City of Ottawa Free Flu Shot Clinics

Source:
Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine
for 2011–2012
Canada Communicable Disease Report, Volume 37, ACS-5, September 2011. Emphasis, product monographs and other links added.

1. Introduction

   I.1 Overview and Summary
        of Changes
   The seasonal trivalent vaccine for 2011-2012 contains the same three components as the 2010-2011 vaccine. These are an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus, an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus, and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus (B Victoria lineage).

   The 2011-2012 statement contains updated epidemiological information from the 2010-2011 influenza season and product information for all eight authorized influenza vaccines, including the recently approved products: Intanza®, FluMist®, Fluad®, and FluZone®.
   A new table [see below] outlines the product characteristics for each vaccine. Full details, including recommendations for persons with immune compromising and other chronic health conditions, can be found in the statement.

   NACI now recommends that a full dose of influenza vaccine should be used for children 6 to 35 months of age, based on evidence showing moderate improvement in antibody response without increase in reactogenicity.

   Immunization programs should focus on those persons at high risk of influenza-related complications, those capable of transmitting influenza to individuals at high risk of complications and those who provide essential community services. The special considerations category from the 2010-2011 statement has been removed (including children 2 to 4 years of age) as it is felt that elevated pandemic-related risk no longer exists for the groups in this category. Two of the groups (persons with morbid obesity and Aboriginal peoples) that NACI identified for special consideration for influenza vaccine in 2010-2011 have now been added to the list of high-risk recipients for ongoing annual vaccination.

   [Regarding egg allergy...]
   Another major change in the statement is the advice for persons with egg allergy. Egg allergy is no longer considered a contraindication for trivalent influenza vaccine. After careful review, NACI concludes that egg-allergic individuals may be vaccinated against influenza using TIV, without a prior influenza vaccine skin test, based on an assessment of risk for a severe allergic reaction to guide the method of vaccination. Details of the procedures are found in the statement. Data are not currently available to support this recommendation for LAIV.

   I.2 Background
   [...] For the 2011-2012 season in the Northern Hemisphere, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the trivalent vaccine contain A/California/7/2009(H1N1)-like, A/Perth/16/2009(H3N2)-like, and B/Brisbane/60/2008(Victoria lineage)-like antigens. All three components are unchanged from the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine.

2. Methods
3. Epidemiology
4. Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

   IV.1.1 Overview
   There are currently eight seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines authorized for use in Canada, of which seven are inactivated and one is a live attenuated vaccine. This statement describes the use of all eight vaccines. More detail for Intanza®, FluMist®, and Fluad® vaccines may be found in supplementary NACI statements for each product. [...]

   Full details of the composition of each vaccine and a brief description of its manufacturing process can be found in the product monograph. However, key relevant details and differences between products are highlighted below and in Table 1 [see below].

   The products are all manufactured by a process involving chicken eggs, which may result in the vaccine containing trace amounts of residual egg protein. All influenza vaccines currently available in Canada are considered safe for use in persons with latex allergy.

   The publicly funded programs for 2011-2012 will make six of the eight authorized vaccines available to some extent. These are Fluviral® (GSK), Vaxigrip® and Intanza® (sanofi), FluMist® (AstraZeneca), and Agriflu® and Fluad® (Novartis). Please consult your province or territory for specifics on the products provided in your jurisdiction.

Read the full "Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2011–2012"