Technically Speaking: What’s New in the Influenza Vaccination Recommendations for the 2016-17 Season?
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Vaccine Update for Healthcare ProvidersPublished on
Vaccine Update for Healthcare ProvidersOn Aug. 26, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for influenza vaccination for the 2016-17 season were published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Recommendations and Reports, Vol 65, No.5.
ACIP continues to recommend routine annual influenza vaccination for all persons 6 months of age and older who do not have a contraindication for vaccination.
Two important new recommendations were made for the 2016-17 season.
A new influenza vaccine is available for the 2016-17 season. Fluad™ (Seqirus) is a trivalent inactivated vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration for persons 65 years of age and older. It is the first influenza vaccine licensed in the United States that contains an adjuvant (a substance added to a vaccine to improve its immunogenicity). Several other vaccines have new quadrivalent formulations or age indications. This information is summarized in a handy IAC document titled Influenza Vaccine Products for the 2016-17 Influenza Season. It also includes helpful billing code information.
ACIP continues to state no preference for any brand or formulation of influenza vaccine over another where more than one type of vaccine is appropriate and available.
Vaccination is especially important for people who are at increased risk for severe complications from influenza, or at higher risk for influenza-related outpatient, emergency department, or hospital visits. If the vaccine supply were limited, vaccination efforts should focus on delivering vaccination to the following people:
Contributed by: Deborah Wexler, MD
Categories: Technically Speaking, Vaccine Update Sept. 2016
Materials in this section are updated as new information and vaccines become available. The Vaccine Education Center staff regularly reviews materials for accuracy.
You should not consider the information in this site to be specific, professional medical advice for your personal health or for your family's personal health. You should not use it to replace any relationship with a physician or other qualified healthcare professional. For medical concerns, including decisions about vaccinations, medications and other treatments, you should always consult your physician or, in serious cases, seek immediate assistance from emergency personnel.