Inactivated influenza vaccine should not be administered to persons known to have anaphylactic hypersensitivity to eggs or to other components of the influenza vaccine without first consulting a physician. Persons with acute febrile illness usually should not be vaccinated until their symptoms have abated. However, minor illnesses with or without fever do not contraindicate use of influenza vaccine, particularly among children with mild upper respiratory tract infection or allergic rhinitis.

Yes -- both in general, and specifically for encephalitis, eczema vaccinatum, and generalized vaccinia (1968 US data).

The influenza vaccine is a killed virus vaccine containing three strains of influenza virus, two of Influenza A, and one of Influenza B. The strain components are changed annually based upon worldwide surveillance of circulating influenza strains.

No. Federal officials have contracted with a manufacturer to produce a small supply of human vaccine against H5N1 bird flu, and clinical trials are underway. The vaccine might not be effective if the H5N1 virus changes to a strain that more easily infects humans.

Currently there is no Avian Influenza Vaccines available for an influenza pandemic. The exact pandemic influenza virus cannot be identified before a pandemic, and current vaccine-making techniques require six to eight months to manufacture influenza vaccine. Questions and Answers: H5N1 Avian Flu Vaccine Trials The federal government’s goal is to have enough vaccine for everyone, but supplies will probably be limited in the early stages of a pandemic.

No. Although the capability does exist for scientists to produce vaccines against almost all known human flu viruses, the problem they face with the current threat is that they cannot predict the strain of any new hybrid mutations that may emerge. Once an outbreak occurs that is caused by a new strain, scientists will be able to rapidly identify the new virus and work towards creating a vaccine.

Influenza vaccines are designed to protect against specific viruses that have already been identified, so a pandemic vaccine cannot be produced until a new influenza virus emerges and starts to cause a significant number of human illnesses. A virus that could cause a pandemic would be very different from the seasonal flu viruses for which there is already vaccine.

The influenza vaccine production process is long and complicated. Traditional influenza vaccine production for the U.S. relies on long-standing technology based on chicken eggs. This production technology is labor-intensive and takes 9 months from start to finish. The flu vaccine production process is further complicated by the fact that influenza virus strains continually evolve.

Influenza vaccine cannot prevent avian influenza as the vaccine was meant for human influenza. However, the vaccine can help reduce the chance of complications and hospitalization from human influenza; hence it is recommended for the elderly and patients with chronic illnesses. Influenza vaccine can also reduce the chance of genetic re-assortment and subsequent emergence of influenza strain with pandemic potential.

Most individuals will experience no side effects from the influenza vaccine. Less than one-third of those who receive the vaccine will have some soreness at the vaccination site, and about 5% to 10% will experience a headache or a mild fever. The most serious side effect that can occur after an influenza vaccination is an allergic reaction in individuals who have a severe allergy to eggs. For that reason, people who have an allergy to eggs should not receive the influenza vaccine.

The recommended time to receive the influenza vaccine is October to mid-November before influenza season starts. This will give your body time to build protection against the influenza virus. However, vaccine can still be administered up until the end of the influenza season.

Yes, according to guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, first responders and other healthcare personnel are some of the priority groups that will receive the vaccine against pandemic influenza when it becomes available. All properly worn personal protective equipment should protect the wearer. However, it is never possible to assure safety with 100 % certainty.

the moment, there is no vaccine for people. An H5N1 vaccine is being developed against the current H5N1 viruses. However, as these viruses will have to change to cause a pandemic, this vaccine may not then be effective.

Vaccination is useful for persons at risk, especially the elderly, children, individuals with chronic diseases, and anyone working in places where the virus can spread easily (offices, hospitals, schools, etc.).

Influenza vaccines are designed to protect against a specific virus, so a pandemic vaccine cannot be produced until a new pandemic influenza virus emerges and is identified. Even after a pandemic influenza virus has been identified, it could take at least 6 months to develop, test and produce vaccine.

Currently, Sanofi Pasteur and Medimmune have influenza vaccine production facilities in the United States, although only Sanofi Pasteur?s entire production process is based in this country. HHS has made the establishment and expansion of U.S.-based manufacturing facilities for influenza vaccine a key component of its strategy to improve the security of the influenza vaccine supply.

No, influenza vaccines are designed to protect against a specific virus, so a pandemic vaccine cannot be produced until a new pandemic influenza virus emerges and is identified. Even after a pandemic influenza virus has been identified, it could take at least 6 months to develop, test and produce vaccine.

No. The vaccine contains no live virus so you cannot get the flu from the vaccine. However, the vaccine will not protect you against colds and other respiratory illnesses that may be mistaken for the flu.

There are no commercial supplies of vaccine against pandemic influenza virus because the specific pandemic strain is not known in advance. It is impossible to develop a perfect match vaccine until a new influenza virus has shifted to human-to-human transmission and that strain has been identified and characterized so that a vaccine can be developed.

The influenza vaccine is very safe. The vaccine is a killed virus and CAN NOT cause influenza. If you become ill after being vaccinated it is just coincidence and is probably a "cold". with any vaccination, local reactions can occur. These include mild soreness, redness or swelling at the site. These may occur in about 1/4 of people who are vaccinated. Fever, headaches, loss of appetite or nausea, weakness and muscle pains occur infrequently. NOTE: The vaccine is grown in eggs.

Yes. At the current time, the 5 U.S. influenza vaccine manufacturers are projecting that as many as 132 million doses of influenza vaccine will be available in the U.S. for use during the 2007-08 influenza season. This will be the most flu vaccine ever distributed in the U.S. during a single influenza season.

Influenza viruses change very quickly. Each year, manufacturers make a new vaccine, to protect against the specific kind of virus that is spreading around the world. It usually takes about 9 months to make a new vaccine that protects against a new flu virus. That means that there will probably not be any vaccine for a new pandemic influenza virus for at least the first 6 months after a pandemic started.