FLU VACCINES
The influenza virus can be a deadly killer in areas where people fail to build up immunity to it through vaccinations.
According to the CDC, influenza A and B are the two kinds of viruses responsible for causing flu epidemics.
The annual challenge for vaccine manufacturers, physicians, and health researchers is determining what flu vaccine composition will best protect the public. Strains of influenza viruses change constantly. Because people have the capacity to build up their immunities to new flu strains after exposure, the FDA, vaccine manufacturers, and researchers meet to decide upon the best vaccine composition for the coming flu season.
In an influenza pandemic, a new virus rapidly spreads itself in a human population that can’t protect itself because it lacks immunity.
That’s why getting vaccinated against known flu viruses is so important
Types of Vaccines
Only two injection-based flu vaccines are licensed for use in the U.S. Chiron manufacturers one of them: Fluvirin®, an influenza vaccine previously
produced by U.K. vaccine manufacturer PowderJect Pharmaceuticals.
Chiron acquired
Powderject in July 2003. The other flu vaccine is made French vaccine manufacturer Aventis Pasteur, Inc., maker of
the FluZone® vaccine
The CDC reports that Fluvirin® is marketed as a formulation
with thimerosal as a preservative in multidose vials and as a
formulation without thimerosal as a preservative in 0.5-mL
unit dose syringes.
In 2003 another vaccine manufacturer, Maryland-based MedImmune, received FDA approval to produce Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine ("LAIV")
marketed under the name FluMist®.
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