Are Any Of The Available Flu Vaccines Recommended Over Others
Yes, for some people. For the 2022-2023 flu season, there are three flu vaccines that are preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older. These are Fluzone High-DoseQuadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinantflu vaccine or Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine. On June 22, 2022, CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously to preferentially recommend these vaccines overstandard-dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines. This recommendation was based on a review of available studies which suggests that, in this age group, these vaccines are potentially more effective than standard dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines. There is no preferential recommendation for people younger than 65 years.
Why Has A Cell
Cell-based flu vaccine production does not use flu viruses grown in eggs and, therefore, is not dependent on the supply of eggs. In addition, cell-based flu vaccines that use cell-based candidate vaccine viruses have the potential to offer better protection than traditional, egg-based flu vaccines. The viruses used to make cell-based vaccines may be more similar to circulating wild flu viruses than the viruses used to make egg-based vaccines. In one study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseasesexternal icon among Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older, cell-based vaccine provided greater protection against flu-related hospitalizations than standard-dose, egg based vaccine.
For the 2020-2021 flu season, all four flu viruses used in the Flucelvax Quadrivalent are cell-derived, making the vaccine egg-free.
Can Severe Problems Occur
Life-threatening allergic reactions to flu shots are very rare. Signs of serious allergic reaction can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after receiving the shot. These reactions can occur among persons who are allergic to something that is in the vaccine, such as egg protein or other ingredients. While severe reactions are uncommon, you should let your doctor, nurse, clinic, or pharmacist know if you have a history of allergy or severe reaction to influenza vaccine or any part of flu vaccine.
There is a small possibility that flu vaccine could be associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, generally no more than 1 or 2 cases per million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk of severe complications from flu, which can be prevented by flu vaccine.
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Who Should Avoid The Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine is very effective, but it isnt right for everyone.
Dont get the vaccine if youve had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient it contains, including egg protein.
You also should avoid the flu vaccine if youve had Guillain-Barré syndrome. In 1976, a swine flu vaccine was linked to an increased risk for Guillain-Barré, which causes the immune system to attack and damage the protective coating around nerve cells.
Guillain-Barré syndrome causes extreme weakness and tingling in the limbs, known as severe peripheral neuropathy. It can be life-threatening in rare cases.
Theres no clear link between the current flu vaccine and Guillain-Barré. If any risk exists, its very small, affecting about 1 out of every 1 million people vaccinated.
The vaccine also isnt recommended for babies under 6 months old because it hasnt been proven safe in infants.
Talk to your doctor if you have a weakened immune system, or if you take medicine to suppress your immune system. You may not respond as well to the vaccine.
If youre sick, you might want to put off the flu shot until you feel better.
How The Flu Vaccine Is Made
- The flu vaccine contains three or four strains of flu type A and B viruses.
- These viruses are injected into eggs or added to cell cultures, where they’ll grow and multiply.
- After that, the viruses are killed or weakened for the vaccine.
- This article was reviewed by Graham Snyder, MD, MS, who is the medical director for the Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology branch at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
- This story is part of Insider’s Flu Shot Guide.
For the 2019-20 flu season, more than 162 million doses of flu vaccines will be made in the US, alone.
The flu vaccine may only be widely distributed during certain months, but creating it is a year-round process.
These vaccines are the result of months of careful research and planning to produce the most effective vaccine possible. Here’s the process from start to finish.
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What Kinds Of Flu Vaccines Are Available
CDC recommends use of any licensed, age-appropriate influenza vaccine during the 2021-2022 influenza season. Available influenza vaccines include quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine , recombinant influenza vaccine , or live attenuated influenza vaccine . No preference is expressed for any influenza vaccine over another.
Quadrivalent flu vaccines include:
Are any of the available flu vaccines recommended over others?
Yes, for some people. For the 2022-2023 flu season, there are three flu vaccines that are preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older. These are Fluzone High-DoseQuadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinantflu vaccine or Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine. On June 22, 2022, CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously to preferentially recommend these vaccines overstandard-dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines. This recommendation was based on a review of available studies which suggests that, in this age group, these vaccines are potentially more effective than standard dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines. There is no preferential recommendation for people younger than 65 years.
