Flu Vaccine

For the 2019-20 season, trivalent influenza vaccines licensed in the U.S. will contain hemagglutinin (HA) derived from an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus, an A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus, and a B/Colorado/06/20017-like (Victoria lineage) virus. Quadrivalent influenza vaccines will contain these antigens along with a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like (Yamagata lineage) virus. 

What ACIP Recommends

Everyone 6 months of age and older should be vaccinated with any licensed, recommended, and age-appropriate influenza vaccine (IIV, RIV, or LAIV), as indicated. 

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published on August 23, 2019 provides guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for using this year's flu vaccine products. View a listing of influenza vaccine products available for the 2019-20 season (PDF). Vaccines for Children providers can access the 2019-2020 State Supplied Childhood Flu Vaccines At-A-Glance chart (PDF) for VFC specific choices.

Dosing for Children Aged 6 Months to 8* Years OlD

* For children aged 8 years who require 2 doses of vaccine, both doses should be administered even if the child turns age 9 years between receipt of dose 1 and dose 2.

Thimerosal in Flu Vaccine

Thimerosal is used as a preservative in all multi-dose vial presentations of influenza vaccine. A 0.5 milliliter (mL) dose drawn from a multi-dose vial contains up to 25 µg thimerosal, depending on the manufacturer. Single-dose flu vaccine presentations-prefilled syringe, single-dose vial, and single-use nasal spray-are thimerosal-free.