Influenza Vaccination Updates for 2016-2017 Season
Saturday, October 1, 2016
As a health care provider, you know the value of prevention and its benefits on your patients’ health. Influenza
vaccine has been shown to reduce the overall risk of flu-associated illness, medical visits and flu-related
complications, including hospitalizations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend
annual influenza vaccination for people 6 months of age and older with only a few exceptions. Vaccination is
especially important for people with certain underlying medical conditions, pregnant women, the very young, and
the elderly. We urge you to continue your efforts to vaccinate your patients against influenza. Your
recommendation plays a critical role in a patient’s decision to be immunized.
I am writing today to inform you of some updates for the 2016-2017 season:
- The composition of 2016-2017 flu vaccines was updated to better match anticipated circulating viruses.
- Only injectable influenza vaccines (inactivated influenza vaccines and recombinant influenza vaccines)
are recommended this season. While there is no preference for any one licensed, recommended
injectable vaccine over another, the live attenuated quadrivalent nasal spray influenza vaccine (LAIV4) is
not recommended for use in any setting this season because of concerns about its effectiveness. While
some LAIV may be available in the form of FluMist Quadrivalent®, that vaccine is not recommended for
use this season.
- Children 6 months through 8 years of age who have previously received two or more doses of any
influenza vaccine (at any time and not necessarily in the same season) before July 1, 2016, only need one
dose of 2016-2017 seasonal influenza vaccine. If fewer than 2 doses of influenza vaccine have been
received in the past, then 2 doses are recommended.
- An influenza vaccine with MF59 adjuvant (FLUAD™) is available for adults 65 years and older.
- Persons with history of egg allergy can receive influenza vaccine with no additional precautions other
than those recommended for other routine vaccines. Anyone with a severe egg allergy can receive any
age-appropriate and recommended licensed flu vaccine, when vaccination occurs in a medical setting and
is supervised by a health care provider who can recognize and manage severe allergic conditions. CDC
has prepared an algorithm summarizing the new recommendations which is available at
Vaccine manufacturers have projected that as many as 157 to 168 million doses of injectable flu vaccine will be
available for the 2016-2017 season. Based on these projections, the supply should be sufficient to meet any
increase in demand resulting from the recommendation not to use LAIV this season. However, providers may need
to check with more than one supplier or purchase a different flu vaccine brand. Information on flu vaccine
available for purchase can be found in the Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System (IVATS) Report at
http://www.izsummitpartners.org/content/uploads/2016/08/ivats-16-17.pdf. As of early September,
manufacturers reported having distributed more than 100 million doses of 2016-2017 flu vaccine. Please begin
to vaccinate your patients for the upcoming season as you receive vaccine. Vaccination by the end of
October is recommended, if possible, however, please continue to vaccinate your patients throughout the influenza season. Vaccine administered in December or later, even if influenza activity has already begun, is likely to be beneficial
during the majority of influenza seasons.
Influenza vaccine information for providers and patients is available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu. The inactivated
influenza vaccine information statement (VIS) developed in August 2015 is still applicable and will be used again
this season. Many other materials have been updated and new ones developed to help with educating everyone
about the above highlights for the upcoming season. We encourage you to review and share this information.
Originally published by the CDC.