a child could pass the vaccine virus to you.

Possible Side Effects Of Influenza Vaccination

You may experience minor side effects following vaccination. Most reactions are mild and last no more than a couple of days and you will recover without any problems.

Common side effects of influenza vaccines include:

pain, redness, swelling or hardness where the needle went in
fever, tiredness, body aches.

Talk to your immunisation provider about possible side effects of the influenza vaccines, or if you or your child have side effects that worry you.

The Consumer Medicine Information available on the Therapeutic Goods Administration website lists the ingredients and side effects of each vaccine.

Learn more about the possible side effects of vaccination

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A Staff Member Inadvertently Administered The Wrong Dosage Of Influenza Vaccine How Do We Correct This

If a smaller than recommended dose of any inactivated influenza product is inadvertently administered, additional vaccine should be given so that the patient receives a full dose. The amount of vaccine that should be administered is based on when the patient is available to be revaccinated. For example:

If a partial dose of an inactivated influenza vaccine product is administered and revaccination can occur on the same clinic day, the patient should receive a remaining volume to total the correct dosage. For example, if the correct dosage for the patient is 0.5 mL and they received only 0.25 mL, an additional 0.25 mL should be given if revaccination can occur on the same day.
If the patient cannot be revaccinated until the next day or later, a full dose of inactivated influenza vaccine should be administered as soon as the patient can return.
If a larger dose of influenza vaccine is inadvertently administered, count the dose as valid. Revaccination with additional vaccine is not needed.

Giving an incorrect dose is considered a vaccine administration error. Healthcare personnel should take steps to determine how the error occurred and put strategies in place to prevent it from happening in the future.

What Is The Flu Vaccine

The influenza vaccine is used to prevent infection caused by the influenza virus. The flu can cause serious illness, especially in young children, older adults and people with chronic health problems, but anyone can become seriously ill from the flu virus. Even if you are not feeling sick, you could still be infected with the flu virus and pass it on to others. Read more about the flu.Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection and reduce the seriousness of illness if you become infected. Even if you get the flu after being vaccinated, you usually get a mild form of it and recover faster, and are less likely to have serious complications.

Being vaccinated causes your body to produce antibodies against the flu virus. This means your body can respond faster and more effectively to the flu. By first coming across a non-infectious version of the virus in the vaccine, it learns to recognise it. When it comes across it again, your body can react much faster and in a more effective way.

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Can I Get The Flu Vaccine If I Have A Latex Allergy

Influenza vaccines used in Australia dont contain latex and are safe for people with a latex allergy or sensitivity. While the product information for Fluarix Tetra and Fluad Quad state that some presentations of the vaccine cannot be considered latex-free, these presentations are actually not supplied in Australia.

Fever And Febrile Convulsions In Children Aged < 5 Years

Flu Vaccinations

In 2010, higher rates of fever and convulsions were reported in children aged < 5 years after influenza vaccination, especially in children aged < 3 years.

Only the Seqirus vaccines Fluvax and Fluvax Junior were associated with this side effect. After vaccination with Fluvax or Fluvax Junior, children < 5 years of age had convulsions at a rate of 4.4 per 1000 doses, compared with no such events reported among children who received an alternative vaccine in the same year.85

The Fluvax and Fluvax Junior vaccines are no longer available in Australia and available Seqirus vaccines have been reformulated.

Can I Get The Flu Vaccine If I Have An Egg Allergy

The influenza vaccine is typically grown in eggs. But the traces of egg protein that remain after the vaccine is made are so tiny that the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy says both adults and children with egg allergy can be safely vaccinated against the flu. The risk of anaphylaxis after vaccination is very low, estimated at 1.35 cases per 1 million doses.

It is rare for people with egg allergy to experience other side effects, such as hives, wheezing, vomiting or abdominal pain, after getting the flu shot. If you are concerned, ask your doctor if you, or your child, can be observed by staff for 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine .

What Are The Most Common Side Effects Of A Flu Shot

Beside minor pain, other flu shot injection site reactions can occur. Side effects of the flu vaccine are generally mild symptoms and go away on their own within a few days.

Common flu shot side effects may include:

soreness, swelling or red area around flu shot injection site
headache
muscle aches
occasional fainting

Life threatening allergic reactions or severe symptoms to the flu shot are rare. Signs of a severe allergic reaction would most likely happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccine is given and can include:

trouble breathing, shortness of breath
hoarseness or wheezing
swelling on the face, for example, around the eyes or lips
hives
looking pale
feeling weak or dizzy
a fast heart beat

A small rash at the injection site of the flu shot may not be a severe allergic reaction, but always check with your healthcare provider.

If you think you are having a severe allergic reaction to any flu vaccine, or have a high fever or unusual behavioral changes, call 911, your doctor, or other medical emergency help immediately.

