It is now the season for being vaccinated against the flu, but you may not be aware that there are multiple kinds of flu vaccines. According to CDC, there will be around six distinct influenza vaccines available for use during the 2022-2023 influenza season. So, which of them should you choose to purchase?
Getting vaccinated against the flu is generally advised for everyone who is 6 months old or older. Your age is the primary factor that determines which kinds of vaccinations you are eligible to get, and those aged 65 and older are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against influenza. In addition, if you have a certain health condition, getting a flu vaccination may be more difficult for you. The following is a breakdown of the several kinds of flu vaccinations that are now available, as well as the people who are encouraged to acquire each one.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend one strain of influenza vaccination over another for those under the age of 65. This indicates that persons in this age range have the option of receiving any strain of the influenza vaccination that is authorized for their age group. These, according to the CDC, include the following:
Standard-dose, inactivated flu vaccines: They are permitted for use in persons who are at least 6 months old. Standard-dose influenza vaccines are available from a variety of manufacturers under a variety of brand names, including Fluzone Quadrivalent, FluLaval Quadrivalent, Fluarix Quadrivalent, and Afluria Quadrivalent.
Cell-based Flu vaccine: The flucelvax Quadrivalent vaccine is the only cell-based influenza vaccine that will be available for the 2022-2023 influenza season. The influenza viruses used in this vaccination are not generated in eggs; rather, they are grown in mammalian cells. This vaccination also includes flu viruses that have been inactivated. It is allowed for use in a population that is at least 6 months old.
Recombinant flu vaccine: Flublok Quadrivalent is the only recombinant influenza vaccine that has been given the green light for use during the 2022-2023 flu season. The manufacturing technique for this vaccine does not include the use of the whole influenza virus or eggs from chickens. Instead, a synthetic version of this vaccine is produced. According to NIAID, in order to produce the vaccine, researchers mix a gene from the influenza virus with one from a baculovirus, which is a virus that thrives in the cells of insects but does not affect people in any way.
Flu Nasal spray: There is one nasal spray for the flu that will be available for the 2022-2023 season. It is called FluMist Quadrivalent, and it is manufactured from the eggs of chickens. According to a recent study by Live Science, it includes flu viruses that have been inactivated, which means they have been weakened, rather than destroyed.
