Which Flu Vaccine to Use?

If you receive flu vaccine through the Childhood Vaccine Program, print out or bookmark a great reference showing the flu vaccines and recommended age/dosages.

According to Washington state law (RCW 70.95M.115), children under 3 years of age and pregnant persons should NOT be given vaccines that contain more than trace amounts of mercury (thimerosal).

Use the following flu vaccines for the following groups (follow appropriate age guidance for each vaccine):

Flu Vaccine Dosing

Please give a full 0.5mL dose for all children 6 months and older if using Fluzone, FluLaval, or Flucelvax. There used to be a 0.25mL dose in the past for children 6 months-35 months, but this formulation is no longer available. If the child needs a second dose during the flu season (please see article below), then give another full 0.5mL dose at least 4 weeks later. Please do NOT give half of the 0.5mL dose for younger children. The Immunize.org’s Ask the Experts, flu section provides a comprehensive Q&A, including steps to take if a vaccine administration error occurred.

Flu Vaccine Dosing Algorithm for Children Aged 6 Months Through 8 Years

Children aged 6 months through 8 years require 2 doses of influenza vaccine administered a minimum of 4 weeks apart during their first season of vaccination if:

• They are receiving flu vaccine for the first time
• They did not receive a total of at least two doses of flu vaccine before July 1, 2022 or
• Vaccination history is unknown

Patients who received two or more doses at any time before July 1, 2022 only need one dose. Review the Guide for Determining the Number of Doses of Influenza Vaccine to Give to Children Age 6 Months Through 8 Years for more details.

CVP Provider Training Series

Did you miss the August session?

If you missed August's CVP training session that covered back to school prep, the new clinic move policy, and off-site clinic guidelines, you can access it now on our training webpage.

Take a look at all our recorded training sessions!

September's CVP training session will cover 2022-23 flu season information so make sure to join.

September 15, 2022

12:00 pm

CVP Training Series: 2022-2023 Flu Vaccine Update

Intended Audience: Providers and Vaccine Coordinators

• Join the Training Session
• Meeting ID: 823 9462 4296
• Passcode: 020868

Updated Influenza Vaccine Recommendations

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated the 2022-23 influenza vaccine recommendations. The main changes include:

• Flucelvax Quadrivalent is now approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for children 6 months and older. The vaccine was previously approved for persons 2 years and older.
• ACIP recommends that adults aged ≥65 years preferentially receive any of the following higher dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccines: quadrivalent high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine, quadrivalent recombinant influenza vaccine, or quadrivalent adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine. If none of these three vaccines is available at an opportunity for vaccine administration, then any other age-appropriate influenza vaccine should be used. This recommendation was updated due to the increased risk for severe illness, hospitalization, and death in older adults, and decreased effectiveness of flu vaccine in this age group.

More details about flu vaccine can be found in the influenza vaccine recommendations.

For questions about the immunization schedule, the Immunization Information System forecast, or any other immunization clinical questions, please send an email to ImmuneNurses@doh.wa.gov. Check out the Immunization Training web page for more resources and training opportunities.

More About MenQuadfi

Menactra is no longer available to order and all providers with Menactra previously on their order sets were transitioned to MenQuadfi. MenQuadfi and Menactra are interchangeable.

MenQuadfi and Menveo are the two vaccines currently available to order that can be used for adolescents who are routinely recommended to receive MenACWY vaccine at 11 or 12 years of age, and a booster dose at 16 years old.