Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Resources for Health Professionals

This year's recommendations for the 2011-12 influenza season are issued in a shortened format because there are relatively few changes from the 2010-11 recommendations.

The 2010-11 influenza vaccine recommendations and related updates should continue to be referenced for other information on influenza vaccines not contained in the 2011-12 recommendations.

New Information for the 2011-12 Influenza Season

• Vaccine virus strains for the 2011-12 influenza season
• Vaccination schedule for children aged 6 months through 8 years
• Considerations and recommendations regarding vaccination of persons reporting allergy to eggs
• A new formulation of trivalent inactivated vaccine that is given intradermally (into the skin) for adults aged 18 through 64 years
• TABLE. Influenza vaccine information, by age group --- United States, 2011--12 influenza season

Influenza Vaccination: Summary for Clinicians

• Influenza Vaccination: A Summary for Clinicians
• Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Safety: A Summary for Clinicians

Dosage & Administration

• ACIP: Dosage, Administration, and Storage
• ACIP: Persons for Whom Annual Vaccination is Recommended
• ACIP: Recommendations for Using TIV and LAIV

Target Groups for Vaccination

• ACIP: Vaccination of Specific Populations
• ACIP: Timing of Vaccination
• Dosage & Administration (Q&A)
• 2011-12 Influenza Vaccine Dosage Chart

Vaccine Composition

• FDA: 2011-12 Influenza Vaccine Composition
• 2011-2012 Seasonal Flu Vaccine Selection
• Seasonal flu shot (Q&A)
• The Nasal-Spray Flu Vaccine (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine [LAIV]) (Q&A)
• Selecting the Viruses in the Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Q&A)

Supply & Distribution

• 2011-12 Vaccine Supply Update
• Reallocating Influenza Vaccine
• Seasonal Flu Vaccine Supply for the U.S. 2011-12 Season (Q&A)
• Supply & Distribution in the U.S. (Q&A)
• Distributors
  Listing from the Health Industry Distributors Association

Storage & Handling

• ACIP: Dosage, Administration, and Storage
• Large-Scale Influenza Vaccination Clinic Planning
• Packing, Shipping, Handling, & Storing Influenza Vaccine
  Guidelines for packing, shipping, handling, & storage of vaccine; vaccines are listed alphabetically.
• Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System (IVATS)
  A resource to enable healthcare providers to find influenza vaccine to purchase.

Effectiveness & Safety

• ACIP: Persons Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
• ACIP: Adverse Events After Receipt of TIV
• ACIP: Adverse Events After Receipt of LAIV
• Flu Vaccine Effectiveness (Q&A for Health Professionals)
• Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
  Also available by telephone at 1-800-822-7967
• Evaluating Studies

Patient Education

• Free Resources
• Key Facts about Seasonal Influenza (Q&A)
• Flu Vaccine (Q&A)
• How Well Does the Flu Vaccine Work? (Q&A)
• The Flu Shot (Q&A)
• Nasal-Spray Flu Vaccine (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine [LAIV]) (Q&A)
• Thimerosal in Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (Q&A)
• Seasonal Flu and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) (Q&A)
• Inactivated Flu Vaccine: Vaccination Information Statement (VIS)
• Live, Intranasal Flu Vaccine: Vaccination Information Statement (VIS)