Influenza Vaccine

Brand names

• Flu-Immune
• Flumist
• Fluoge
• Flu-Shield
• Fluzone

Usage

To help prevent infection by the influenza (flu) virus.

How it works

The influenza vaccine is an injection that works by introducing a dead (inactive) flu virus into the body, which stimulates the immune system to produce protective antibodies against the disease. The virus used for the vaccine at any given time is similar to the one that the World Health Organization believes is likely to appear during the upcoming flu season, since the strains of influenza change from season to season and year to year.

Side effects

Serious

Serious allergic reaction involving difficulty swallowing or breathing; reddened skin, especially around the ears; itching, particularly of the hands or feet; hives; unusual and severe fatigue; and swollen face, eyes, or nasal passages.

Common

Pain, redness, or hard lump at site of injection.

Less common

Fever, muscle aches, general feeling of illness.

Possible interactions

Other medicaments:

Influenza vaccine may increase the effects of:

• carbamazepine (Tegretol), by decreasing the elimination of the medicament.
• phenobarbital, by increasing the half-life of the medicament.
• theophylline (Theo-Dur, others), by increasing the blood level of the medicament.
• warfarin (Coumadin) and pose an increased risk of bleeding; more frequent INR (prothrombin time or protime) testing is suggested.

Influenza vaccine taken concurrently with:

• cyclosporine (Sandimmune) can cause blunting of the immune response to the vaccine.
• immunosuppressive agents (chemotherapy, corticosteroids) may impair or blunt immune response to the vaccine.
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex) can result in blunting of the immune response to this vaccine.
• neuramidase inhibitors has not been found to cause differences in hemagglutination inhibition antibody levels (titers).
• phenytoin (Dilantin) and fosphenytoin (Cerebyx) has had variable effects on the blood levels of this medicament.

Herbal medicines or minerals:

Some patients use Echinacea to attempt to boost their immune systems. Unfortunately, use of Echinacea is not recommended in people with damaged immune systems. This herb may also actually weaken any immune system if it is used too often or for too long a time.

Exposure to heat:

Since this vaccine may cause short-duration fevers, it is wise to avoid hot environments for a day after vaccination.

Heavy exercise or exertion:

A fever may result, and it is wise to avoid strenuous exercise for a day after vaccination.

Special storage instructions:

This vaccine is ideally stored in the refrigerator. If this is how storage is accomplished, the outdate specified by the manufacturer is valid. If the vaccine is stored at room temperature, it is stable for up to 7 days.

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