2018-2019 seasonal trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines help protect against the following strains:

• A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09 - like virus
• New - A/Singapore/2016 (H3N2) - like virus
• New- B/Colorado/2017 - like virus (Victoria lineage)
• B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (in quadrivalent vaccines only)

Influenza vaccines are being distributed to physicians and pharmacists now. Long-term care facilities and Workplace Health have already received vaccine. Public health mass clinics will start in mid-October to early November 2018.

• At a VCH Public Health clinic. Please see details on each clinic as some are on a drop-in basis and others are by appointment.
• With your family physician
• At a walk-in clinic
• At a pharmacist. For clinics at pharmacies, use ImmunizeBC's clinic finder.
• At a travel clinic

No. More than one dose of influenza vaccine in a season is not recommended, except for those children 6 months to 8 years receiving their influenza vaccine for the first time.

Yes. Many studies have shown that people who receive the flu shot are better protected against seasonal influenza than those who are not vaccinated. Among those who are vaccinated each year, the amount of protection may be reduced over time; however, the reasons for this require better understanding. Since these studies show that vaccinated people are always better off than unvaccinated people regardless of prior history of immunization, therefore people are recommended to continue getting their annual influenza vaccine.

No. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) continues to recommend this vaccine for children 2-17 years of age and continuously reviews data on performance of Flumist®.

In order to simplify number of vaccine products offered, Fluzone HD® was not purchased by the province and is not be a publicly funded vaccine this Fall 2018. Fluzone HD® is a private pay option for seniors that is recommended by NACI and can be purchased without prescription at select pharmacies. Fluviral® or Influvac® are the publicly funded trivalent influenza vaccines that should be offered to seniors.

Fluzone® Quadrivalent is a publicly funded flu vaccine indicated for children 6 months to 17 years of age to protect against four strains of the flu; two A strains and two B strains.

Fluzone® HD is a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine that contains four times the amount of antigen compared to regular flu vaccines. The additional antigen is intended to create a stronger immune response in the person getting the vaccine. In Canada, this vaccine is approved for adults 65 years of age and older and can be purchased from a pharmacy.

For more information on Fluzone® HD, please see the BCCDC - Q and A.

No. Double dosing influenza vaccine for seniors is not recommended as there are a number of differences between the two vaccine products and the pediatric vaccine is intended for children 6 months-17 years of age.

No. All vaccine providers are advised to follow existing VCH Cold Chain Management guidelines. There is no need to allow vaccine to reach room temperature prior to use. BCCDC advises that vaccine should be administered as soon as it is prepared. The risk of vaccine administration errors and cold chain breaks is increased if vaccine is left at room temperature for unspecified amounts of time.