Formulary
Influenza vaccine (inactivated): Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
For influenza vaccine (inactivated) The inactivated influenza vaccines are injectable inactivated, or recombinant, vaccines that protect people at high risk...
MedNext Academy | 4 min read
Influenza vaccine (inactivated): Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
For influenza vaccine (inactivated) The inactivated influenza vaccines are injectable inactivated, or recombinant, vaccines that protect people at high risk...
Drug action
For influenza vaccine (inactivated) The inactivated influenza vaccines are injectable inactivated, or recombinant, vaccines that protect people at high risk from influenza and reduce transmission of infection. For information on the live vaccine, see influenza vaccine (live) .
Indications and dose
**Annual immunisation against seasonal influenza**
- **Child** (By Intramuscular Injection): 6 months-17 years 0.5 mL for 1 dose.
- **Adult** (By Intramuscular Injection): 0.5 mL for 1 dose.
**Annual immunisation against seasonal influenza (**
- **Child** (By Intramuscular Injection): for children in clinical risk groups, or who are household contacts of others in clinical risk groups, and who have not received seasonal influenza vaccine previously) 6 months-8 years 0.5 mL for 1 dose, followed by 0.5 mL for 1 dose, after at least 4 weeks.
**Annual immunisation against seasonal influenza for influenza vaccine (inactivated)**
- **Child 6 months-17 years** (By intramuscular injection): 0.5 mL for 1 dose.
**Annual immunisation against seasonal influenza (for children in clinical risk groups, or who are household contacts of others in clinical risk groups, and who have not received seasonal influenza vaccine previously) for influenza vaccine (inactivated)**
- **Child 6 months-8 years** (By intramuscular injection): 0.5 mL for 1 dose, followed by 0.5 mL for 1 dose, after at least 4 weeks.
Cautions
For all vaccines, general Acute illness; minor illnesses Cautions, further information Illness UKHSA advises vaccination may be postponed if the individual is suffering from an acute illness; however, it is not necessary to postpone immunisation in patients with minor illnesses without fever or systemic upset. Predisposition to neurological problems UKHSA advises: when there is a personal or family history of febrile convulsions, there is an increased risk of these occurring during fever from any cause including immunisation, but this is not a contra-indication to immunisation. In children who have had a seizure associated with fever without neurological deterioration, immunisation is recommended ; advice on the management of fever should be given before immunisation. When a child has had a convulsion not associated with fever, and the neurological condition is not deteriorating, immunisation is recommended ; children with stable neurological disorders (e.g. spina bifida, congenital brain abnormality, and peri-natal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy) should be immunised according to the recommended schedule; when there is a still evolving neurological problem , including poorly controlled epilepsy, immunisation should be deferred and the child referred to a specialist. Immunisation is recommended if a cause for the neurological disorder is identified. If a cause is not identified, immunisation should be deferred until the condition is stable. Impaired immune response and drugs affecting immune response Immune response to vaccines may be reduced in immunosuppressed patients, UKHSA advises consider seeking specialist advice.
Side effects
For all vaccines, general Common or very common Abdominal pain; appetite decreased; arthralgia; diarrhoea; dizziness; fatigue; fever; headache; lymphadenopathy; malaise; myalgia; nausea; skin reactions; vomiting Uncommon Hypersensitivity Side-effects For influenza vaccine (inactivated) Common or very common Appetite change (in children); chills; influenza like illness (in adults); irritability (in children); local reactions; pain; sweat changes Uncommon Cough (in adults); drowsiness (very common in children); dyspepsia (in adults); muscle weakness (in adults); oropharyngeal pain (in adults) Rare or very rare Asthenia (in adults); eye erythema (in adults); paraesthesia (frequency not known in children); rhinorrhoea (in adults); vasodilation (in adults); vertigo (in adults) Frequency not known Angioedema; chest pain (in adults); dyspnoea (in adults); extensive swelling of vaccinated limb (in adults); facial paralysis (in adults); increased risk of infection; nerve disorders; nervous system disorders; seizures; syncope (in adults); throat tightness (in adults); thrombocytopenia; vasculitis; wheezing (in adults) Side-effects, further information Elderly patients might be more susceptible to side-effects.
Pregnancy
For influenza vaccine (inactivated) Inactivated vaccines not known to be harmful; however, the adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated) manufactured by Seqirus is not indicated in pregnant females. M Pregnancy For Supemtek In adults: Use only if potential benefit outweighs risk (limited information available). M UKHSA advises that it may be given during pregnancy.
Breast feeding
For influenza vaccine (inactivated) Inactivated vaccines not known to be harmful; however, the adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated) manufactured by Seqirus is not indicated in breast-feeding females. M Breast feeding For Supemtek In adults: Use only if potential benefit outweighs risk (no information available). M UKHSA advises that it may be given during breast-feeding.
Medicinal forms
Solution,Injection
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
Inside MedNext for this topic
- 411 MedNext-authored chapters
- 80,000+ MCQ bank
- 15 study modes
- Growing visual cheat sheets
Study modes
- Notes
- MCQ
- Audio
- Video
- Visual
- 3D Anatomy
- Trace
- Flashcards
- Mnemonics
- Image Bank
- Clinical
- Microscopy
- Audio QBank
- Cadaver
- Book Match
Continue reading
Subject HubPharmacology Hub
All pharmacology resources in one place.
Drug SchedulesIndian Drug Schedules
Schedule H, H1, X and G classifications.
FormularyBrowse all drugs
Search 1,850+ drug profiles.
Study Influenza vaccine (inactivated) in the MedNext app
Challenge yourself with targeted pharmacology MCQs on this drug class. Every explanation links back to the chapter that teaches the concept.
Start drug challengeExplore the full formulary