What if a preferentially recommended flu vaccine is not available?
If one of the three preferentially recommended flu vaccines for people 65 and older is not available at the time of administration, people in this age group should get an age-appropriate standard-dose flu vaccine instead.
Who Should Vaccinate?
How Can I Help Protect Myself
According to the CDC, the single best way to protect against the flu is for everyone 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated annually.1
Other everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of flu include:4
- Washing your hands with soap and water
- Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
- Staying home if you are feeling sick
In his own words
Ive always been a passionate advocate for vaccination throughout my career, even before coming to GSK as a vaccine research scientist. Flu vaccines are one of the most widely available vaccines whether you receive it from your doctor, your local pharmacy, or employer.
Dr. Leondard Friedland
VP, Director of Scientific Affairs and Public Health Vaccines, North America
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The Flu Vaccine Cannot Protect You Against Covid
While COVID-19 symptoms and flu symptoms can be similar, these two illnesses are caused by different viruses. So, that means that a flu shot cannot help protect you against COVID-19, nor can COVID-19 vaccines protect you against the flu.
But it is possible for you to be infected by both viruses at the same time which can lead to serious complications. The best way to protect yourself and those around you is by getting vaccinated for both influenza and COVID-19.
Data suggests the flu vaccine and all currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing their respective illnesses with the greatest protection coming against severe illness, hospitalization and death.
Why Do I Need To Get Vaccinated Every Year
Youve probably noticed by now that we encourage our patients to get vaccinated each year. Why does this particular vaccine need to be administered again, even if you got a flu shot last year? Its because new strains of the virus are constantly appearing and evolving, so the vaccine must change along with them.
Located around the world are influenza surveillance centers that annually monitor the most common strains, collecting data and identifying new and evolving strains. Once the information has been collected, the World Health Organization selects the three strains most likely to circulate during the following flu season. This decision is typically made in February, allowing the development of a new vaccine to begin around midsummer.
Because the three strains change each year, the vaccines are formulated separately before theyre combined into the final product, the trivalent vaccine. While its usually fairly accurate, there have been instances, such as the infamous H1N1 outbreak in 2009, that required the addition of a second, separate vaccination.
In addition to the constantly evolving strains of the flu virus, your bodys immune response changes over time. Taken together, those two factors essentially render the previous years vaccinations useless against new strains. This is why its so important to get yourself vaccinated each and every year, even if you got the vaccine last year!
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What Is A Flu Vaccine
Influenza vaccines are vaccines that protect against the four influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Most flu vaccines are flu shots given with a needle, usually in the arm, but there also is a nasal spray flu vaccine.
Variation On The Conventional
With the well-accepted limitations and deficiencies in the current influenza vaccine system, substantial resources have been spent trying to improve it. The improvements that are most advanced, many of which are already in use, are those that contribute incremental, but important, advances to the current TIV and LAIV platforms.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Novavax
Like with other vaccines, side effects after getting the Novavax vaccine are typically mild, common and happen within seven days of getting the shot, according to the CDC. Examples are tiredness, fever, chills and a headache, which clear up within a couple of days. These are signs your immune system is reacting and mounting a defense.
Myocarditis and pericarditis are rare side effects of Novavax. Six out of roughly 40,000 vaccine recipients developed heart inflammation in a clinical trial with Novavax, compared with one in the placebo group. Younger men or teen boys have been at higher risk of developing myocarditis or pericarditis after vaccination with an mRNA vaccine, typically after the 2nd dose. Most who developed heart inflammation felt better quickly.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine
On June 30, 2022, CDC announced that Director Rochelle P. Walensky adopted the Decision memo approving the ACIP vote for a preferential recommendation for the use of higher dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines over standard-dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines for adults 65 years and older. CDCs full recommendations for the use of flu vaccines during 2022-2023 will appear in a forthcoming Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Edits to this page are also forthcoming. More information can be found online: CDC Director Adopts Preference for Specific Flu Vaccines for Seniors
Note: Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices United States, 2021-2022 Influenza Season has been . More information on the 2021-2022 season is also available.
