The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual influenza vaccination as an important first step to protect yourself against the disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines for infants six months and up. All vaccines approved for infants are preservative-free. However, not every vaccine is approved for infants.
Afluria
Afluria (CSL Limited) is a preservative-free 0.25ml, single-dose seasonal flu vaccine that is FDA-approved for infants over six months. Afluria is latex-free. Trace amounts of egg protein and the antibiotics neomycin sulfate and polymyxin B may be present in the vaccine.
Fluzone
Fluzone (Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.) is a preservative-free, pink-stoppered 0.25ml, single-dose seasonal flu vaccine that, like Afluria, is approved for infants over six months. Like Afluria, Fluzone is latex-free. Unlike Afluria, no antibiotics are used in the preparation of Fluzone. Egg protein is present in trace quantities in all influenza vaccines.
Infant-Approved H1N1 Monovalent
For the 2009 and 2010 flu season, the FDA approved a separate vaccine targeting the pandemic H1N1 flu strain. The H1N1 vaccine is distinct from the seasonal flu vaccine. Although no proprietary names were assigned to the H1N1 vaccine, both CSL Limited and Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. produced preservative-free H1N1 vaccine approved for infants over six months. Neither product uses latex. Like Fluzone, antibiotics were not used in the preparation of the Sanofi Pasteur H1N1 vaccine.
