• Immunization Program Main
• Changes to Universal Vaccine Purchasing
• For Schools and Parents
• Immunizations
• For Health Care Providers
• Vaccines
• Forms and Publications

---

• Department of Health Home
• Community and Family Health Main
• Office of Maternal and Child Health Main
   

---

 

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine

Influenza (flu) vaccine is made each year with the three most common strains circulating that year. Inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended for anyone who is at risk of complications from the flu including:

• All children, ages six months up to the nineteenth birthday.
• Adults age 50 years and older.
• Pregnant women.
• People with medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart problems.
• Anyone living with or caring for someone in one of the above groups, especially babies under age six months who are too young to get flu vaccine but may still get the flu.
• Anyone living or working in a long-term care facility.
• Health care workers.

Flu vaccine is also recommended for anyone who lives with or cares for people at high risk for flu-related complications and people who want to reduce the likelihood of getting the flu or spreading it to others.

Nasal spray flu vaccine is recommended for healthy people aged 2-49 years who are not pregnant.

For more information, visit the Flu Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions page.

Washington State is currently supplying the following flu vaccines as part of the state childhood vaccine program:

Vaccine	Indications for Use of State-Supplied Vaccine
Sanofi Pasteur Fluzone No Preservative 0.25 mL Single Dose Syringe (6–35 Months)	Children aged six months up to the third birthday.
Sanofi Pasteur Fluzone No Preservative 0.5 mL Single Dose Vial/Syringe (age three years and up)	Prioritize the use of this vaccine for pregnant adolescents less than age 19 years. If supplies are sufficient to vaccinate this group, this presentation may be used for children aged three years up to the nineteenth birthday who meet the criteria for the use of state supplied vaccine.
Sanofi Pasteur Fluzone 5.0 mL Multi Dose Vial (age three years and up)	Children aged three years up to the nineteenth birthday.
MedImmune FluMist Single Dose Nasal Spray (age three years and up)	Children aged three years up to the nineteenth birthday.

Immunization Guidelines for the Use of State Supplied Vaccine (PDF, 82 KB) August 20, 2009
Vaccine Management - Recommendation for Storage and Handling of Vaccines

Vaccine Information Statements:

• Inactivated Influenza
• Live, Intranasal Influenza   

Related Information:

• Vaccine Advisory Committee Recommendation For Use of the Influenza Vaccine (PDF, 33 KB)
• Provider Frequently Asked Questions for 2006 Law: Limiting the Use of Mercury-Containing Vaccines (PDF, 42 KB)
• Influenza Vaccine Pre-booking Distributor List for the 2009-2010 Flu Season (PDF, 37 KB)
• Best Practices for Mass Influenza Vaccinations (PDF, 19 KB)
• Health Care Workers Influenza Immunization Toolkit 2007
 

External Resources:

• National Immunization Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Locate my local health department

 

Last Update: 09/25/2009 09:12 AM