What is meant by influenza vaccine?

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Influenza (flu) vaccines (often called “flu shots”) are vaccines that protect against the four influenza viruses that research indicates most common during the upcoming season. Most flu vaccines are “flu shots” given with a needle, usually in the arm, but there also is also a nasal spray flu vaccine.

What is a flu vaccine and how does it work?

Tran: The flu vaccine uses a deactivated or weakened version of the influenza virus to train your body to recognize an antigen (protein) on the surface of the virus. This causes your immune system to develop antibodies that will fight the flu.

What type of vaccine is used for influenza?

The most commonly administered flu vaccine is a quadrivalent vaccine, which provides protection against the four strains of influenza most likely to be circulating each season. These flu vaccines provide protection against three strains of influenza (as opposed to four with a quadrivalent vaccine).

Why is influenza vaccine important?

Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization. Flu vaccination prevents tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year. For example, during 2019-2020 flu vaccination prevented an estimated 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations.

What are the different types of vaccines?

There are several types of vaccines, including:

Inactivated vaccines.
Live-attenuated vaccines.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.
Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines.
Toxoid vaccines.
Viral vector vaccines.

What is the flu vaccine made of?

Many flu vaccines are made by growing the viruses inside fertilized chicken eggs. This means that they contain a small amount of egg protein. A newer version of the vaccine, called Flucelvax, is grown in animal cells instead.

What is in the vaccine?

mRNA – Also known as messenger ribonucleic acid, mRNA is the only active ingredient in the vaccine. The mRNA molecules contain the genetic material that provide instructions for our body on how to make a viral protein that triggers an immune response within our bodies.

When should influenza vaccine be given?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu (influenza) vaccine for all children 6 months and older in the United States — ideally by the end of October.

Which is the best vaccine for Covid?

There are three COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the U.S. The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are all highly effective in protecting you from the virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC says there’s a preference for the mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) COVID-19 vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.