Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Supply for the U.S. 2017-2018 Influenza Season
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- How much influenza vaccine is projected to be available for the 2017-2018 influenza season?
- How much thimerosal-free influenza vaccine is expected to be available for the 2017-2018 season?
- How much quadrivalent (four-component) vaccine is expected to be available for the 2017-2018 season?
- Can I still buy influenza vaccine for the 2017-2018 season?
- What can we anticipate in terms of the timing of vaccine availability for the 2017-2018 season?
- Are all influenza vaccines the same?
- Egg Allergy
- Where can I find information about vaccine supply?
More of the latest information is available on the total distribution of influenza vaccine doses for the 2017-2018 season.
How much influenza vaccine is projected to be available for the 2017-2018 influenza season?
Flu vaccine is produced by private manufacturers, so supply depends on manufacturers. Vaccine manufacturers originally projected that as many as 151 million to 166 million doses of injectable flu vaccine (i.e., inactivated and recombinant flu vaccines) would be made available for the 2017-2018 season.
How much thimerosal-free influenza vaccine is expected to be available for the 2017-2018 season?
For the 2017-2018 season, manufacturers will produce influenza vaccines containing thimerosal and some vaccines that do not contain thimerosal.
Approximately 130 million doses of thimerosal-free or preservative-free influenza vaccine will be produced for the 2017-2018 flu season.
How much quadrivalent (four-component) vaccine is expected to be available for the 2017-2018 season?
For the 2017-2018 season, manufacturers will produce both trivalent (three-component) and quadrivalent (four-component) flu vaccines.
Approximately 119 million doses of quadrivalent flu vaccines will be produced for the 2017-2018 season.
Can I still buy influenza vaccine for the 2017-2018 season?
Influenza vaccine pre-booking typically occurs between January and March, though most preparations of vaccine should still be available for purchase. Providers should contact distributors and local vendors about remaining supply. Information about manufacturers and distributors who still have influenza vaccine available for sale can be found at http://www.preventinfluenza.org/ivats/.
What can we anticipate in terms of the timing of vaccine availability for the 2017-2018 season?
The timing of vaccine availability depends on when production is completed. Some influenza vaccine shipments have already begun and will continue throughout August, September, October, and November until all of the vaccine is distributed.
Are all influenza vaccines the same?
Different influenza vaccine preparations have different indications as licensed by the FDA. See the table below for an overview of these indications.
Special Consideration Regarding Egg Allergy
The recommendations for vaccination of people with egg allergies have not changed since last season (2016-2017).
People with egg allergies can receive any licensed, recommended age-appropriate influenza vaccine and no longer have to be monitored for 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine. People who have severe egg allergies should be vaccinated in a medical setting and be supervised by a health care provider who is able to recognize and manage severe allergic conditions.
Where can I find information about vaccine supply?
Information about vaccine supply is available on the CDC influenza web site.
TABLE 1. Influenza vaccines — United States, 2017–18 influenza season*
| Trade name | Manufacturer | Presentation | Age indication | Mercury (from thimerosal, µg/0.5 mL) | Latex | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivated influenza vaccines, quadrivalent (IIV4s), standard-dose† | ||||||
| Afluria Quadrivalent | Seqirus | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥18 years | NR | No | IM§ |
| 5.0 mL multidose vial | ≥18 years (by needle/syringe) 18 through 64 years (by jet injector) |
24.5 | No | IM | ||
| Fluarix Quadrivalent | GlaxoSmithKline | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥3 years | NR | No | IM |
| FluLaval Quadrivalent | ID Biomedical Corp. of Quebec (distributed by GlaxoSmithKline) | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥6 months | NR | No | IM |
| 5.0 mL multidose vial | ≥6 months | <25 | No | IM | ||
| Fluzone Quadrivalent | Sanofi Pasteur | 0.25 mL prefilled syringe | 6 through 35 months | NR | No | IM |
| 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥3 years | NR | No | IM | ||
| 0.5 mL single-dose vial | ≥3 years | NR | No | IM | ||
| 5.0 mL multidose vial | ≥6 months | 25 | No | IM | ||
| Inactivated influenza vaccine, quadrivalent (ccIIV4), standard-dose,† cell culture-based | ||||||
| Flucelvax Quadrivalent | Seqirus | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥4 years | NR | No | IM |
| 5.0 mL multidose vial | ≥4 years | 25 | No | IM | ||
| Inactivated influenza vaccine, quadrivalent (IIV4), standard-dose, intradermal¶ | ||||||
| Fluzone Intradermal Quadrivalent | Sanofi Pasteur | 0.1 mL single-dose prefilled microinjection system | 18 through 64 years | NR | No | ID** |
| Inactivated Influenza Vaccines, trivalent (IIV3s), standard-dose† | ||||||
| Afluria | Seqirus | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥5 years | NR | No | IM |
| 5.0 mL multidose vial | ≥5 years (by needle/syringe) 18 through 64 years (by jet injector) |
24.5 | No | IM | ||
| Fluvirin | Seqirus | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥4 years | ≤1 | Yes†† | IM |
| 5.0 mL multidose vial | ≥4 years | 25 | No | IM | ||
| Adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine, trivalent (aIIV3),† standard-dose | ||||||
| Fluad | Seqirus | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥65 years | NR | Yes†† | IM |
| Inactivated Influenza Vaccine, trivalent (IIV3), high-dose§§ | ||||||
| Fluzone High-Dose | Sanofi Pasteur | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥65 years | NR | No | IM |
| Recombinant Influenza Vaccine, quadrivalent (RIV4)¶¶ | ||||||
| Flublok Quadrivalent | Protein Sciences | 0.5 mL prefilled syringe | ≥18 years | NR | No | IM |
| Recombinant Influenza Vaccine, trivalent (RIV3)¶¶ | ||||||
| Flublok | Protein Sciences | 0.5 mL single-dose vial | ≥18 years | NR | No | IM |
| Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine, quadrivalent (LAIV4)*** (not recommended for use during the 2017–18 season) | ||||||
| FluMist Quadrivalent | MedImmune | 0.2 mL single-dose prefilled intranasal sprayer | 2 through 49 years | NR | No | NAS |
Abbreviations: ACIP = Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; ID = intradermal; IM = intramuscular; NAS = intranasal; NR = not relevant (does not contain thimerosal).
