Flu vaccine options

1. The latest types of flu vaccines

According to the U.S. CDC, available flu vaccines include:

- Standard-dose flu vaccines are produced by culturing the virus in eggs. Several different brands of standard-dose flu vaccines are available, including afluria quadrivalent, fluarix quadrivalent, fluLaval quadrivalent, and fluzone quadrivalent… These vaccines are approved for use in children from 6 months of age. Most flu shots are injected into the arm (muscle) with a needle (Afluria quadrivalent can be injected with a needle for children 6 months of age and older).

- The cell-based flu vaccine (flucelvax quadrivalent) contains viruses cultured within cells and is used for people 6 months of age and older. This vaccine is completely egg-free.

- The recombinant flu vaccine (flublok quadrivalent) is a completely egg-free flu vaccine produced using recombinant technology and used for people 18 years of age and older. This injection does not contain the virus but contains three times the amount of antigen compared to other standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines, resulting in a stronger immune response.

There are many types of flu vaccines available, and they are updated annually.

- The high-dose quadrivalent flu vaccine, based on eggs , is approved for use in people 65 years of age and older. This vaccine contains four times the antigen compared to other standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines, resulting in a stronger immune response.

- The egg-based adjuvant flu vaccine (fluad quadrivalent) is approved for people 65 years of age and older. This vaccine is formulated with an adjuvant (a component that helps create a stronger immune response).

- The flumist quadrivalent nasal spray vaccine, made from live , attenuated influenza virus, is approved for use in individuals aged 2 to 49 years. This vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, or those with certain medical conditions.

2. Is there a best type of flu vaccine?

According to the CDC, certain flu vaccines are preferentially recommended for people 65 years of age and older. This recommendation is based on a review of existing studies showing that, in people over 65, these vaccines are more effective than standard flu vaccines without adjuvants. There is no preferential recommendation for people under 65. Specifically:

- For those under 65, the CDC does not recommend any particular best flu vaccine. Options for this age group include the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), the recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV), or the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)...

- For individuals aged 65 and older, three types of flu vaccines are preferred over the standard, unadjuvanted flu vaccine. These are the high-dose quadrivalent fluzone, the quadrivalent recombinant flublok, and the quadrivalent adjuvant fluad.

If none of the three recommended priority vaccines are available for people 65 years of age and older at the time of vaccination, then people in this age group should receive any other age-appropriate flu vaccine as an alternative.

According to VNVC Vaccination Center, the dosage and vaccination schedule for influenza vaccine in children and adults are as follows:

• Children 6 months of age and older and adults: Administer a 0.5 ml dose.
• Children aged 6 months to under 9 years who have never had the flu or never been vaccinated against the flu should receive two doses. The second dose should be given at least one month after the first. A booster dose should then be given annually.
• Children over 9 years old and adults receive one dose. A booster shot is then given annually.

The flu vaccine doesn't work immediately; it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. That's why it's best to get vaccinated before the flu virus starts spreading in the community.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/cac-lua-chon-ve-vaccine-phong-cum-172240326225225844.htm