Influenza Virus

Management of Influenza

In accordance with the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the first option for reducing the effect of influenza is through annual vaccination with either inactivated (i.e., killed virus) vaccine or live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). Both types of vaccine differ based on their route of administration, administration guidelines, virus strains and approved age and risk groups.3

Vaccination is the First Line of Defense Against Influenza

The CDC recommends annual vaccination for the following groups:

  • Children aged 6–59 months
  • Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
  • Persons aged > 50 years
  • Children and adolescents (aged 6 months-18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and, therefore, might be at risk for experiencing Reye Syndrome after influenza infection
  • Adults and children who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including asthma (hypertension is not considered a high-risk condition)
  • Adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunodeficiency (including immunodeficiency caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus)
  • Adults and children who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions, or that can increase the risk for aspiration; Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions
  • Persons who live with or care for persons at high risk for influenza-related complications, including healthy household contacts and caregivers of children aged 0–59 months; and
  • Healthcare workers 3

Limitations of Vaccines

  • Vaccine effectiveness can vary, since new strains of the influenza virus surface regularly. Therefore, influenza should not be ruled out in the differential diagnosis.
    • 17-59 years of age*: 70% to 90% effective
    • 50-64 years of age*: 52% effective
    • 58-104 years of age†: 17% to 53% effective

* Vaccine efficacy based on measurement of immune response.
† Vaccine efficacy based on measurement of antibody response.

The CDC Recommends Use of Neuraminidase Inhibitors for the Treatment and Prevention of Flu During the 2006-2007 Influenza Season

  • Vaccination is the first line of defense against influenza. According to the CDC, antiviral medications can also be effective at treating and preventing influenza 3
  • The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (TAMIFLU) or zanamivir if an antiviral medication is used for the treatment or prevention of influenza 3

TAMIFLU Resistance Profile

  • Study results in 1999 showed a 1.3% (4/301) level of resistance to TAMIFLU for adults and 8.6% (9/105) in pediatric patients aged 1 to 12 years 1
  • In a study of TAMIFLU postexposure prophylaxis conducted in 277 households, no TAMIFLU-resistant variants were detected in treated index cases or contacts 8
  • Insufficient information is available to fully characterize the risk of emergence of TAMIFLU resistance in clinical use
  • Please see Important Safety Information

Learn about TAMIFLU for influenza treatment and influenza prevention.

Influenza Resources

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