Why Do I Need To Get Vaccinated Every Year

You need to get the flu vaccine every year because each year the flu vaccine is made to match the different strains of flu virus likely to be in New Zealand. Occasionally the vaccine strains are the same for more than one year, but it is still recommended that you have the vaccine each year, as the protection provided by the vaccine lessens over time. Read more about vaccination against influenza.

Allergic Reactions To The Flu Vaccine

It’s very rare for anyone to have a serious allergic reaction to the flu vaccine. If this does happen, it usually happens within minutes.

The person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

Anyone can report a suspected side effect of a vaccine through the Yellow Card Scheme.

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Where Can I Learn More

More information on the inactivated influenza vaccine, including possible reactions and who should not get the vaccine, can be found in the HealthLinkBC File: Inactivated Influenza Vaccine.

For answers to frequently asked questions about influenza vaccines, visit our FAQ about influenza vaccines page.

Who Shouldnt Get Vaccinated

If youre currently feeling sick, its best to wait until youre better.

Avoid the flu shot if you have a severe allergy to any of the ingredients that may be used in the vaccine, such as:

egg protein
monosodium glutamate , a stabilizer that keeps vaccines from losing their potency
antibiotics, such as neomycin and gentamicin
polysorbate 80, an emulsifier which keeps the ingredients from separating
formaldehyde, which inactivates the flu virus

Babies under 6 months old shouldnt be vaccinated.

If youve had Guillain-Barré syndrome, talk to your doctor before getting the flu vaccine.

The nasal spray contains a weakened live virus. It shouldnt be taken by people who:

are younger than 2 or older than 50 years
are 2 to 4 years old and have asthma
are 2 to 17 years old and take medications containing aspirin or salicylate
are pregnant
have life threatening allergies to the flu vaccine
have a suppressed immune system
are in close contact with someone with a suppressed immune system
have taken antiviral drugs for the flu within the previous 48 hours

Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of the nasal spray vaccine if you have:

asthma or chronic lung disease
a blood disorder

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Types Of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

Two types of influenza vaccine are widely available: inactivated influenza vaccines and live attenuated influenza vaccines . Traditionally, influenza vaccines have been produced to protect against 3 different seasonal influenza viruses . In most countries this is still the case and the current trivalent vaccines contain influenza A, pandemic A and 1 of 2 influenza B lineage viruses. However, recently vaccines which protect against 4 different viruses, including both influenza B lineage viruses , have become available in some countries.

Regardless of the type or composition of seasonal influenza vaccine, vaccination should be administered annually to provide optimal protection against infection.

Doses For Children 9 Years And Adults

Common ways to administer the flu vaccine.

People aged 9 years need 1 dose of influenza vaccine every year, regardless of whether they have ever had influenza vaccine before.

For adults aged 65 years who have already received an adjuvanted influenza vaccine in the current influenza season, an extra dose of standard influenza vaccine in the same season is not recommended.

Similarly, if they have received a standard influenza vaccine, an extra dose of adjuvanted influenza vaccine in the same season is not recommended.

Follow standard recommendations when giving any extra dose during the current or future seasons .

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How Does The Flu Spread

The flu spreads easily from infected people to others through droplets made when coughing, sneezing and talking. These droplets can then land in the mouths, noses or eyes of others nearby.

It can also be spread by touching unwashed hands, contaminated surfaces such as toys, doorknobs and eating utensils and then touching your own mouth, nose or eyes.

It can take a day or even a week to develop the flu after being infected with the virus. People with the flu can spread it to others even before they start to feel sick.

What Is An Enhanced Influenza Vaccine

An enhanced flu vaccine is one that contains an adjuvant, an ingredient designed to increase the immune-system response to the vaccine. People aged 65 and older are often given an enhanced influenza vaccine because since the immune system weakens with age they dont respond as well to the flu vaccine as healthy, younger adults.

Fluad Quad is an enhanced flu vaccine recommended for people aged 65 and over in Australia.

How To Get Vaccinated Against Influenza

Influenza vaccines are given as an injection, usually in the upper arm. It is important to get the right vaccine for your age. Your immunisation provider can tell you which vaccine they will use for you or your child’s influenza immunisation.

Influenza vaccines available under the NIP for the 2022 season include:

VaxiGrip Tetra

The Therapeutic Goods Administration website provides product information and consumer medicine information for each vaccine available.

How Will I Know If I Have The Flu Or Covid

Is Flu shots be free after health reform?

The flu virus and COVID-19 have symptoms which overlap, such a high temperature or persistent cough. It may be difficult to tell which virus you have. For this reason, its really important that you have a flu vaccination if you are eligible, and that you continue to follow the guidance on self-isolation and testing at if you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19.

Where vaccines are available, its vital that we use them to help keep everyone safe. Look out for updates from your local GP or NHS team and book your vaccination as soon as they are available.

More information can be found at

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