What Does The Flu Vaccine Contain

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.

Flu Shot Side Effects

The flu shot cant make you sick, but it might make you feel under the weather for a day. Common side effects of the flu vaccine include:

• Soreness, aches, and headache
• Fever
• Tiredness

If you get the nasal spray vaccine, you might also experience a runny nose, sore throat or cough. These side effects are caused by your body mounting an immune response. Theyre usually mild and resolve within a day.

Why Is The Flu Vaccine Recommended

While the flu vaccine isn’t 100% effective, it still greatly lowers a person’s chances of catching the flu, which can be very serious. It also can make symptoms less severe if someone who got the vaccine does still get the flu.

If you got the flu vaccine last year, it can’t provide enough protection this year, because flu viruses change. That’s why the vaccine is updated each year to include the most current types of the virus.

Sometimes the same virus types are included in the vaccine from one year to the next. Even then, it’s still important to get the yearly flu vaccine because the body’s immunity against the influenza virus declines over time.

Getting the flu vaccine not only protects you from the flu. It also helps protect the people and community around you. The flu vaccine makes someone less likely to get the flu, and therefore less likely to spread the flu. Getting the flu vaccine is a great way to protect people who are at risk from flu, such as the elderly, babies, and people with health conditions such as asthma. Every year thousands of people die from influenza, and getting the flu vaccine is one way to help prevent that.

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Who Should Not Get The Nasal Flu Vaccine

• Children less than 2 years old .
• Those who are pregnant and people who have weakened immune systems. It is a live virus vaccine.
• People who have to take acetylsalicylic acid on a daily basis.
• People with severe asthma who have been treated with steroids or had severe wheezing in the past 7 days .

These people should get the injected vaccine.

When To Get The Influenza Vaccine

Yearly vaccination before the onset of each flu season is recommended. In most parts of Australia, flu season occurs from June to September, with the flu vaccine typically available from April.

Recent evidence suggests optimal protection against the flu occurs within the first 3-4 months following vaccination. It is important to note that, while the influenza virus continues to circulate, it is never too late to vaccinate.

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Delivery Of The Flu Shot In 2021

Not all flu shots are the same. Some arent even shots. Here are your 2021 flu vaccine options:

Nasal Spray: The nasal spray vaccine is the only kind to include a live attenuated influenza vaccine. Although it cant give you the flu, it does have a higher likelihood of inducing flu-like symptoms. This vaccine does not contain thimerosal or other preservatives. Its available only for patients aged 2 to 49.

For: People who cant stand the needle or jet spray or who want to avoid preservatives.

Inactivated shots are usually given with a needle, but Afluria Quadrivalent can be given to adults with a jet injector, which is basically a high-powered spray that penetrates the skin.

For: Needles can be used for everyone aged 6 months and older. The jet spray is approved for adults aged 18 to 64.

Is The Flu Shot Effective

When the viruses in the flu vaccine match the viruses that are circulating, the flu vaccine reduces your chance of catching the flu by 40%60%. However, scientists cant always predict what strains of flu will be most active, so sometimes the vaccine is less effective than that.

However, the vaccine is very effective at preventing hospitalization and death, as follows:

• Vaccinated people who get the flu are 26% less likely to enter a hospitals intensive care unit for people who are very ill than unvaccinated people.
• Vaccinated people are 31% less likely to die from flu than unvaccinated people.
• Among people hospitalized for flu, vaccinated people are 59% less likely to enter the ICU.

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Which Adults Should Get A Flu Vaccine

The CDC recommends that most every adult receive a flu vaccine every year, especially those who are at high risk for developing flu-related complications and those who care for or live with such people, such as health care workers.

You are more likely to develop serious flu-related complications and should get a flu vaccine if you have:

• Asthma or other lung disease
• Brain, spinal cord, or nerve disorders or injury such as stroke, epilepsy, intellectual disability, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, or spinal cord injury
• Metabolic disorders
• Morbidly obese
• Sickle cell disease and other blood disorders
• A weakened immune system due to certain diseases or medical treatments

Your risk of developing flu-related complications is also increased if you are:

• Older than age 50 or younger than age 2
• Pregnant
• American Indian or Alaskan Native

You should also get a flu vaccine if you live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of The Flu Vaccine

Both types of vaccine can cause mild side effects.

