What is flu vaccine?
The flu vaccines are of two types:
The "flu shot"
This is an inactivated vaccine that contains only dead virus. This is given with the aid of a needle usually in the arm. This vaccine can be given to people above the age of 6 months, which includes all healthy people as well as people with chronic medical conditions. The inactivated flu vaccine is a single dose of 0.5 ml of liquid. This liquid is injected into the body through the skin into muscle (intramuscular or IM). Usually, the vaccine is injected into the deltoid muscle at the side of the arm.
The nasal spray flu vaccine
The nasal spray flu vaccine also known as LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist® was first licensed in 2003. Though it is directed against the same strains of virus as the flu shot, it contains live, weakened flu viruses instead of killed viruses that do not cause severe flu symptoms. As the viruses are weakened it is called Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV).
This vaccine is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in healthy people between 2 and 49 years of age. However, it is advised that the following group of people who are at risk for serious complications should not be vaccinated by the spray flu vaccine:
- People with chronic health problems related to heart and lungs.
- People suffering from suppressed immune function.
- Care givers or people who come in contact with those with a suppressed immune system.
- Children who suffers from recurrent wheezing and are less than 5 years of age.
- Children or adolescents who are on aspirin therapy.
Next page: Side effects of flu vaccination
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: April 30, 2012