Influenza virus and Vaccines against influenza

Question 1

Describe seasonal influenza

Answer 1

People of all ages infected
Only serious problem in elderly or children with asthma

Question 2

What is the pathology of seasonal influenza?

Answer 2

Mild URTI to severe LRTI
Lower respiratory tract infection causing damage to lung epithelia and viral pneumonia, often secondary pneumonia
Fever, often prolonged
Neurological (headache, malaise)
Myalgia

Question 3

Describe the influenza virus

Answer 3

Segmented
Negative stranded
RNA virus
16 serotypes of haemagglutinin (H1-H16)
9 serotypes of neuraminidase (N1-N9)

Question 4

What vaccines have been chosen for the seasonal influenza vaccine?

Answer 4

Wisconsin
Darwin
Austria
Phuket

Question 5

What seasonal influenza vaccines can be given to 6 month olds to under 2 yos?

Answer 5

Quadrivalent influenza vaccine - Sanofi pasteur
Influvac subunit Tetra - Viatris formerly Mylan

Question 6

What vaccine is given to 2 to less than 18 yos who have no contraindications to live attenuated influenza vaccine?

Answer 6

Fluenz Tetra - AstraZeneca

Question 7

What vaccine is given to 2 to less than 18 yos who have contraindications to live attenuated influenza vaccine?

Answer 7

Flucelvax Tetra - Sequirus

Question 8

What vaccine is given to 18-64 yos?

Answer 8

Flucelvax Tetra, Supemtek
Or Quadrivalent influenza vaccine, Influvac subunit Tetra

Question 9

What vaccine is given to 65 years and over?

Answer 9

Fluad Tetra - Seqirus
Or Flucelvax tetra, Supemtek