* Immunization providers should check Food and Drug Administration–approved prescribing information for 2017–18 influenza vaccines for the most complete and updated information, including (but not limited to) indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions. Package inserts for U.S.-licensed vaccines are available at https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm093833.htm. Availability of specific products and presentations might change and differ from what is described in this table and in the text of this report.
† Standard dose intramuscular IIVs contain 15 µg of each vaccine HA antigen (45 µg total for trivalents and 60 µg total for quadrivalents) per 0.5 mL dose.
§ For adults and older children, the recommended site for intramuscular influenza vaccination is the deltoid muscle. The preferred site for infants and young children is the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. Specific guidance regarding site and needle length for intramuscular administration is available in the ACIP General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization, available at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/index.html.
¶ Quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, intradermal: a 0.1-mL dose contains 9 µg of each vaccine HA antigen (36 μg total).
** The preferred injection site is over the deltoid muscle. Fluzone Intradermal Quadrivalent is administered per manufacturer’s instructions using the delivery system included with the vaccine.
†† Syringe tip cap might contain natural rubber latex.
§§ High-dose IIV3 contains 60 μg of each vaccine antigen (180 μg total) per 0.5 mL dose.
¶¶ RIV contains 45 μg of each vaccine HA antigen (135 μg total for trivalent 180 μg total for quadrivalent) per 0.5 mL dose.
***ACIP recommends that FluMist Quadrivalent (LAIV4) not be used during the 2017–18 season.
TABLE 2. Contraindications and precautions to the use of influenza vaccines — United States, 2017–18 influenza season*
| Vaccine type | Contraindications | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| IIV | History of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine† or after previous dose of any influenza vaccine | Moderate-to-severe acute illness with or without fever History of Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of receipt of influenza vaccine |
| RIV | History of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine | Moderate-to-severe acute illness with or without fever History of Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of receipt of influenza vaccine |
| LAIV For the 2017–18 season, ACIP recommends that LAIV not be used. Content is provided for information. |
History of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine† or after a previous dose of any influenza vaccine Concomitant aspirin or salicylate-containing therapy in children and adolescents Children aged 2 through 4 years who have received a diagnosis of asthma or whose parents or caregivers report that a health care provider has told them during the preceding 12 months that their child had wheezing or asthma or whose medical record indicates a wheezing episode has occurred during the preceding 12 months Children and adults who are immunocompromised due to any cause (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV infection) Close contacts and caregivers of severely immunosuppressed persons who require a protected environment Pregnancy Receipt of influenza antiviral medication within the previous 48 hours |
Moderate-to-severe acute illness with or without fever History of Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of receipt of influenza vaccine Asthma in persons aged ≥5 years Other underlying medical conditions that might predispose to complications after wild-type influenza infection (e.g., chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular [except isolated hypertension], renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders [including diabetes mellitus]) |
Abbreviations: ACIP = Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; IIV = Inactivated Influenza Vaccine; LAIV = Live-Attenuated Influenza Vaccine; RIV = Recombinant Influenza Vaccine.
* Immunization providers should check Food and Drug Administration–approved prescribing information for 2017–18 influenza vaccines for the most complete and updated information, including (but not limited to) indications, contraindications, and precautions. Package inserts for US-licensed vaccines are available at https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm093833.htm.
† History of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to egg is a labeled contraindication to the use of IIV and LAIV. However, ACIP recommends that any licensed, recommended, and appropriate IIV or RIV may be administered to persons with egg allergy of any severity (see Persons with a History of Egg Allergy).
- Page last reviewed: October 16, 2017
- Page last updated: October 16, 2017
- Content source:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
- Page maintained by: Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Digital Media Branch, Division of Public Affairs