Inactivated Influenza (Flu) Vaccine

What is the inactivated influenza vaccine?

The inactivated influenza vaccine is made of killed influenza viruses. It protects against viruses that cause influenza, often called the flu. The vaccine does not protect against other viruses or bacteria that cause colds or stomach flu. Several different influenza vaccines are available in B.C., including a live attenuated influenza vaccine made from weakened influenza viruses. For more information, see HealthLinkBC File #12e Live Attenuated Influenza (Flu) Vaccine. All of the vaccines are approved by Health Canada.

In B.C., influenza vaccines are usually available in October. For your best protection, get immunized as soon as possible. Speak with your health care provider to find out if the vaccines are available or visit ImmunizeBC https://immunizebc.ca/clinics/flu to locate a flu clinic.

Who should get the vaccine?

In B.C., the inactivated influenza vaccine or flu shot is provided free to the following groups of people.

People at high risk of serious illness from influenza, such as:

• Children 6 months to less than 5 years of age
• Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy during the influenza season
• Seniors 65 years and older
• Residents of any age living in residential care, assisted living or other group facilities
• Indigenous people
• Children and teenagers required to take Aspirin® or ASA for long periods of time due to a medical condition
• Children and adults with certain medical conditions, including:
  • Heart or lung disorders that require regular medical care, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cystic fibrosis
  • Kidney disease, chronic liver disease such as hepatitis, diabetes, cancer, anemia or weakened immune system
  • Those with health conditions causing difficulty breathing, swallowing or a risk of choking on food or fluids, such as people with severe brain damage, spinal cord injury, seizures or neuromuscular disorders
• Those who are very obese

People able to transmit or spread influenza to those at high risk of serious illness from influenza including:

• Household contacts of people at high risk
• Household contacts, caregivers and daycare staff of children under 5 years of age
• Doctors, nurses and others working in health care settings, including long-term care facilities, who have contact with patients
• Visitors to health care facilities and other patient care locations
• Inmates of provincial correctional institutions
• Those who provide care or service to people at high risk in potential outbreak settings such as cruise ships

Other groups who are eligible to receive the flu shot for free include:

• People who provide essential community services such as police officers, firefighters, ambulance attendants, and corrections workers
• People who work with live poultry

To find out if you are eligible, talk to your health care provider or call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.

If you are not eligible for a free influenza vaccine, you can buy it at most pharmacies and travel clinics. Some employers also provide free vaccine to employees.

How is the vaccine given?

The vaccine is given by injection, usually as 1 dose. Children under 9 years of age who have never had a seasonal influenza vaccine need 2 doses. The second dose of vaccine is important to raise their level of protection and should be given 4 weeks after the first dose.

What are the benefits of getting the vaccine?

The vaccine is the best way to protect against influenza, a serious and sometimes fatal infection. When you get immunized, you help protect others as well by reducing the spread of the influenza virus.

What are the possible reactions after the vaccine?

Common reactions to the vaccine include soreness, redness and swelling where the vaccine was given. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, aching muscles and fatigue that may last 1 to 2 days. Fewer than 1 in 20 people may have oculo-respiratory syndrome (ORS). Symptoms of ORS include red eyes, a cough and/or sore throat and/or hoarseness.

You cannot get the flu from the inactivated influenza vaccine because it contains killed influenza viruses that cannot cause infection.

It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is an extremely rare possibility, less than 1 in a million, of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. Should this reaction occur, your health care provider is prepared to treat it. Emergency treatment includes administration of epinephrine (adrenaline) and transfer by ambulance to the nearest emergency department. If symptoms develop after you leave the clinic, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

It is important to always report serious or unexpected reactions to your health care provider.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare condition that can result in weakness and paralysis of the body’s muscles. It most commonly occurs after infections. In rare cases GBS can also occur after some vaccines. GBS may be associated with influenza vaccine in about 1 per million recipients.

Who should not get the inactivated influenza vaccine?

Speak with your health care provider if you:

• Had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of influenza vaccine, or any part of the vaccine (people with egg allergies can be safely immunized)
• Had severe oculo-respiratory syndrome after a previous flu shot
• Developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within 8 weeks of getting any influenza vaccine without another cause being identified
• Are receiving a checkpoint inhibitor to treat cancer. This may affect when you should get the vaccine

Children less than 6 months of age should not get the vaccine because it is not known to be effective at this age.

There is no need to delay getting immunized because of a cold or other mild illness. However, if you have concerns speak with your health care provider.

What is influenza?

Influenza is an infection of the upper airway caused by the influenza virus. A person with influenza is at risk of other infections, including viral or bacterial pneumonia which is an infection of the lungs.

Influenza spreads easily from person-to-person through coughing, sneezing or face-to-face contact. The virus can also spread when a person touches tiny droplets from a cough or sneeze on another person or object and then touches their eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

What is the Influenza Prevention Policy?

B.C. has an Influenza Prevention Policy to protect high risk people from influenza. Health care workers are required to be immunized against influenza or wear a mask when they are in patient care areas during the influenza season. Students, volunteers and visitors to health care facilities and other patient care locations are also expected to wear a mask if they did not get an influenza vaccine.

Mature Minor Consent

It is recommended that parents or guardians and their children discuss consent for immunization. Children under the age of 19, who are able to understand the benefits and possible reactions for each vaccine and the risk of not getting immunized, can legally consent to or refuse immunizations. For more information on mature minor consent see HealthLinkBC File #119 The Infants Act, Mature Minor Consent and Immunization.

For More Information

For more information, see the following HeathLinkBC Files:

• HealthLinkBC File #12a Why Seniors Should Get the Inactivated Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
• HealthLinkBC File #12b Facts about Influenza (the Flu)
• HealthLinkBC File #12c Influenza (Flu) Immunization: Myths and Facts
• HealthLinkBC File #12e Live Attenuated Influenza (Flu) Vaccine

For more information on immunizations visit ImmunizeBC https://immunizebc.ca.