Big changes are coming to flu vaccines for the 2013-14 flu season. U.S. health regulators approved a new seasonal influenza vaccine that fights against four strains of influenza. This will increase the protective value of flu vaccines, since to date, flu vaccines contained only three viruses.
Let's take a closer look at this new quadrivalent flu vaccine, and what it means for companies who offer corporate flu shot programs.
What are quadrivalent flu vaccines?
Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of quadrivalent (four‐virus) flu vaccines, which offer protection against four different influenza viruses: two A viruses and two B viruses. Influenza A and B viruses cause the majority of influenza illness in the United States each flu season. Since the early 1980s the typical flu vaccine on the market has protectected against three strains: Two A virus strains and one B strain.
What is the benefit of quadrivalent vaccines?
The seasonal influenza vaccine already included one influenza B virus. Having another B virus in the quadrivalent vaccine, it may provide people with broader protection against the influenza B viruses that circulate and cause illness each flu season. Influenza B viruses are divided into two distinct lineages: the B/Yamagata and the B/Victoria.
Since 2001, two B lineages have co-circulated each season in the US. These two B virus lineages are different from one another, and a vaccine that protects against one of the lineages is unlikely to provide protection against the other. Trying to identify which B virus lineage is likely to be the predominant virus and cause the most illness is difficult to correctly predict each year. With four strains, the vaccines boost the likelihood of health experts and vaccine manufacturers matching circulating strains with the ones in the vaccine.
Who can receive the quadrivalent vaccine?
The vaccine is indicated for use in children age three years or older and adults.
What will the price be for the quadrivalent vaccines?
Four means more protection, so this new flu vaccine will be about $8-10 (per shot) higher than the traditional flu shot.
Limited supplies of the quadrivalent flu vaccine are available, so contact us today to reserve your spot.
