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ACIP Updates Influenza Vaccine Guidelines for Seniors

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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new updates for influenza vaccines for 2020–2021 “flu season,” primarily for Fluzone and Fluad vaccines.

In November 2019, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed inactivated injectable Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent (HD-IIV4) for use in persons aged 65 years and older. For the 2020–2021 season, Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent is expected to replace the previously available trivalent formulation of Fluzone High-Dose (HD-IIV3).

The dose volume for Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent (0.7 mL) is slightly higher than that of trivalent Fluzone High-Dose (0.5 mL). Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, like Fluzone High-Dose, contains four times the amount of viral hemagglutinin (HA) per vaccine virus in each dose compared with standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccines.2

In February 2020, the FDA licensed inactivated injectable Fluad Quadrivalent (aIIV4). Fluad Quadrivalent is approved for use in persons aged 65 years and older. For the 2020–2021 season, both Fluad Quadrivalent and the previously licensed trivalent formulation of Fluad (aIIV3) are expected to be available. Like Fluad, the quadrivalent version of Fluad contains a squalene based MF59 adjuvant.3

The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) has pointed out that squalene adjuvants have not been tested compared to placebos in large trials published in scientific journals. In addition, there are no studies specifically evaluating cellular, molecular and DNA changes in the body after squalene-adjuvanted vaccines have been administered to children and adults.4

In a public comment in 2015, Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of NVIC said, “Squalene adjuvants hyper-stimulate the immune system and have been linked with development of autoimmunity, narcolepsy and other chronic disease.”5

Updates to the Composition of All Influenza Vaccines

The ACIP guidelines also include updates to the composition of trivalent and quadrivalent influenza vaccines for the 2020-2021 season for all ages, which includes influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B/Victoria lineage components. The updated components will be included in both trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines. Quadrivalent vaccines will include an additional influenza B virus component from the B/Yamagata lineage, which is unchanged from that included in quadrivalent influenza vaccines used during the 2019–2020 season.6

For the 2020–2021 season, the following influenza vaccines will available:

Egg-based influenza vaccines:

  • Will contain hemagglutinin derived from an influenza A/Guangdong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus; an influenza A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like virus; and an influenza B/Washington/02/2019 (Victoria lineage)-like virus.
  • Quadrivalent vaccines will include an influenza B/Phuket/3073/2013 (Yamagata lineage)-like virus as well.
  • These vaccines include Afluria Quadrivalent, Fluarix Quadrivalent, FluLaval Quadrivalent, Fluzone Quadrivalent (all standard dose), Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent (high-dose formulation), Fluad Quadrivalent (standard dose with MF59 adjuvant), Fluad (standard dose trivalent vaccine with MF59 adjuvant) and FluMist Quadrivalent live virus intranasal spray.7

Cell culture based inactivated and recombinant influenza vaccines:

  • Will contain hemagglutinin derived from an influenza A/Hawaii/70/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus; an influenza A/Hong Kong/45/2019 (H3N2)-like virus; an influenza B/Washington/02/2019 (Victoria lineage)-like virus; and an influenza B/Phuket/3073/2013 (Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
  • These vaccines include Flucelvax Quadrivalent (standard dose cell culture based) and Flublok Quadrivalent (recombinant).

By Sept. 3, 2020, the FDA reported that more than 235 lots of influenza vaccine had been released by the FDA for distribution by six vaccine manufacturers, including Seqirus, GlaxoSmithKline, Protein Sciences, ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec, MedImmune and Sanofi Pasteur.8 9


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8 Responses

  1. Male, age 70 and no flu shots over the last 40 years. I haven’t had the flu in over 30 years and if I did, it was a 24-48 hour variety. Why would I need a flu shot? At times over the last 20 years, I have traveled to various parts of the US at all times of the year for work mainly and have not gotten sick. I am on a fasting regimen and I believe that has helped my immune system stay relatively strong. If it ain’t broke, why take the risk of fixing it just to put money in the ultra-greedy pockets of Big Pharma?

  2. I’m 71 years old and have never had a flu shot. I’ve also never had the flu. I will never inject that poison into my body. I work hard to stay healthy. I eat organically and exercise daily.

  3. I am 66 years old and have never had a flu shot. In the early 90’s when i first went to work in nursing homes as a CNA, they recommended that any one with a cough or post nasal drip should not take the flu shot. they knew back then that any symptoms along w/ the shot could turn into full blown flu. now it is recommended for every one no matter what. criminal!

  4. Thanks for everyone’s responses. I knew a 97 year old that never had flu shots and never had flu. I’m newly woke and will never have another shot again!

  5. The CDC itself, said it expected the numbers of elderly getting the flu to decrease in those who got the flu shot, but instead, the numbers increased, and yet they STILL recommend those over 65 to get the shot!!!

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