Post #40 Flu Vaccine Update 2013-2014 (Quadrivalent vs Trivalent)

How is the flu vaccine formulated?Flu viruses are always changing. Each year, experts study thousands of flu virus samples from around the world to figure out which viruses are making people sick and how these viruses are changing. With this information, they forecast which viruses are most likely to make the most people sick during the next flu season. These strains are then used to make the flu vaccine for the next flu season. The 2013-14 U.S. trivalent influenza vaccines will contain: *an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus *an A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus *a B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virusThe newer quadrivalent vaccines will include an additional vaccine virus:*a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virusWhile the H1N1 virus and the H3N2 virus used to make the 2013-2014 flu vaccine are the same viruses that were included in the 2012-2013 vaccine, the recommended influenza B vaccine virus(es) are different from those in the 2012-2013 influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere.  When to get vaccinated?Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as the vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, as late as March or beyond. The timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. In our area, a local pediatrician friend has already reported 2 cases of flu "A" seen in siblings this past week at their office.  A rapid flu test was used, however at this time no further confirmation is available.  If confirmed, this may poin...
Source: A Pediatrician's Blog - Category: Pediatricians Source Type: blogs