Category: Flu Vaccine Information
Are Flu Vaccines Live or Attenuated?
July 1, 2022 - Most flu vaccines are not live or attenuated. Live means that the virus is not dead, and attenuated means that the virus is weakened but still alive. The live attenuated flu vaccine contains a version of the flu virus that is “alive” but weakened so that it cannot reproduce and make you sick. Rather, it […]
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Needle-Free Flu Vaccine
June 15, 2022 - The nasal spray flu vaccine is administered intranasally, which means that the vaccine is sprayed up the nose as opposed to being injected with a needle. This vaccine can be used in eligible individuals ages 2 through 49 years and can be a good option for people who avoid flu vaccination due to a fear […]
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RNA, DNA and Flu Vaccines
April 28, 2022 - First, let’s cover the basics of DNA and RNA. Here is a quick explanation of what they are: DNA: “Deoxyribonucleic acid, more commonly known as DNA, is a complex molecule that contains all of the information necessary to build and maintain an organism. All living things have DNA within their cells. In fact, nearly every […]
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Are Flu Shots Dangerous?
March 24, 2022 - NO. Flu vaccines are studied, tested, and have been used in the U.S. since 1945. Can you get the flu from the flu vaccine? Again, no. To cause infection, flu viruses need to make copies of themselves. Flu vaccines, regardless of how they are made, do not contain viruses that can reproduce and make you sick with […]
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What’s in a Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine?
March 17, 2022 - Most flu vaccines are quadrivalent, which means that the vaccine protects against 4 types of influenza. Why quadrivalent? Flu is a tricky virus because it can change quickly. To keep up to date with these changes, flu vaccines are updated every year. That way, the vaccine you get each year is best matched to protect […]
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Should You Wait a Full Year Between Flu Shots?
March 17, 2022 - At the heart of today’s blog is a common question about vaccination and immunity, essentially: how long does flu immunity last after vaccination? To begin our discussion, anyone who has received a flu vaccine during their life or contracted the flu in their life will have some immunity, but that background immunity isn’t the strongest […]
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Pregnant Women and Flu Vaccines
March 17, 2022 - You want to protect yourself and your baby from getting sick. That protection can start during pregnancy. By getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself, your baby, and improve the health of your pregnancy. One Vaccine Protects Two People Flu shots during pregnancy reduce the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection in pregnant people by 50%, which […]
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Difference Between Flu Shots for Seniors vs. Regular Flu Shots
March 3, 2022 - People ages 65 and older are recommended to receive a flu vaccine that is specially formulated for their age. As we get older, our immune systems aren’t as strong, which is why a stronger vaccine is needed. For people 65+, there is a greater chance of getting sick, hospitalized, or dying from the flu. Those […]
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When was the Flu Vaccine Invented?
February 17, 2022 - Flu vaccines have been around for a long time, and their development started almost 100 years ago! Below, we outline the flu vaccine development timeline: The 1930s: Scientists isolated the influenza A virus from animals to study the virus and learn how it can be weakened/killed to create a vaccine. Early 1940s: Jonas Salk, MD […]
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Flu Vaccine Q&A – COVID-19 Booster & Flu Shots Simultaneously
October 13, 2021 - As an organization that has been discussing and advocating for flu vaccines for 17 years and counting, we’ve heard every question imaginable. With COVID-19 vaccines on people’s minds, we want to help you get the answers you need to safely get vaccinated. Is it safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as […]
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