What Types of Flu Shots are Available in 2020?

It’s flu season in the U.S. from October to May. The CDC recommends getting flu shot vaccines as early in the season as possible to help protect yourself and your family from getting sick. The flu or influenza is a highly contagious illness that affects the respiratory system. While some people only experience mild symptoms and fully recover within 1 to 2 weeks, people who have weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, can endure life-threatening complications from the flu.

Why Do We Need Different Types of Flu Shots?

You may be wondering why we need more than one flu shot. The vaccines are all a little different because they were created to protect us against the four different strains of influenza viruses. By having multiple vaccines for the two influenza A viruses, and influenza B viruses, we can all have a broader range of protection from the flu this year.

What Are the Different Types of Flu Shots for 2020-2021?

There are several different variations of flu shots for the 2020-2021 season. The two main types are Trivalent and Quadrivalent, and there are multiple variations of these two primary vaccines.

Trivalent Flu Vaccines

The Trivalent flu vaccine is designed to protect you from three strains of influenza, including Influenza A (H1N1), Influenza A (H3N3), and Influenza B. Here are the options for the Trivalent vaccine:

Regular Standard Dose

These are egg-grown vaccines that are administered using a needle that’s inserted into the arm’s muscle. These standard vaccines are best for people between 18 and 64 years.

Trivalent and Quadrivalent Vaccines with Adjuvant

Also known as Fluad and Fluad Quadrivalent, these shots offer another option for people who want the flu vaccine. They are approved for seniors over the age of 65 and are the best choice for seniors. These shots have an ingredient known as Adjuvant,\ that helps the patient build up a stronger immune system response.

Quadrivalent Flu Vaccines

These vaccines are different from Trivalent shots because they offer protection against four influenza strains instead of just three.

Here are the different options for the Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine.

Standard Quadrivalent Vaccines

The standard version of the quadrivalent vaccine is offered to people six months and up. There is also an option for this vaccine that contains the flu virus grown in cell culture. This type of standard Quadrivalent vaccine is only offered to people over four years of age.

High-Dose Quadrivalent Vaccines

The high dose of this vaccine is recommended for seniors over the age of 65. Also known as Flu zone, this shot contains four times the influenza virus antigen as the standard shot.

Jet Injection Quadrivalent Vaccines

The Jet Injection vaccine, also known as AFLURIA Quadrivalent, is a flu vaccine approved for people six months of age and older. The shot, which is administered by a jet injector, is only approved for people between the ages of 18 and 64. A jet injector is a device that uses a stream of fluid under pressure to get the vaccine into the skin instead of using a needle.

Recombinant Quadrivalent Vaccines

This vaccine is not grown from eggs, making it a suitable choice for people who have egg allergies. It is approved for individuals over 18.

Live Attenuated Intranasal Spray

This nasal spray vaccine is made from eggs and administered to people between ages 2 and 49.

Learn More About Taking Preventative Measures Against the Flu

If you have questions or concerns about the flu and how to prevent it, get in touch with your local experts here at BASS Primary Care by calling (925) 962-9120. We can provide you with more insight on what steps to take along with getting your flu shot to keep your family safe and healthy this flu season.