Flu Vaccine

For the 2020-21 season, trivalent egg-based influenza vaccine licensed in the U.S. will contain hemagglutinin (HA) derived from an A/Guandong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus, an A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like virus, and a B/Washington/02/2019 (B Victoria lineage)-like virus. Quadrivalent egg-based influenza vaccine will contain these antigens along with a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like (Yamagata lineage) virus.

Quadrivalent cell-based or recombinant influenza vaccines will contain an A/Hawaii/70/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus, an A/Hong Kong/45/2019 (H3N2)-like virus, a B/Washington/02/2019 (B Victoria lineage)-like virus, and a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like (Yamagata lineage) virus. 

Two vaccines (IIV4-HD and aIIV4) licensed for persons 65 years and older are available as quadrivalent formulations for the 2020-21 season.

What ACIP Recommends

Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or older who do not have contraindications.  A licensed and age-appropriate vaccine formulation should be used for each recipient. 

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published on August 21,2020 provides guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for using this year’s flu vaccine products. View all available products on this printable listing of influenza vaccine products available for the 2020-21 season (PDF). Access the 2020-21 State Supplied Childhood Flu Vaccines At-A-Glance chart (PDF) for formulations available to Washington State Childhood Vaccine providers.

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 micrograms thimerosal, depending on the manufacturer. Single-dose flu vaccine presentations-prefilled syringe, single-dose vial, and single-use nasal spray-are thimerosal-free.

In Washington State, according to RCW 70A.230.120, "a person who is known to be pregnant or who is under three years of age shall not be vaccinated with a mercury-containing vaccine or injected with a mercury-containing product that contains more than 0.5 micrograms of mercury per 0.5 milliliter dose."