Which Flu Vaccine Is The Most Effective
When flu vaccines are being produced, the strains included are standardized by the FDA. Each 2021-2022 vaccine includes:
-
Two type B viruses
This means that no matter what vaccine you choose, youre being protected against the same strains. Flu vaccines are typically between 40% and 60% effective from year to year. But when it comes to picking the right flu vaccine for you, you have to take other factors into account.
What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Flucelvax Quadrivalent 2021
You may not be able to receive this vaccine if you are allergic to eggs, or if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine.
Tell your vaccination provider if you have:
- a weak immune system or
- a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome .
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.
Tell your vaccination provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant women get a flu shot during any trimester of pregnancy to protect themselves and their newborn babies from flu. The nasal spray form of influenza vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.
What Is The Difference Between High
The high-dose flu vaccine has four times the amount of flu virus antigen and was created for people ages 65 and older. The purpose of an âenhancedâ vaccine is to help elicit a strong immune response even among people who have weaker immune systems. The standard-dose vaccines are effective for everyone under 65 years old.
This year, both the high-dose and standard-dose vaccines are quadrivalent, meaning they offer broader protection against four different flu viruses. Two of the viruses are influenza A viruses and two are influenza B viruses.
Below we outline the main differences between the standard and high dose influenza vaccines.
Standard Quadrivalent Flu Shot vs Fluzone High-Dose
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Side Effects Of The Flu Vaccine
Similar to other types of vaccinations, theres a risk of side effects with the flu shot. Common side effects may include tenderness or redness at the injection site.
In addition, some people experience mild flu-like symptoms for 1 to 2 days after vaccination. This can include weakness, body aches, or a fever, but this isnt the flu.
You might have issues if youre severely allergic to eggs or another ingredient in the vaccine.
Signs of a serious reaction include:
- breathing difficulty
- dizziness
Life threatening allergic reactions are rare after getting the flu shot, though.
Symptoms of a reaction occur within a few hours of vaccination. If you do have symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention.
The CDC recommends people with an egg allergy still get a flu shot. If you have a severe egg allergy, you may consider getting your flu shot in a medical setting that can treat allergic reactions. You can also request a vaccine that doesnt contain egg protein.
You may have to avoid vaccination if youre allergic to another ingredient in the vaccine.
In rare cases, Guillain-Barré syndrome may develop within days or weeks of a vaccination.
Guillain- Barré syndrome is a neurological disorder where the bodys immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. This condition can cause muscle weakness and paralysis.
Among those who receive a vaccination, theres only
Sanofi Pasteur Has Limited Quantity
Sanofi Pasteur, which makes the biggest share of the US flu vaccine supply, won FDA approval for its quadrivalent vaccine, Fluzone Quadrivalent, in June of this year. The vaccine is approved for ages 6 months and up. The company expects to produce a total of more than 60 million doses of flu vaccine this year but has not said what share of that will be the quadrivalent product.
“Given the timing, we are producing a limited quantity of Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine for the 2013- 2014 season, with a more full-scale launch planned for next season,” Sanofi spokeswoman Donna Cary told CIDRAP News this week.
Because there has been strong demand for the new vaccine, the company has put customers who want to order it on a waiting list, Cary said. She explained that the action doesn’t mean the company is running out of it.
“The intent is to support broader access to the vaccine for all and to eliminate the possibility of duplicate orders since the vaccine was licensed after the normal reservation time frame,” she said. So far, she added, Sanofi has been able to confirm all the wait-listed orders within days and has been able to make more of the vaccine than originally planned.
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Serious Side Effects Of Fluzone High
Serious side effects from both Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent and Fluzone Quadrivalent arent common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency.
Serious side effects of both vaccines, and their symptoms, can include:
- Allergic reaction, which is described in more detail in the Side effects detail section below.
Trivalent And Quadrivalent Shots Made With Adjuvant
These shots, called Fluad and Fluad Quadrivalent, are another option for flu vaccines that are approved for people ages 65 and older. It includes an ingredient called adjuvant, which also creates a stronger immune system response.
These flu vaccines are slightly different because they protect against four different strains of the flu virus .
Because of this, these vaccinations can provide broader protection from infection.
Options are below.
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If Ive Had A Flu Vaccine In The Past Do I Need To Have Another One
Yes. Even if youve received an influenza vaccine in the past, youll likely need to get another one each year.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that most people older than 6 months of age receive a flu vaccine, such as Fluzone, every year. This is for two main reasons.
First, many different strains of influenza circulate each year. And these strains are continuously changing. Each year, scientists try to determine which strains of the flu will be the most common in the upcoming flu season. Then these strains are put into flu vaccines, such as Fluzone. So flu vaccines change from year to year.
