The FDA has announced that this year’s seasonal influenza vaccines include new strains of the virus that are likely to hit the US during the 2008-2009 season.

The manufacturers of the vaccines and the name of their vaccine are as following:

CSL Limited
Vaccine: Afluria

GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
Vaccine: Fluarix

ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec
Vaccine: Flulaval

Medimmune Vaccines, Inc.
Vaccine: FluMist

Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited
Vaccine: Fluvirin

Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.
Vaccine: Fluzone

Those are some pretty interesting vaccine names. J

To check out the approval information and specifics indications click over to: www.fda.gov/cber/flu/flu2008.htm

The FDA changed all 3 strains for this year’s influenza vaccine. This is unusual because normally only one or two strains are updated from year to year. You can view a list of the strains in the 2008-2009 vaccine at the link listed above in this article.  The vaccines are modified each season to reflect the virus strains that are most likely to be going around.  The closer the match between the circulating strain and the strains in the vaccine, the better the protection.  But even if the vaccines and the circulating strains are not an perfect match, they will provide some protection and may reduce the severity of the illness or prevent flu-related complications.

I wonder if they are taking odds in Vegas if the strains in the vaccine will match the strains circulating.  Now that's gambling!  

Two of the three strains that were recommended for the US this year are now in use in the Southern Hemisphere’s 2008 Flu season, which is underway now.

According to the CDC, every year 5 to 20 percent of the US population gets the Flu; more than 200,000 are hospitalized from Flu complications and about 36,000 Flu-related deaths. Elderly, young children and people with chronic medical conditions at higher risk for Flu-related complications, which makes it important that they get vaccinated.

Currently 40 percent of health care workers in the US are vaccinated against the Flu. It is considered important that health care workers are vaccinated so they can set an example for their patients as well as decrease the possibility of them contracting and transmitting the virus.

It is too early to tell if there will be enough vaccine to go around for everyone who wants to get one. Since I am not elderly, a young child, or have a chronic medical condition, I do not get a flu vaccine. But if you are worried about a shortage, just email me and I will mail you my Flu Stimulus Voucher in the mail.