Annual flu vaccinations pt.1
It is important that patients are given the most up to date vaccination, as the previous year’s vaccine may not protect against the most common flu viruses in the coming winter.
In the March 2024 JCVI Flu Guidance it suggests the recommended Influenza vaccines for 2024/25 in the following groups should be:
For vaccination of those aged 65 years and over JCVI advises the use of the following vaccines:
- Adjuvanted quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (aQIV)
- Quadrivalent Recombinant Influenza vaccine (QIVr)
If aQIV or QIVr are not available, the quadrivalent influenza cell-culture vaccine (QIVc) is considered an acceptable alternative and are suitable for use in this age group.
For vaccination of adults aged 18 to less than 65 years of age, the JCVI advises the use of the influenza vaccines below:
- Quadrivalent influenza cell-culture vaccine (QIVc)
- Quadrivalent Recombinant Influenza Vaccine (QIVr)
The Quadrivalent influenza egg-culture vaccine (QIVe) can also be considered for use in this age group if other options are not available.
For vaccination of children aged two to less than 18 years of age in an at-risk group, the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is the first choice.
In those for whom LAIV is not suitable, JCVI advises the use of the influenza vaccines below in the following order of preference:
- Quadrivalent influenza cell-culture vaccine (QIVc).
- The Quadrivalent influenza egg-culture vaccinae (QIVe) can also be considered for use in this age group if other options are not available.
Children aged less two years old
For vaccination of at-risk children aged less than 2 years of age in an at-risk group JCVI advises the use of the following vaccine:
- Quadrivalent influenza cell-culture vaccine (QIVc).
The Quadrivalent influenza egg-culture vaccine (QIVe) can also be considered for use in this age group if other options are not available.