INFLUENZA

INACTIVATED
VACCINE

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

2009-10

Many Vaccine Information Statements are available in Spanish and other languages. See www.immunize.org/vis.

1 Why get vaccinated? Who should get inactivated

3 influenza vaccine?
Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease.
Anyone who wants to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill
It is caused by the influenza virus, which can be spread by
with influenza or spreading influenza to others.
coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions.
Other illnesses can have the same symptoms and are often All children 6 months and older and all older adults:
mistaken for influenza. But only an illness caused by the • All children from 6 months through 18 years of age.
influenza virus is really influenza. • Anyone 50 years of age or older.
Anyone can get influenza, but rates of infection are highest among Anyone who is at risk of complications from influenza, or
children. For most people, it lasts only a few days. It can cause: more likely to require medical care:
• fever • sore throat • chills • fatigue
• Women who will be pregnant during influenza season.
• cough • headache • muscle aches
• Anyone with long-term health problems with:
Some people, such as infants, elderly, and those with certain - heart disease - kidney disease - liver disease
health conditions, can get much sicker. Flu can cause high - lung disease - metabolic disease, such as diabetes
fever and pneumonia, and make existing medical conditions - asthma - anemia, and other blood disorders
worse. It can cause diarrhea and seizures in children. On
• Anyone with a weakened immune system due to:
average, 226,000 people are hospitalized every year because of
- HIV/AIDS or other diseases affecting the immune system
influenza and 36,000 die – mostly elderly. Influenza vaccine
- long-term treatment with drugs such as steroids
can prevent influenza. - cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
2 Inactivated influenza vaccine • Anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders (such as
seizure disorders or cerebral palsy) that can lead to
There are two types of seasonal influenza vaccine: breathing or swallowing problems.
1. Inactivated (killed) vaccine, or the These “seasonal” influenza • Anyone 6 months through 18 years of age on long-term
“flu shot” is given by injection into vaccines are formulated to aspirin treatment (they could develop Reye Syndrome if
the muscle. 2. Live, attenuated prevent annual flu. They do they got influenza).
(weakened) influenza vaccine is not protect against pandemic • Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care

sprayed into the nostrils. This vaccine

H1N1 influenza. facilities.

is described in a separate Vaccine Information Statement.

Anyone who lives with or cares for people at high risk for
Influenza viruses are always changing. Because of this, influenza-related complications:
influenza vaccines are updated every year, and an annual • Health care providers.
vaccination is recommended.
• Household contacts and caregivers of children from

Each year scientists try to match the viruses in the vaccine to birth up to 5 years of age.

those most likely to cause flu that year. When there is a close • Household contacts and caregivers of
match the vaccine protects most people from serious influenza­ - people 50 years and older, or
related illness. But even when there is not a close match, the - anyone with medical conditions that put them at higher
vaccine provides some protection. Influenza vaccine will not risk for severe complications from influenza.
prevent “influenza-like” illnesses caused by other viruses.
Health care providers may also recommend a yearly influenza
It takes up to 2 weeks for protection to develop after the shot.
vaccination for:
Protection lasts up to a year.
• People who provide essential community services.
Some inactivated influenza vaccine contains a preservative
• People living in dormitories, correctional facilities, or

called thimerosal. Some people have suggested that thimerosal

under other crowded conditions, to prevent outbreaks.

may be related to developmental problems in children. In 2004

the Institute of Medicine reviewed many studies looking into • People at high risk of influenza complications who travel
this theory and concluded that there is no evidence of such a to the Southern hemisphere between April and September,
relationship. Thimerosal-free influenza vaccine is available. or to the tropics or in organized tourist groups at any time.
 When should I get influenza Severe problems:
4 vaccine? • Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very
rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a
You can get the vaccine as soon as it is available, usually in the few hours after the shot.
fall, and for as long as illness is occurring in your community. • In 1976, a type of influenza (swine flu) vaccine was
Influenza can occur any time from November through May, but associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Since
it most often peaks in January or February. Getting vaccinated then, flu vaccines have not been clearly linked to GBS.
in December, or even later, will still be beneficial in most years. However, if there is a risk of GBS from current flu
Most people need one dose of influenza vaccine each year. vaccines, it would be no more than 1 or 2 cases per million
Children younger than 9 years of age getting influenza people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk of
vaccine for the first time – or who got influenza vaccine for severe influenza, which can be prevented by vaccination.
the first time last season but got only one dose – should get 2
doses, at least 4 weeks apart, to be protected. What if there is a severe
7 reaction?
Influenza vaccine may be given at the same time as other
vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccine. What should I look for?
Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior
Some people should talk with a changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include
5 doctor before getting influenza difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness,
vaccine weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.
Some people should not get inactivated influenza vaccine or What should I do?
should wait before getting it. • Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
• Tell the doctor what happened, the date and time it

• Tell your doctor if you have any severe (life-threatening) happened, and when the vaccination was given.

allergies. Allergic reactions to influenza vaccine are rare. • Ask your provider to report the reaction by filing a
- Influenza vaccine virus is grown in eggs. People with a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form.
severe egg allergy should not get the vaccine. Or you can file this report through the VAERS website at
- A severe allergy to any vaccine component is also a reason www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
to not get the vaccine.
- If you have had a severe reaction after a previous dose of VAERS does not provide medical advice.
influenza vaccine, tell your doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome The National Vaccine Injury
(a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS). You may be
8 Compensation Program
able to get the vaccine, but your doctor should help you A federal program exists to help pay for the care of anyone
make the decision. who has a serious reaction to a vaccine.
• People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait For more information about the National Vaccine Injury
until they recover before getting flu vaccine. If you are ill, talk to
Compensation Program, call 1-800-338-2382, or visit their
your doctor or nurse about whether to reschedule the vaccination.
website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation.
People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.

What are the risks from 9 How can I learn more?

6 inactivated influenza vaccine? • Ask your provider. They can give you the vaccine package
insert or suggest other sources of information.
A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious
problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of a • Call your local or state health department.
vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. • Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Serious problems from influenza vaccine are very rare. The (CDC):
viruses in inactivated influenza vaccine have been killed, so - Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or
you cannot get influenza from the vaccine. - Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/flu
Mild problems:
• soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

• hoarseness; sore, red or itchy eyes; cough Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• fever • aches
If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot Vaccine Information Statement (Interim)

and last 1-2 days. Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (8/11/09) 42 U.S.C. §300aa-26