Influenza Vaccine, Purified Surface Antigen, Injection in-floo-EN-za vak-SEEN

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: influenza virus vaccine, injection; Fluvirin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (a shot) to provide protection against the flu virus. The vaccine must be given each year to prevent infection during flu season. The flu vaccine is recommended for all people age 6 months of age and older. If vaccine supply is low, shots are given first to people who could have serious medical problems if they came down with the flu.

Several groups of people are at higher risk for getting the flu and should receive a flu shot every year, such as:

• adults over the age of 49 and children between the ages of 6 months to 18 years
• people whose immune systems may be impaired, such as by HIV, cancer, or an organ transplant
• people with chronic medical problems, such as asthma, heart disease, emphysema, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, anemia and other blood disorders
• people with spinal cord injuries, or nerve or muscle disorders (such as cerebral palsy or seizure disorders) that affect breathing
• people working in healthcare
• people who live in nursing homes, dormitories, or other facilities
• school teachers and other community workers with close daily contact with the public
• children on long-term aspirin therapy (they could develop Reye Syndrome if they got the flu).
• women who will be pregnant during the flu season
• household contacts or caregivers of children less than 5 years of age or adults over 50 years of age

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine or vaccine, or to eggs or chickens
• an allergic reaction to thimerosal (a preservative) (thimerosal-free vaccine is available)
• an allergic reaction to latex
• a bleeding disorder, or if you currently take anticoagulant medicine (medicine that reduces the chance of blood clots forming) such as clopidogrel (Plavix), or warfarin (Coumadin)
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, from cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or from taking medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection or steroid medicines to treat arthritis
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
• seizures

Tell your healthcare provider if you currently have a fever or an infection of any kind. Young children who get inactivated flu vaccine (flu shot) and pneumococcal vaccine at the same time may be at increased risk for seizures caused by fever. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If your child takes aspirin regularly, talk with your provider before your child receives this vaccine.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by a healthcare provider.

The flu vaccine becomes effective 2 to 4 weeks after you get the shot. You can get vaccinated any time during flu season. However, it is best to get the flu shot as soon as it is available, usually in September or October, of each year for full protection.

This medicine is approved for use in children 4 years of age and older, as well as adults.

Adults and older children need one dose of influenza vaccine each year. Children younger than 9 years of age may need 2 doses, at least 4 weeks apart, to be protected. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

What should I watch out for?

The flu vaccine reduces your risk of getting the flu, but may not completely protect you. You still have a small chance of getting the flu even after a flu shot. If you do get the flu, your symptoms should be less severe, and you are less likely to develop complications. The flu vaccine will not protect against colds or viruses other than the flu.

For a day or two after you get the vaccine, you may feel sore where you had the shot or have a mild fever, headache, or tiredness. If any of these side effects lasts longer than 2 days or if they become severe, contact your healthcare provider.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

Children may develop a fever after the shot. If the fever is high or lasts longer than 2 days, contact your healthcare provider.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical treatment or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing); seizures.

Serious (report this to your healthcare provider right away): High fever or unusual behavior.

Other: Soreness, redness, or mild swelling where the shot was given; mild fever; tiredness; muscle aches; headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• aspirin and other salicylates
• corticosteroids such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Orapred), prednisone, and triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog)
• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral), glatiramer (Copaxone), mycophenolate (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• medicines to treat cancer or radiation therapy
• medicines to treat or prevent blood clots such as abciximab (ReoPro), argatroban, bivalirudin (Angiomax), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), lepirudin (Refludan), tirofiban (Aggrastat), and warfarin (Coumadin)

Keep a record of all vaccines received and when you received them.

The influenza vaccine may be given at the same time as certain other vaccines. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.