• The flu shot usually is given as an injection in the upper arm or thigh . It contains killed flu virus and can’t cause someone to get the flu. But it can cause soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site. Rarely, it might cause a low fever or body aches.
• The nasal spray flu vaccine contains weakened live flu viruses. So it may cause mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, wheezing, sore throat, vomiting, or tiredness. Like the shot, it can sometimes cause a low fever or body aches.

Sometimes, people faint after getting a shot, especially teens. It helps to sit or lie down for 15 minutes right after a shot to prevent this.

If your child has any side effects, talk to your doctor about giving either acetaminophen or ibuprofen and to find out the right dose.

A warm, damp cloth or a heating pad on the injection site may help ease soreness, as can moving or using the arm.

Very rarely, the flu vaccine can cause a serious allergic reaction.

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Be A Flu Fighter By Getting Your Annual Flu Shot

There are a lot of reasons to get a flu shot. Its fast. Its easy. Its almost always free. But maybe one of the most important reasons is that it can significantly reduce your risk of getting the flu and passing it to others. And this helps you, your family and community stay healthy, happy and productive.

When Should Adults Be Vaccinated

Flu seasons also vary, depending on where you live. Flu season can run from October to May. You should get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine becomes available. It takes about two weeks for the flu vaccine to start working, so you want to make sure you are fully protected as soon as possible. Generally, the seasonal flu vaccine is available from September until spring.

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Is It Ok To Get The Flu Vaccine More Than Once In The Same Flu Season

Studies have not shown there is any benefit for most adults getting more than one dose of vaccine in the same flu season. However, its recommended that some people get 2 doses of the flu vaccine in one season:

• children under 9 years old who have not ever been vaccinated against the flu
• people who are having flu vaccination for the first time after a stem cell transplant or organ transplant
• pregnant women, who may be vaccinated with the next seasons influenza vaccine if it becomes available in the latter part of their pregnancy, even if they had the previous seasons vaccine
• overseas travellers who are going to the northern hemisphere winter

Who Shouldnt Get Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine

Different influenza vaccines are approved for use in people in different age groups. In addition, some vaccines are not recommended for certain groups of people. Factors that can determine a persons suitability for vaccination, or vaccination with a particular vaccine, include a persons age, health and any allergies to flu vaccine or its components. For more information, visit Who Should and Who Should NOT get a Flu Vaccine.

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Traditional Antigens In Influenza Vaccine Production

Each dose of seasonal influenza vaccine is formulated to contain the viruses representing the influenza A, A, and influenza B strains considered to be the most likely to circulate in the upcoming influenza season. Vaccine production in the United States begins with the generation of vaccine reference strains, that is, hybrid viruses with the HA and NA genes from the drifted variant combined with other genes from a laboratory strain adapted to grow well in eggs.26 Plasmid-based reverse genetics technology is now being used to reliably generate reference strains in a shorter time frame.16,17 The virions harvested from eggs are chemically inactivated, the viral envelope is disrupted with detergents, and the HA and NA proteins are then purified. HA is the main immunogen in inactivated influenza vaccines, and levels of HA are used to standardize vaccine doses. The quantity of NA is not standardized and may vary greatly for different manufacturers and production lots. The levels of NA antibody also appear to be critical for protection, and there is concern that human influenza vaccines do not include enough NA protein to induce a strong protective antibody response.19

Everything You Need To Know About The 2022 Flu Vaccine

Do you really need to get a flu shot in 2022?

Youâre fit, healthy and havenât had anything more serious than a chest cold in years. And youâve been so busy focusing on COVID-19, the flu is probably the last thing on your mind.

So do you really need to get a flu shot in 2022? Is it worth the hassle?According to the experts, itâs an overwhelming yes.

To help you make an informed decision, weâve answered some of the biggest questions you might have about this yearâs flu vaccine.

Getting vaccinated against the flu is a good idea every year, but itâs especially important this year. While weâve had very low rates of flu in Australia for the past two years, experts are expecting higher numbers of flu infections in 2022.

