Influenza vaccine
U.S. Navy crew member having an influenza vaccination
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| Vaccine description | |
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| Target disease | influenza virus |
| Type | ? |
| Clinical data | |
| Trade names | Fluarix, Fluzone, other |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| Pregnancy category |
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| Routes of administration |
IM, intranasal, intradermal |
| ATC code | |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status |
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| Identifiers | |
| ChemSpider |
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Influenza vaccines, also known as flu shots or jabs, are vaccines that protect against influenza. A new version of the vaccine is developed twice a year as the influenza virus rapidly changes. While their effectiveness varies from year to year, most provide modest to high protection against influenza. They decrease the number of missed days of work by a half day on average. Vaccinating children may protect those around them. The effectiveness in those under two years old and over 65 years old is unknown due to the low quality of the research.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends yearly vaccination for nearly all people over the age of six months, especially those at high risk. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control also recommends yearly vaccination of high risk groups. These groups include pregnant women, the elderly, children between six months and five years of age, those with other health problems, and those who work in healthcare.
The vaccines are generally safe. In children, fever occurs in five to ten per cent, as may muscle pains or feeling tired. In certain years, the vaccine causes Guillain–Barré syndrome in older people in about one per million doses. It should not be given to those with severe allergies to eggs or to previous versions of the vaccine. The vaccines come in both inactive and weakened viral forms. The inactive version should be used for those who are pregnant. They come in forms that are injected into a muscle, sprayed into the nose, or injected into the middle layer of the skin.
Vaccination against influenza began in the 1930s with large scale availability in the United States beginning in 1945. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale price in the developing world is about $5.25 USD per dose as of 2014. In the United States, it costs less than $25 USD.
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Wikipedia