Spectrum: Local Antimicrobial Stewardship, for Markham Stouffville Hospital

Influenza Immunization Schedule

Schedule

1 dose given every year

Administration should be postponed in persons with severe acute illness.

Patients with minor acute illness, with or without fever, may be vaccinated.

Adults less than 65 years of age should receive the quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (QIV)

Adults 65 years of age and older should receive the high dose trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-TIV)

Rationale: AMMI 2018 “Given the burden of disease associated with influenza A (H3N2) and the good evidence of better efficacy compared to standard-dose TIV in this age group, high-dose TIV should be offered over standard-dose TIV to persons 65 years of age and older. There is insufficient evidence to make comparative recommendations on the use of MF59-adjuvanted TIV and QIV over standard-dose TIV.”

Available Vaccines for the 2019-2020 Season

Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIV)

  • FluZone® Quadrivalent, FluLaval® Tetra (age 6 months and older)

  • Afluria® Tetra (age 5 years and older) not available at MSH

High Dose Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (HD-TIV)

  • FluZone® High-Dose (age 65 years and older)

Note: Attenuated Live Intranasal Vaccine (FluMist®) is not available in Canada this season