U.S. Influenza Vaccines; One Way To Protect Against The Flu

 

U.S. Influenza Vaccines

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory disease that can cause serious health complications and possibly death, especially in young children, older adults, and people with certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart disease. The flu can also be dangerous for pregnant women and infants. One way to protect against the flu is influenza vaccines. Vaccination protects against the flu and may even prolong life.

Getting a yearly influenza vaccine is the most effective way to prevent infection with the virus and its complications. The influenza vaccines cannot completely prevent the flu, however, it does reduce the number of cases and severity of symptoms. A 2017 study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that vaccinating adults with the flu shot reduced hospital admissions, intensive care unit admissions and overall duration of illness among those who were admitted. The vaccine can be given as an injection, in the form of a “flu shot” or nasal spray inhaled into the nose.

The U.S. influenza vaccines market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3,975.7 million in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period (2022-2030).

The “flu shot” contains an inactivated version of the virus that is killed and therefore cannot cause disease. It usually contains protection against three or four viruses that research indicates will be most common during the season. The influenza vaccine manufacturing process, called “recombinant,” involves extracting one gene from the naturally occurring "wild type" recommended virus and combining it with another gene from a different flu virus that grows well in insect cells. The resulting virus is then grown in the cells and purified to make vaccine.

There is a small risk of a severe allergic reaction to the inactivated vaccine, however, this occurs only rarely. Some of the common side effects of the flu shot include soreness or swelling where the shot was injected, fever, headache and muscle aches.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome, is a very rare side effect of the flu vaccine. It is an autoimmune disorder that typically starts with weakness in the legs. The condition can be fatal and is why it is important for anyone who has a severe allergy to eggs, which are used in some of the U.S. influenza vaccines, to get the vaccination only at their doctor's office and not in a supermarket or drugstore.

There is also an egg-based live attenuated influenza vaccine that can be given to people aged 2 years through 49 years. It is called the FluMist Quadrivalent. It is not recommended for pregnant women, people with egg allergies and those who have had a recent haematopoietic stem cell transplant or solid organ transplant. The vaccine is made by private manufacturers and shipments usually begin in August each year. In February 2023, an expert panel under the Health Ministry of Japan endorsed a nasal influenza vaccine, FluMist Quadrivalent for children aging between 2 and 18.