Second, the protection provided by the vaccine wanes over time. This effect happens in everyone, but its more likely to occur in older adults .
If you have questions about getting an annual flu shot, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
What We Know About Covid
Q: How are COVID-19 and influenza similar and how are they different?
A: COVID-19 and influenza have many similarities, but also many differences.
The main similarities are:
- Both viruses are mostly spread through an airborne route. This means that steps you take to protect yourself from COVID-19, such as social distancing measures and avoiding crowded indoor spaces, will likely reduce your risk of catching influenza as well.
- The initial symptoms of infection have a lot in common. Namely, both often start with upper respiratory symptoms such as cough, runny nose, fatigue, fever, and body aches. This means it will be difficult to tell the two conditions apart, unless laboratory testing is used.
- Both are more likely to cause severe illness in people who are older or frail.
Even though both viruses often cause viral pneumonia, there are significant differences between the two. They are actually quite different types of viruses. The differences include:
In short, influenza and COVID-19 are similar in terms of how they spread and common initial symptoms. But COVID-19 has so far caused more serious disease, and at this time, remains harder to treat, in part because it seems to affect the body in more significant ways than influenza usually does.
For more on the similarities and differences between influenza and COVID-19:
Q: Is it possible to get influenza and COVID-19 at the same time? How do they affect each other?
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Fluzone Generic Or Biosimilar
Fluzone is a biologic drug thats available only as a brand-name medication. It doesnt come in a biosimilar form.
A biologic drug is made from living cells, while other drugs are made from chemicals. Drugs made from chemicals can have generics, which are exact copies of the active drug in the brand-name medication. Biologics, on the other hand, cant be copied exactly. Therefore, instead of a generic, biologics have biosimilars. Biosimilars are similar to the parent drug, and theyre considered to be just as effective and safe.
Like generics, biosimilars are often less expensive compared with brand-name medications.
Expected Benefits Of The Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccines
As mentioned above, two different influenza B strains may co-circulate during an influenza season. Therefore, adding a second B strain to influenza vaccines increases the likelihood of achieving adequate protection against influenza B disease. Some recent studies have evaluated the expected benefits of including QIVs in national immunization programs. For instance, Eichner et al. compared the effects of QIVs and TIVs on influenza incidence by using an individual simulation model in which the concomitant transmission of four influenza strains, maternal protection, boosting of existing immunity, loss of immunity and cross-immunizing events between the B lineages over 50 years were considered as variables. Their study found that QIV administration could prevent 11.2% of all influenza B infections which still occur with TIV, thus reducing the influenza burden on the community .
The public health impact of QIVs in the United States was analyzed in a model by Crépey and colleagues in a dynamic retrospective framework with real-life vaccine mismatch.
Assuming 70% cross-protection of the efficacy of a matching vaccine, the model predicted that QIV would have prevented, on average, about 16% more B lineage cases than TIV over the period 2000-2013 . The elderly and adults aged 50-64 years were seen to benefit most from QIV, with 21% and 18% reductions, respectively, in B lineage cases .
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Children Aged 3 Through 17 Years
In a clinical trial in subjects aged 3 through 17 years, FLULAVAL QUADRIVALENT exhibited immunogenicity noninferior to two comparator trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine formulations, each containing an influenza type B virus that corresponded to one of the two B viruses in FLULAVAL QUADRIVALENT, a type B virus of the Victoria lineage or a type B virus of the Yamagata lineage .
- Noninferiority was based on adjusted GMTs and seroconversion rates1
- Seroconversion was defined as a 4-fold increase over baseline in post-vaccination hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers from pre-vaccination titer 1:10, or an increase in titer from < 1:10 to 1:401
Different Types Of Flu Vaccines: Which One Is Right For You
Flu season is quickly approaching in the United States.
Per the CDCs recommendation, all individuals aged six-months and older should receive a flu vaccine each year ideally in October to protect themselves against the flu.
However, there are multiple types of flu vaccines to choose from depending on your age, health conditions, and personal preferences. In this article, we are going to explain these differences so you can explore which vaccine type is right for you.
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Are Flu Vaccines Effective
Yes. The effectiveness of flu vaccines varies with each season due to the ever-changing nature of the virus. However, receiving a flu vaccine significantly reduces your chance of becoming sick from the flu and spreading the virus to others it also lessens the severity of the virus if you do become sick.
Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine
Children 2-17 years of age who are eligible for an influenza vaccine can receive FluMist® Quadrivalent by nasal spray.
