What kinds of flu vaccines are there?
Two types of vaccines are available to protect against the flu. One is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus), which is injected, usually in the arm. The “flu shot” is approved for use among people over 6 months old, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions. The other contains weakened live virus, and is administered by nasal spray. Approved in 2003, the nasal-spray flu vaccine is to be used only among healthy people between 5 and 49 years of age. Either way you go, the vaccine contains three influenza viruses representing the influenza vaccine strains recommended for the year. The viruses for both vaccines are grown in eggs.
