Influenza Vaccine

TIV: approved for people aged 6 months and older, various manufacturers and presentations, number of doses for children aged 6 months through 8 years varies, given by IM injection

TIV ID: approved for people aged 18 to 64 years, given by ID injection over the deltoid muscle

TIV HD: approved for people aged 65 years and older given by IM injection

LAIV: approved for people aged 18 to 49 years, given intranasally.


A new quadrivalent formulation of FluMist (Medimmune, Gaithersburg, MD), which is indicated for healthy, nonpregnant persons aged 2 through 49 years, was approved by the FDA in February 2012. It is anticipated that this formulation will replace the currently available seasonal trivalent LAIV formulation for the 2013-2014 season.


Trivalent Influenza Vaccine:
A synthetic vaccine consisting of three inactivated influenza viruses, two different influenza type A strains and one influenza type B strain. Trivalent influenza vaccine is formulated annually, based on influenza strains projected to be prevalent in the upcoming flu season. This agent may be formulated for injection or intranasal administration.


Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is a type of a influenza vaccine in the form of a nasal spray. It is an attenuated vaccine, unlike most influenza vaccines, which are inactivated vaccines. LAIV is administered intranasally, while inactivated vaccines are administered by intramuscular injection. Both live attenuated and inactivated vaccines are typically trivalent. That is, they contain material from three different influenza virus strains recommended by national and international public health agencies as most likely to be protective against seasonal influenza in any given year.