Page 1 | 2Influenza Vaccine

Visit the Utah Vaccination Locator to find a flu vaccine clinic near you.

Types of Influenza Vaccine

There are three types of influenza vaccines: an injectible shot; an intadermal (under the skin) vaccine and a nasal spray vaccine.. Each season three strains of virus are included in the influenza vaccine.

Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine or TIV - The inactivated influenza shot or TIV contains killed virus. Influenza shots are approved for use in people 6 months and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions. There are different types of the flu shots available, including a high-dose vaccine for people 65 years of age and older. The high-dose vaccine is not recommended for people who have had a severe reaction to the flu vaccine in the past.

The intradermal influenza vaccine is approved for people 18-64 years of age. The intradermal vaccine is injected into the skin instead of the muscle.

Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine or LAIV - The nasal spray vaccine or LAIV contains the same three virus strains but are weakened live viruses. LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Influenza Vaccine Virus Strains

World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that the Northern Hemisphere's 2012-2013 seasonal influenza vaccine contain the following three vaccine viruses:

  • an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
  • an A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus;
  • a B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus (from the B/Yamagata lineage of viruses).

While the H1N1 virus is the same as the 2011-2012 recommendation, the recommended influenza H3N2 and B vaccine viruses are different from those recommended for the Northern Hemisphere for the 2011-2012 influenza vaccine.

Influenza Vaccine Recommendations

Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (TIV) - injectable

Age Group Number of Doses
6 months - 8 years*
 2
greater than 9 years
 1


*Note: Click here for detailed information regarding 2012-2013 influenza vaccination recommendations for children 6 months to 8 years of age.

High-Dose Influenza Vaccine

Age Group Number of Doses
65 years and older
 1

 

Intradermal Influenza Vaccine

Age Group Number of Doses
18-64 years
 1

 

Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) - nasal spray

Age Group Number of Doses
2-8 years with no previous flu vaccine
2 separated by 4 weeks
2-8 years with 1 dose seasonal
flu vaccine*

2 separated by 4 weeks
9-49 years
1


*Note: If a child aged 6 months through 8 years is known to have received at least 2 seasonal influenza vaccines during any previous season, and at least 1 dose of a 2009(H1N1)-containing vaccine (i.e., either 2010–2011 or 2011–2012 seasonal vaccine or the monovalent 2009[H1N1] vaccine), then the child needs only 1 dose for 2012–13. Using this approach, children aged 6 months through 8 years need only 1 dose of vaccine in 2012–2013 if they have received any of the following:
– 2 or more doses of seasonal influenza vaccine since July 1, 2010; or
– 2 or more doses of seasonal influenza vaccine before July 1, 2010, and 1 or more doses of monovalent 2009(H1N1) vaccine; or
– 1 or more doses of seasonal influenza vaccine before July 1, 2010, and 1 or more doses of seasonal influenza vaccine since July 1, 2010.

Children for whom one of these conditions is not met require 2 doses in 2012–2013.

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