Mission: To save lives and reduce hospitalizations by protecting children, families, and communities against influenza.
Insights on Influenza
  • Flu Facts
  • Flu Prevention

The History of the Flu Vaccine

history of the flu vaccine
Posted on March 29, 2023
Share this article:

The flu vaccine is safe and has been around for decades. In fact, did you know it dates back to the 1940s and has continued to evolve with medicine over the years? As the vaccine continues to improve, all vaccine ingredients are tested for safety before they are manufactured meaning each vaccine is extremely safe. Let’s walk through the history of the flu vaccine. It’s also worth noting in the United States there are three different flu vaccine production technologies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

  • Egg-Based Flu Vaccine
  • Cell Culture-Based Flu Vaccine
  • Recombinant Flu Vaccine

Development

In the 1940s, Thomas Francis, Jr., MD and Jonas Salk, MD served as lead researchers at the University of Michigan to develop the first inactivated flu vaccine with support from the U.S. Army. Their vaccine used fertilized chicken eggs which is still a method used to produce most flu vaccines today. Additionally, the first mechanical ventilators became available to help patients suffering from respiratory complications. The Army was involved with this research because of their experience with troop loss from flu illness and deaths during WWI.

In 1945, an inactivated influenza vaccine was licensed for use in civilians. In the 1960s, the country was faced with substantial mortality as the flu pandemic occurred. In response, the U.S. Surgeon General began recommending annual influenza vaccination for people with chronic debilitating disease, people aged 65 years or older, and pregnant women.

Fast Forward to 1993: The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program was established as a result of a measles outbreak to provide vaccines at no cost to children whose parents or guardians might not be able to afford them. This sparked the idea that children would begin to receive recommended vaccinations on a scheduled basis. Vaccines began taking different shapes as they continued to improve and in June of 2003, the first nasal spray flu vaccine was licensed.

Major Milestone

Families Fighting Flu played an instrumental role in establishing CDC’s universal recommendation for flu vaccination to include all individuals six months of age and older.

Some History about Families Fighting Flu: When Gary and Doris lost their 4-year-old daughter Jessica to the flu in 2002, Alissa lost her 4-year-old daughter Amanda and Joe lost his 3 ½ -year-old daughter Emily to the flu in 2004, the flu vaccination was not recommended for their age group. Since then, each of these parents have made it their mission to help save lives so other families didn’t have to go through what their family did. That takes us to 2010 when the ACIP began recommending annual influenza vaccination for those 6 months of age and older. It’s because of people like Gary, Doris, Alissa, and Joe and other families advocating and sharing their stories that this came to fruition.

Today

With the Tripledemic in full swing, doctors say it’s important to take certain precautions. First and foremost, now is the time to get your flu shot and make sure you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, paying attention to symptoms and seeking medical attention when necessary is important. As of February 24, 2023, between 173.5 million to 183.5 million doses of flu vaccine have been distributed in the United States for the 2022-23 season. Check out the CDC’s historical reference of seasonal influenza vaccine doses distributed here.

Now, flu vaccines are accessible to nearly everyone and recommended for those 6 months or older. Check out the different types of flu vaccines below:

  • Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines (IIV4)
  • Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines (IIV3)
  • Quadrivalent Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV4) – Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
  • Quadrivalent Recombinant Influenza Vaccine (RIV4)
  • Quadrivalent Cell-Cultured Influenza Vaccine (ccIIV4)

Each flu season, the CDC dives into the data to determine the effectiveness of that season’s influenza vaccine. These vaccines are very safe and effective. Did you know they can reduce the chances of getting sick with the flu by up to 60 percent? According to the CDC, hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received flu vaccines over the past 50 years, and extensive research has supported the safety of flu vaccines. Check out more flu vaccine facts here, and make sure you get your annual flu vaccine to keep our communities healthy fighting the flu!

You might also be interested in...

What You Need to Know About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy 
Caring for Elderly Loved Ones During Flu Season
How to Protect Your Child from the Flu
Stay Informed
Sign up for our Weekly Flu News and quarterly newsletter, Fighting Influenza, to stay up-to-date on the latest flu news.
Newsletter

LOGO LICENSE AGREEMENT

You are required to accept all of the terms and conditions in this License Agreement in order to receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, royalty-free license to use the FAMILIES FIGHTING FLU, INC. logo, displayed below (the “FFF Logo”), from Families Fighting Flu, Inc. (“FFF”). In order to accept these terms and conditions, you must click the “I Accept” button below.

  1. FFF hereby grants to you, and you accept, a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, royalty-free license to use the FFF Logo, which you may download and use solely in online and print earned media publications for a period of no more than six (6) months in the United States.
  2. You acknowledge that the FFF Logo is a valid trademark; that FFF is the sole owner of the FFF Logo; and that FFF retains all right, title, and interest in and to the FFF Logo. You agree that any and all use that you make of the FFF Logo, and any and all goodwill arising from your use of the FFF Logo, shall inure exclusively to the benefit of FFF.  You also agree that you shall not challenge the validity of the FFF Logo or FFF’s ownership or title thereto during the term of the License Agreement or thereafter.
  3. You agree that you shall use the FFF Logo only in the form shown above, and that you shall not alter, modify, change, or edit the FFF Logo in any manner.
  4. You acknowledge the valuable goodwill and reputation in the FFF Logo, and that it is essential that the high standards and reputation associated with the FFF Logo be maintained. You therefore agree to use the FFF Logo consistent with the highest standards of quality so as to protect and maintain the FFF Logo and FFF’s rights therein.
  5. FFF shall have the right to review and inspect your use of the FFF Logo at any time. FFF, in its sole discretion, may determine that you are not using the FFF Logo in an acceptable manner and require that you discontinue your use of the FFF Logo.  To the extent that FFF requires that you discontinue your use of the FFF Logo, you agree that you shall remove the FFF Logo from all online and print earned media publications as soon as practicable under the circumstances, and that you shall not use the FFF at any time in the future.
  6. You must include the following notice in connection with any use of the FFF Logo: “The Families Fighting Flu, Inc. logo is the registered trademark of Families Fighting Flu, Inc.”
I Accept