Flucelvax® Quadrivalent Influenza vaccine
This product is manufactured by Seqirus using the ingredient influenza vaccine - inactivated; mammalian cell culture-based.
This product is taken via intramuscular injection.
Why is it prescribed?
This vaccine is indicated for the prevention of seasonal influenza in persons 6 months of age and up.
Each year, different strains of the influenza virus appear. Scientists try to predict which strains will be most likely for the coming year, and these strains are used to make up the year's influenza vaccine. Flucelvax® Quadrivalent contains 2 influenza A strains and 2 influenza B strains. The vaccine only provides protection against the strains of flu virus used to prepare the vaccine.
It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks for the protection against these viruses to be effective, and the protection lasts for 6 to 12 months. Annual vaccination is necessary to make sure you are covered for the new virus strains that are expected each year.
The best time for vaccination is from mid-October, but anytime in the flu season (November to April) is appropriate.
Contrary to popular belief, influenza vaccine cannot cause the flu, as the virus in the vaccine is inactivated.
Flucelvax® Quadrivalent may not work for everybody.
Alternatives
See other products used in the treatment of •influenza •flu •
The dose for adults and children 9 years of age or older is 0.5 mL as a single injection.
The dose for children 6 months to 9 years of age is 0.5 mL as a single injection. If this is their first influenza vaccination, they require a second injection 4 weeks later.
The influenza vaccine causes the body to produce antibodies against the virus. This means that when your body is exposed to the influenza virus, your body is able to defend itself. The antibodies stop the attacking virus.
The manufacturing process for this vaccine uses animal cells (Madin-Darby Canine Kidney, or MDCK cells) as a host for growing the influenza viruses instead of fertilized chicken eggs. Cell-culture based influenza vaccines have been available in Europe since 2007 and the United States since 2012.
This vaccine has comparable efficacy and safety profile to the traditional inactivated influenza vaccine however it is more expensive than traditional influenza vaccines and there is less experience with this type of vaccine.
Advantages:
- Not dependent on egg supply.
- Manufacturing process is faster and there is reduced microbial or chemical contamination due to a closed system of vaccine production.
- May offer better efficacy due to greater similarity to the influenza viruses in circulation i.e. no egg-adaptive mutations will occur.
- May permit faster manufacturing in the event of a pandemic. The cells used to manufacture this vaccine are kept frozen and “banked” ensuring an adequate supply is always available for vaccine production
The most common side effects are:
- Injection site pain, reddening, hardening, bruising or swelling
- Headache
- Muscle or joint pain
- Tiredness
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
Do not use this vaccine if:
- You are allergic to influenza vaccines or to any of the ingredients in this vaccine.
Speak to your health care provide if you:
- have an infection or temperature higher than 38.5°C. Your doctor may decide to delay vaccination until the illness has passed. A minor illness such as a cold is not usually a reason to delay vaccination.
- have low immunity due to treatment with certain medicines
- have or have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding: Considered safe