With flu season underway, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases is encouraging everyone to take extra steps to prevent the spread of influenza by getting vaccinated. The CDC says that vaccination is 70% to 90% effective in preventing the flu in healthy adults younger than 65, and this year four options are available.
Intramuscular Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TIV)- Contains inactivated vaccine (killed virus) that is given by injection with a needle, usually in the arm
- Approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women
Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV)
-Contains live but attenuated (weakened) influenza virus; viruses included in the nasal spray vaccine do not cause influenza
-Approved for healthy people age 2 through 49, who are not pregnant and do not have underlying medical conditions that predisposes them to influenza complications
High-Dose Trivalent Influenza Vaccine-Contains inactivated vaccine (killed virus) that is given by injection with a needle, usually in the arm
-Approved for people age 65 and older
-Includes four times the amount of antigen as in traditional TIV, intended to create a stronger immune response
Intradermal Trivalent Influenza Vaccine-Contains inactivated vaccine (killed virus) that is given by injection, usually in the arm, with a smaller needle than traditional TIV
-Approved for adults age 18 through 64
-Required less antigen to be as effective as traditional TIV
“We can’t predict what this year’s flu season will bring but we can say with certainty that the best way to protect yourself, your family and you community is to get a flu shot,” says Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, and Director for the CDC.
A Blog From the American Society of Safety Engineers