âDuring the pandemic our social isolation has led to a decrease in transmissible diseases,â explains Dr Hamish Black, nib Group medical advisor. âHowever, we are now getting out and about with things returning to normal, including the return of travellers from overseas. So the rates of influenza this year will be far higher than the past two years.

âIt is also more important than ever to get the flu vaccine to help avoid the scenario where you get both COVID and influenza at the same time and would likely be very sick if unvaccinated.â

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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.

When To Get Vaccinated

Its a good idea to get the flu shot at the beginning of the flu season, usually September or October in the U.S.

If you arent able to get vaccinated by the end of October, dont skip it flu season typically peaks in February.

The CDC recommends early vaccination for children as well as for people in the third trimester of pregnancy. Adults, especially those aged 65 and older, should avoid early vaccination because protection from the vaccine wanes over time.

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Where To Get The Flu Vaccine

You can have the NHS flu vaccine at:

• your GP surgery
• a pharmacy offering the service
• your midwifery service if you’re pregnant
• a hospital appointment

If you do not have your flu vaccine at your GP surgery, you do not have to tell the surgery. This will be done for you.

It’s important to go to your vaccination appointments unless you have symptoms of COVID-19.

Myth #: You Dont Need To Get A Flu Shot Every Year

Fact: There are a lot of influenza viruses out there. And every year, the CDC and the World Health Organization perform rigorous testing to determine which strains of influenza pose the highest threats globally.

So, one of the most important things you should know about the flu vaccine is that it too changes every year, based on this research. Plus, the flu shot is effective for about six months, which is the length of flu season. This means that even if you had your shot last year, youll need on this year as well.

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Alternatives To Traditional Vaccinations

Those concerned about the use of aborted fetuses in the development of vaccinations can turn to alternative vaccines that have been prepared using animal tissues and cells.

In some cases, alternative vaccines may be available, such as the RabAvert rabies vaccine cultivated from chicken fibroblasts.

If you want to learn more about the alternatives or have specific concerns, contact your pediatrician for further information.

Pregnancy And Influenza Immunisation

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

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

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Flu Vaccine For Frontline Health And Social Care Workers

If you’re a frontline health and social care worker, your employer should offer you a flu vaccine. They may give the vaccine at your workplace.

You can also have an NHS flu vaccine at a GP surgery or a pharmacy if:

• you’re a health or social care worker employed by a registered residential care or nursing home, registered homecare organisation or a hospice
• you work in NHS primary care and have direct contact with patients this includes contractors, non-clinical staff and locums
• you provide health or social care through direct payments or personal health budgets, or both

Concerns About Side Effects

If the side effects following immunisation are unexpected, persistent, or severe, or if you are worried about yourself or your childs condition after a vaccination, see your doctor or immunisation nurse as soon as possible or go directly to a hospital.

Immunisation side effects may be reported to SAEFVIC, the central vaccine reporting service in Victoria on .

You can discuss how to report problems in other states or territories with your immunisation provider.

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How Effective Is The Flu Vaccine

The flu vaccine gives the best protection against flu.

Flu vaccines help protect against the main types of flu viruses, although there’s still a chance you might get flu.

If you do get flu after vaccination, it’s likely to be milder and not last as long.

Having the flu vaccine will also reduce the chance of you spreading flu to other people who may be more at risk of serious problems from flu.

It can take 10 to 14 days for the flu vaccine to work.

Who Should And Who Should Not Get A Flu Vaccine

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get an influenza vaccine every season with rare exception. CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has made this recommendation since the 2010-2011 flu season.

Vaccination to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications. See People at Higher Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications for a full list of age and health factors that confer increased risk.

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Avoid Close Contact With Others

Keep your distance from others , particularly if you are feeling unwell, tohelp reduce the chance of spreading the flu to other people.

• Practice good cough etiquette – Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

• Throw tissues straight into the bin – Donât leave them lying on a bedside table or on the floor.

• Wash your hands frequently – Wash your hands with soap after blowing your nose, helping a sick child with a runny nose, throwing away used tissues or rubbing your eyes.

This winter, the last thing you need is to be infected by two different viruses â COVID-19and influenza â so be sure to get vaccinated. By doing so, youâll be not only protectingyourself and your loved ones, but also vulnerable members of your community.