The nasal spray vaccine will be available at health units, some pharmacies and some doctors’ offices. Pharmacists will be able to give the nasal spray flu vaccine to children 2 years of age and older. The Influenza Clinic locator will list if a nasal spray vaccine is available at that clinic. Call ahead to confirm. The nasal spray vaccine is not approved for use in those younger than 2 years of age and they should receive their influenza vaccine by needle.
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Trivalent Vs Quadrivalent: Your Guide To The Flu Vaccine
Youve probably been getting a flu shot since you were a little kid 6 months old to be exact. Thats the age the CDC recommends children begin getting the annual vaccine. Not much has changed about the vaccine youve been getting for ages until recent history gave us a quadrivalent version in 2012.
First things first: a biology lesson. Flu vaccines protect against A and B influenza strains. A-strains of the flu can be transmitted between humans and animals, and are generally responsible for large flu epidemics. B-strains on the other hand, are found only in humans, usually provoke less severe reactions, and do not cause pandemics.
And this brings us to which type of vaccine is right for you?
Does Fluzone Protect Against Covid
No, Fluzone doesnt protect against COVID-19, which is a disease thats caused by the new coronavirus. Instead, Fluzone only offers protection against influenza virus, which causes the flu.
If you have questions about which infections Fluzone can and cant protect against, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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Is The Quadrivalent Vaccine Better
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend the quadrivalent vaccine over the trivalent vaccine, and suggest you talk to your doctor or nurse about the best options for you. The best estimates are that adding another B subtype may prevent up to 100,000 additional infections and up to 8,000 hospital admissions,” Dr. Mossad said. “But these estimates are very broad. The range for flu prevention could be from 2,000 to 100,000.”
One reason the CDC is not favoring the quadrivalent vaccine over the trivalent vaccine is that they do not want people to miss getting a flu vaccine altogether because they’re waiting for the quadrivalent option. There is only a limited supply of the quadrivalent vaccine this year, Mossad said. According to the CDC, of the 135 to 139 million flu vaccine doses available this year, fewer than 32 million will be the quadrivalent vaccine.
But experts agree that if the quadrivalent vaccine is not available in your area, go ahead and get the trivalent version.
Financial And Insurance Assistance
If you need financial support to pay for Fluzone, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.
Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., the manufacturer of Fluzone, has an online tool that may help you estimate the cost of Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent. For more information about this, see the manufacturers website.
For additional cost assistance information about Fluzone, visit Medicine Assistance Tools site or talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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Ready To Receive Your Flu Vaccine For The 2021/22 Season
Community Pharmacy offers a variety of flu vaccine options to accommodate a wide range of individuals. No matter your age, health status, or philosophical beliefs, we can help you find a flu vaccine that meets your needs.
This season, we are offering:
- Two versions of the regular dose, egg-grown quadrivalent
- The high-dose, egg-grown quadrivalent
- The regular-dose, adjuvanted quadrivalent
To schedule your flu shot with Community Pharmacy, visit our website here.
Will Getting Fluzone Make Me Get The Flu
No. Flu vaccines that are given with a needle, such Fluzone, contain inactivated influenza virus. Inactivated viruses arent live, so they wont make you sick.
When you get an inactivated flu vaccine, your immune system gets exposed to the inactivated flu virus. This prompts your immune system to make antibodies against the strains of flu contained in the vaccine. Once you have antibodies to the flu, if youre exposed to it, your body will be more prepared to fight it off.
On the other hand, the nasal flu vaccine, called FluMist, is made using a weakened form of a live flu virus. The live virus contained in FluMist can only reproduce and spread at cool temperatures, such as those found in your nose. It cant spread infection to your lungs, for example. So when the virus is contained to your nose, it shouldnt cause a flu infection in your body.
But its possible that FluMist may cause side effects that are similar to symptoms caused by the flu. These side effects, which may occur for up to a few days after you get FluMist, include:
- runny nose
- cough
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Flucelvax Quadrivalent Vaccine And Pregnant Women
Seqirus presented original safety data at the Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology annual meeting from a new prospective observational cohort study evaluating pregnancy outcomes and fetal events of interest following vaccination with the Company’s cell-based Flucelvax Quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine . The study found no unexpected adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women in the U.S. who were vaccinated with QIVc.
On July 30, 2021, Seqirus announced a ‘prospective observational cohort study that evaluated pregnancy outcomes and events of interest in the fetus or infant following vaccination with QIVc during any trimester. “Pregnant people and people who have recently given birth can be particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases like influenza,” commented Christopher Robinson, M.D., MSCR, Charleston Maternal-Fetal Medicine and study author, in a press release. “These data provide further reassurance on the safe use of seasonal influenza vaccines in pregnant people .”