According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), five manufacturers have been licensed to produce injectible vaccine (flu shot) for the 2009-2010 season. A sixth--MedImmune LLC--has been licensed to produce a nasal spray vaccine called FluMist. All of the flu shots are designated for intramuscular injection, usually the deltoid muscle of the arm or, in infants, the front of the thigh. Each shot is marketed under a different brand name with slightly different indications.
Afluria
Afluria is a seasonal flu shot produced by CSL Limited. It is available as a 0.25 mL single dose prefilled syringe for children 6 through 35 months of age. For older children and adults, it is available as a 0.5 mL single dose prefilled syringe or as 5 mL multidose vial containing 10 doses. All single dose preparations are preservative-free. The multidose vial contains approximately 24.5 mcg (per dose) of mercury as Thimerosol, a mercury compound that serves as a preservative.
All flu shots including Afluria are contraindicated in people with severe egg allergies or a history of life-threatening allergy to previous influenza immunization. In addition, the antibiotics neomycin and polymyxin are used in the preparation of Afluria, and people with allergies to these drugs should not take Afluria. As of January 20, 2010, 52 lots of Afluria were released by the FDA.
Fluvirin
Fluvirin is a seasonal flu shot manufactured by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited. It is available as a 0.5 mL prefilled syringe or as a 5 mL multidose vial containing 10 doses. It is approved for adults and children 4 years and up. The multidose vial contains Thimerosol as a preservative, and each dose from the multidose vial contains about 25 mcg of mercury. Fluvirin is the only seasonal flu shot that contains mercury in the single-dose preparations. Trace amounts (less than 1 mcg per dose) are reported in the single dose prefilled syringe.
Fluvirin is contraindicated in people with allergies to the antibiotics neomycin and polymyxin. As of January 20, 2010, 39 lots were released by the FDA.
Fluarix
Fluarix is a seasonal flu shot manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It is available only as a prefilled 0.5 mL single-dose syringe for adults and children older than 3 years. Fluarix does not contain Thimerosol. Natural latex rubber is a component of the syringes used to dispense Fluarix, so people with latex allergies should not receive Fluarix. Antibiotics are not used in the manufacturing of Fluarix. As of January 20, 2010, 16 lots were released by the FDA.
Flulaval
FluLaval is a seasonal flu shot manufactured by ID Biomedical Corporation. Based in Quebec, FluLaval is the only FDA-approved flu vaccine that is manufactured outside the United States. FluLaval is only available as a 5 mL multidose vial that contains approximately 25 mcg of mercury per dose. It is approved only for adults 18 years and older.
FluLaval should not be given to children. Antibiotics are not used in the manufacture of FluLaval. As of January 20, 2010, 19 lots were released by the FDA.
Fluzone
Fluzone is a seasonal flu shot manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur Inc.. Like Afluria, Fluzone is approved for use in children between 6 months and 3 years of age. (No vaccine is approved for children younger than 6 months.) Fluzone is available in four forms: a pink-stoppered, infant-approved 0.25 mL prefilled syringe; a 0.5 mL prefilled syringe; a 0.5 mL single-dose vial; and a 5 mL multidose (10 dose) vial. None of the single-dose preparations contain mercury. The multidose vial contains 25 mcg per dose of mercury as Thimerosol. Antibiotics are not used in the preparation of Fluzone. As of January 20, 2010, 108 lots were released by the FDA.
