It’s time for your annual flu shot! Annual vaccination against influenza A and B viruses is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. All US seasonal vaccines are effective against both common strains of influenza A, while trivalent vaccines are effective against one strain of influenza B and quadrivalent vaccines are help prevent both common strains of influenza B.
Most commonly administered vaccines are given by injection and are inactivated, meaning that the vaccines are created using eggs and virus particles that are not capable of causing infection. Recombinant vaccines are created without the use of influenza virus or eggs. The Flumist vaccine is live-attenuated, meaning that the vaccine contains virus that is alive but has been treated to render it unlikely to cause infection, and it is administered by nasal inhalation. Flumist should not be given to persons whose immune systems are not functioning normally.
Here’s the breakdown of what’s right for you:
Children age 6-24 months can take the quadrivalent vaccine.
Children age 2 through 17 can take the Flumist or inactivated vaccines.
Adults age 18-49 can take the Flumist, inactivated or recombinant vaccines.
Adults 50 and over can take inactivated or recombinant vaccines.
High-dose vaccines are trivalent are approved for use in persons 65 and older and may be more effective than standard-dose vaccines.
Pregnant women can and should take inactivated or recombinant vaccines.
Persons with egg allergy can take inactivated, recombinant or live-attenuated vaccines and should be vaccinated in a healthcare setting.
There are many different brand names and types of vaccines. Please check with your health care provider to determine what’s best for you.