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National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

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Vaccination

Vaccination

Vaccination is the surest way to protect against getting the flu. Get your flu shot every year to protect yourself and help keep the flu from spreading to others. VHA facilities are scheduled to received 50% of their flu vaccine by September 15 and the rest by October 15, 2024.

Flu Vaccine in VHA Facilities 2024-2025

The following vaccines are available for use within VHA facilities. Consult the official U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) package inserts or the National Library of Medicine for detailed information on each vaccine.

  1. Fluarix® Trivalent in prefilled syringes (made by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals)
    1. For people aged 6 months or older
    2. FDA package insert; National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine
  2. Fluzone® Trivalent packaged in multi-dosed vials (made by Sanofi Pasteur)
    1. For people aged 6 months or older
    2. FDA package insert; National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine
  3. Fluzone® Trivalent High Dose (made by Sanofi Pasteur) 
    1. For people aged 65 years or older
    2. FDA package insert; National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine

What is trivalent influenza (flu) vaccine?

Trivalent flu vaccines protect against three different influenza viruses. Trivalent flu vaccines in the United States will include vaccine viruses or viral proteins from one influenza A(H1N1) virus, one influenza A(H3N2) virus, and one influenza B/Victoria lineage virus.

Don't get a flu vaccine if you:

  • ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs or egg products.
  • ever had a severe allergic reaction after getting any flu vaccine.
  • are younger than 6 months of age.

Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child have or have had:

  • Guillain Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness) after getting a flu vaccine.
  • problems with your immune system as the immune response may be diminished.
Poster: Protect Us All - Get Your Flu Shot

What part of your body is the flu vaccine given?

The types of flu vaccine within VA are shots given into the muscle of the arm of adults.

What are the most common side effects from flu shots?

  • pain, redness, and swelling where you got the shot
  • muscle aches
  • tiredness
  • headache
  • fever

What types of flu are in the VA’s trivalent flu vaccines?

  • INFLUENZA A VIRUS A/VICTORIA/4897/2022 IVR-238 (H1N1) ANTIGEN (FORMALDEHYDE INACTIVATED)
  • INFLUENZA A VIRUS A/THAILAND/8/2022 IVR-237 (H3N2) ANTIGEN (FORMALDEHYDE INACTIVATED)
  • INFLUENZA B VIRUS B/AUSTRIA/1359417/2021 BVR-26 ANTIGEN (FORMALDEHYDE INACTIVATED)
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