Flu vaccines are altered every year, however, usually, only one or two strains change. This year, all three strains have been changed. Two of the three strains recommended for the United States this year are now in use for the Southern Hemisphere's 2008 flu season, which is underway, the FDA said on its Website.
The six approved flu vaccines and their makers are: Afluria (made by CSL Limited), Fluarix (made by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals), FluLaval (made by ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec), FluMist (made by MedImmune Vaccines Inc.), Fluvirin (made by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited), and Fluzone (made by Sanofi Pasteur Inc.)
According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year an average of 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu, more than 200,000 are hospitalized from flu complications and there are about 36,000 flu-related deaths.
However, the most vulnerable groups for flu-related complications are the elderly, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions. Vaccination of these groups and of health care personnel is critical.
