Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is an illness caused by RNA viruses that infect the respiratory tract of many animals, birds, and humans. In most people, the infection results in the person getting fever, cough, headache, and malaise (tired, no energy); some people also may develop a sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The majority of individuals has symptoms for about one to two weeks and then recovers with no problems. However, compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza (flu) infection can cause a more severe illness with a mortality rate (death rate) of about 0.1% of people who are infected with the virus.
The above is the usual situation for the yearly occurring "conventional" or "seasonal" flu strains. However, there are situations in which some flu outbreaks are severe. These severe outbreaks occur when the human population is exposed to a flu strain against which the populati...
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Fluzone
(influenza virus) Vaccine
Fluzone (Influenza Virus Vaccine) for intramuscular injection, Fluzone High-Dose (Influenza Virus Vaccine) for intramuscular injection, and Fluzone Intradermal (Influenza Virus Vaccine) for intradermal injection are inactivated influenza virus vaccines, prepared from influenza viruses propagated in embryonated chicken eggs. The virus-containing allantoic fluid is harvested and inactivated with formaldehyde. Influenza virus is concentrated and purified in a linear sucrose density gradient solution using a continuous flow centrifuge. The virus is then chemically disrupted using a non-ionic surfactant, Octylphenol Ethoxylate (Triton® X-100), producing a “split virus”. The split virus is further purified and then suspended in sodium phosphate-buffered isotonic sodium chloride solution. The Fluzone High-Dose and Fluzone Intradermal processes use an additional concentration factor after the ultrafiltration step in order to obtain a higher hemagglutinin (HA) antigen concentration.
Fluzone, Fluzone High-Dose, and Fluzone Intradermal, suspensions for injection, are clear and slightly opalescent in color.
Antibiotics are not used in the manufacture of Fluzone, Fluzone High-Dose or Fluzone Intradermal.
The prefilled syringe tip caps of Fluzone and Fluzone High-Dose may contain natural rubber latex. Vial presentations of Fluzone and the Fluzone Intradermal microinjection system do not contain latex.
Fluzone, Fluzone High-Dose, and Fluzone Intradermal are standardized according to United States Public Health Service requirements and are formulated to contain HA of each of the following three influenza strains recommended for the 2011-2012 influenza season: A/California/07/2009 X-179A (H1N1), A/Victoria/210/2009 X-187 (an A/Perth/16/2009-like strain) (H3N2) and B/Brisbane/60/2008. The amounts of HA and other ingredients per dose of vaccine are listed in Table 8.
Table 8: Fluzone, Fluzone High-Dose, and Fluzone Intradermal
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity (perdose) | |||
| Fluzone 0.25 mL Dose | Fluzone 0.5 mL Dose | Fluzone High-Dose 0.5 mL Dose | Fluzone Intradermal 0.1 mL Dose | |
| Active Substance: Split influenza virus, inactivated strainsa: | 22.5 mcg HA total | 45 mcg HA total | 180 mcg HA total | 27 mcg HA total |
| A (H1N1) | 7.5 mcg HA | 15 mcg HA | 60 mcg HA | 9 mcg HA |
| A (H3N2) | 7.5 mcg HA | 15 mcg HA | 60 mcg HA | 9 mcg HA |
| B | 7.5 mcg HA | 15 mcg HA | 60 mcg HA | 9 mcg HA |
| Other: | ||||
| Sodium phosphate-buffered isotonic sodium chloride solution | QSb to appropriate volume | QSb to appropriate volume | QSb to appropriate volume | QSb to appropriate volume |
| Formaldehyde | ≤ 50 mcg | ≤ 100 mcg | ≤ 100 mcg | ≤ 20 mcg |
| Octylphenol Ethoxylate | ≤ 75 mcg | ≤ 150 mcg | ≤ 250 mcg | ≤ 50 mcg |
| Gelatin | 0.05% | 0.05% | None | None |
| Preservative | ||||
| Single-Dose Presentations | None | None | None | None |
| Multi-Dose Presentation (Thimerosal) | N/A | 25 mcg mercury | N/A | N/A |
| a per United States Public Health
Service (USPHS) requirement. b Quantity Sufficient. N/A not applicable |
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Influenza virus injectable (killed virus) vaccine will not cause you to become ill with the flu virus that it contains. However, you may have flu-like symptoms at any time during flu season that may be caused by other strains of influenza virus.
You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. If you ever have to receive another influenza virus vaccine in the future, you will need to...
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Fluzone »
Before receiving this vaccination, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to eggs or chicken products; or to any other vaccines; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as latex, preservatives like thimerosal found in some brands), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: any fever, uncontrolled seizures or other nervous system disorder (e.g., encephalopathy).
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia,...
Last reviewed on RxList: 1/11/2012
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
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