The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national vaccine safety surveillance program co-sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VAERS is a post-marketing
safety surveillance program, collecting information about adverse events (possible side effects) that occur after the administration of vaccines licensed for use in the United States.
VAERS provides a nationwide mechanism by which adverse events following immunization may be reported, analyzed, and made available to the public. VAERS
also provides a vehicle for disseminating vaccine safety-related information to parents and guardians,
health care providers, vaccine manufacturers, state vaccine programs, and other constituencies.
Alternative Remedies for Colds and the Flu
Includes Vitamin D supplementation, a flu prevention strategy, Astragalus, Cold-fX, Echinacea, Holy Basil, Garlic,
Lactoferrin, Nin Jiom, Olive Leaf, Oregano Oil, Oscillococcinum, Sambucol (Elderberry Extract), and a list of High Antioxidant Foods.
Ottawa Public Health ran free flu shot clinics from 29 October through 12 December 2011, but is not continuing them in January 2012.
Residents can get the vaccine from their family doctor, health care practitioner, or a workplace immunization clinic.
See below for more information regarding the influenza vaccines distributed and used in Ottawa, and the characteristics of influenza vaccines
authorized in Canada, 2011-2012; see right sidebar for the Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2011–2012, Canada Communicable Disease Report.
ADVISORY:
We present listings of annual seasonal flu shot clinics in Ottawa, with permission, as a public service. Every effort is made to ensure consistency with the current dates and times,
locations and details provided by Ottawa Public Health (OPH). The reader is advised, however,
that clinics may be rescheduled on short notice in the event of storms or other contingencies. The table below shows the date and time of our last update, a link to check for changes on
the City of Ottawa site, as well as a Twitter feed (@ottawahealth) which provides additional information and status advisories. We also present in-depth information regarding this season's
influenza vaccines and other resources.
2011/2012 Flu Shot Clinics
Source:Flu Clinics
City of Ottawa. Last Accessed: 21 February 2012 14:00 EST Links, emphasis, and Twitter feed added.
Protect yourself and your loved ones from the seasonal flu
The flu vaccine is safe, free and the most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu. Getting the flu shot is an easy way to avoid missing school or work, or
passing on the flu to those around you.
Ottawa Public Health also reminds Ottawa residents of these key steps to avoid the flu:
Wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer
Cover your coughs and sneezes with your arm, not your hand
Stay at home if you are sick
Vaccine strains
This year's Canadian flu vaccine will cover the same three strains as last year: the 2009 H1N1 strain, an influenza A known as H3N2 and an influenza B component.
Where can I get the vaccine?
Residents can get the vaccine from their family doctor, health care practitioner and at a workplace immunization clinic. Ottawa Public Health no longer offers Flu Immunization clinics.
Call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656) for more information.
You can also connect with OPH on Facebook and Twitter
(@ottawahealth) for the latest public health information.
I.1 Overview and Summary of Changes
The seasonal trivalent vaccine for 2011-2012 contains the same three components as the 2010-2011 vaccine. These are an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus, an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus,
and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus (B Victoria lineage).
The 2011-2012 statement contains updated epidemiological information from the 2010-2011 influenza season and product information for all eight authorized influenza vaccines, including the
recently approved products: Intanza®, FluMist®, Fluad®,
and FluZone®. A new table [see below] outlines the product characteristics for each vaccine. Full details,
including recommendations for persons with immune compromising and other chronic health conditions, can be found in the statement.
NACI now recommends that a full dose of influenza vaccine should be used for children 6 to 35 months of age, based on evidence showing moderate improvement in antibody response without
increase in reactogenicity.
Immunization programs should focus on those persons at high risk of influenza-related complications, those capable of transmitting influenza to individuals at high risk of complications
and those who provide essential community services. The special considerations category from the 2010-2011 statement has been removed (including children 2 to 4 years of age) as it is
felt that elevated pandemic-related risk no longer exists for the groups in this category. Two of the groups (persons with morbid obesity and Aboriginal peoples) that NACI identified
for special consideration for influenza vaccine in 2010-2011 have now been added to the list of high-risk recipients for ongoing annual vaccination.
[Regarding egg allergy...]