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Does My Child Need 2 Doses Of Flu Vaccine For The 2020
Children aged 6 months through 8 years of age are recommended to receive 2 doses of flu vaccine, separated by at least 4 weeks, for the 2021-2022 flu season if they have not previously received at least 2 doses of flu vaccine prior to this flu season.
Children who need 2 doses of influenza vaccine administered at least 4 weeks apart are recommended to receive the first dose as soon as possible after vaccine becomes available.
What Are The Benefits Of Flu Vaccination
There are many reasons to get an influenza vaccine each year. Below is a summary of the benefits of flu vaccination and selected scientific studies that support these benefits.
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Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with the flu.
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Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization for children, working-age adults, and older adults.
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Flu vaccination is an important preventive tool for people with chronic health conditions.
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Flu vaccination has been associated with lower rates of some cardiac events among people with heart disease, especially among those who had had a cardiac event in the past year.
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Flu vaccination can reduce worsening and hospitalization for flu-related chronic lung disease, such as in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Flu vaccination also has been shown in separate studies to be associated with reduced hospitalizations among people with diabetes and chronic lung disease.
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Flu vaccination helps protect women during and after pregnancy.
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Flu vaccines can be lifesaving in children.
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Flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
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What About People Who Get A Seasonal Flu Vaccine And Still Get Sick With Flu Symptoms
There are several reasons why someone might get flu symptoms, even after they have been vaccinated against flu.
What Is The Significance Of Fda Approving Cell
Growing flu viruses in eggs can introduce changes that can cause differences between the viruses in the vaccine and the ones that are circulating. These changes may have important implications for the bodys immune response to vaccination. For example, egg-adapted changes could cause the bodys immune system to produce antibodies that are less effective at preventing disease caused by the specific flu viruses in circulation. FDAs approval of cell-based CVVs for use in cell-based flu vaccines could possibly improve the effectiveness of cell-based flu vaccines.
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When Should I Get Vaccinated
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You should get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begin spreading in your community since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu. Make plans to get vaccinated early in the fall, before flu season begins. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. However, getting vaccinated early is likely to be associated with reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season, particularly among older adults. Vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later. Children who need two doses of vaccine to be protected should start the vaccination process sooner of vaccine to be protected should start the vaccination process sooner because the two doses must be given at least four weeks apart.
What Is Cdc Influenza Divisions Role In Vaccine Virus Selection
As one of seven WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response Systems WHO Collaborating Centers, CDCs Influenza Division receives and tests thousands of influenza viruses from around the world each year and collaborates with other WHO Collaborating Centersexternal icon and national influenza centers in the annual seasonal vaccine virus selection process for the northern and southern hemispheres. CDC plays a major role in identifying and testing the flu viruses that are spreading globally through its global surveillance activities and then preparing candidate vaccine viruses . The Influenza Division provides this information during the WHO vaccine consultation meetings and participates in discussions regarding which viruses should be recommended by WHO and, in the United States, FDA VRBPAC decisions for inclusion in flu vaccines.
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Why The Flu Vaccine Is Reformulated Every Year
Welcome to National Influenza Vaccination Week, established in 2005 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote vaccination awareness to the general public. In that spirit, Dr. Sebeen Razzaq-Ahmed and the team here at East Meadow Medical P.C. remind you to get your annual flu vaccine. You may be one of the many people we hear ask why they need to get vaccinated each year. Well, were here to answer that for you!
Its no secret that influenza, commonly called the flu, is inconvenient, nasty, and downright deadly. The 2017-2018 flu season was among the worst on record, afflicting and killing more Americans about 80,000 than in any season dating back more than three decades. Because the flu is so common, not to mention so deadly, we always recommend that anyone whos able to gets an updated vaccine each year.
How Is The Cell
The cell-based vaccine manufacturing process uses animal cells as a host for the growing flu viruses instead of fertilized chicken eggs. For the 2020-2021 season, the viruses provided to the manufacturer to be grown in cell culture are cell-derived rather than egg-derived. Learn more about the cell-based flu vaccine manufacturing process on CDCs How Flu Vaccines are Made web page.
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