Another major change in the statement is the advice for persons with egg allergy. Egg allergy is no longer considered a contraindication for trivalent influenza vaccine. After careful
review, NACI concludes that egg-allergic individuals may be vaccinated against influenza using TIV, without a prior influenza vaccine skin test, based on an assessment of risk for a
severe allergic reaction to guide the method of vaccination. Details of the procedures are found in the statement. Data are not currently available to support this recommendation
for LAIV.
I.2 Background
[...]
For the 2011-2012 season in the Northern Hemisphere, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the trivalent vaccine contain
A/California/7/2009(H1N1)-like, A/Perth/16/2009(H3N2)-like, and B/Brisbane/60/2008(Victoria lineage)-like antigens. All
three components are unchanged from the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine.
IV.1.1 Overview
There are currently eight seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines authorized for use in Canada, of which seven are inactivated and one is a live attenuated vaccine. This statement describes the use of all eight
vaccines. More detail for Intanza®, FluMist®, and Fluad® vaccines may be found in supplementary NACI statements for each product. [...]
Full details of the composition of each vaccine and a brief description of its manufacturing process can be found in the product monograph. However, key relevant details and differences between
products are highlighted below and in Table 1 [see below].
The products are all manufactured by a process involving chicken eggs, which may result in the vaccine containing trace amounts of residual egg protein. All influenza vaccines currently available
in Canada are considered safe for use in persons with latex allergy.
The publicly funded programs for 2011-2012 will make six of the eight authorized vaccines available to some extent. These are Fluviral® (GSK), Vaxigrip® and Intanza® (sanofi), FluMist®
(AstraZeneca), and Agriflu® and Fluad® (Novartis). Please consult your province or territory for specifics on the products provided in your jurisdiction.
During the 2011/2012 season, three different influenza vaccine products will be distributed[:]
AGRIFLU® (Novartis), an unadjuvanted vaccine that is supplied in pre-filled syringes
VAXIGRIP® (sanofi pasteur), an unadjuvanted vaccine that is supplied in 10-dose vials
FLUAD® (Novartis), an adjuvanted vaccine that is supplied in pre-filled syringes to be given only to
residents of Long-Term Care Homes who are 65 years of age or more; staff and residents under 65 years of age must receive
one of the other two vaccines. FLUAD MD (Novartis) will also be available at Ottawa Public Health clinics and physicians' offices.
All are trivalent, split-virus, inactivated vaccines and contain the following antigens:
A/California/7/2009(H1N1)
A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)
B/Brisbane/60/2008
Influenza vaccine contraindications and precaution[s]
Consult the product monograph[:]
9 µg HA /0.1 mL(18-59 yrs) 15 µg HA /0.1 mL (60+ yrs)
106.5-7.5 FFU of live attenuated reassortants /0.2 mL dose
Adjuvant
No
No
No
MF59 (oil-in-water emulsion)
No
No
No
No
Formats available
Single dose pre-filled syringes
5 mL multidose vial
Single dose pre-filled syringes
Single dose pre-filled syringes
5 mL multi-dose vial, single dose ampoule, single-dose pre-filled syringes
5 mL multi-dose vial, single dose ampoule, single-dose pre-filled syringes
Single dose pre-filled syringes with micro-injection system Two formulations (as above)
Prefilled single use glass sprayer
Thimerosal
No
Yes
No
No
Yes - multi-dose vials only
Yes - multi-dose vials only
No
No
Antibiotics (traces)
Gentamicin
None
Kanamycin Neomycin
Kanamycin Neomycin
Neomycin
Neomycin
Neomycin
Gentamicin
Other clinically relevant non-medicinal ingredients*
Egg protein Formaldehyde Cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) Polysorbate 80
Egg protein Formaldehyde Sodium deoxycholate Sucrose
Egg protein Formaldehyde Polysorbate 80 CTAB
Egg protein Formaldehyde Polysorbate 80 CTAB
Egg protein Formaldehyde Triton X-100
Egg protein Formaldehyde Triton X-100 Gelatin Sucrose
Egg protein Formaldehyde Triton X-100
Egg protein Gelatin hydrosylate Sucrose Arginine Monosodium glutamate
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