Home | Consumers | Health Professionals | Regulatory | Other | Hot Topics | Search This leaflet answers some common questions about Vaxigrip. If you have any concerns about this vaccine, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again. VAXIGRIP is a vaccine used to help prevent Influenza. Employers should consider providing influenza vaccine to avoid illness in their employees, especially those engaged in health care and other essential community services. VAXIGRIP works by causing your body to produce its own protection against influenza. VAXIGRIP is used for the prevention of influenza caused by Influenza Virus types A and B. After receiving your VAXIGRIP injection, your body will produce antibodies. These antibodies help your body to recognise the virus and prevent the infection. It takes about 2 to 3 weeks for your body to produce these antibodies, and in most cases these antibodies will provide protection for 1 year. Please note that VAXIGRIP will only protect you against the three types of influenza virus contained in the vaccine. It will not protect you from influenza caused by other types of viruses. Protection requires 1 dose (A second dose may also be required). Most people will produce enough antibodies against influenza. However, as with all vaccines, 100% protection cannot be guaranteed. The vaccine will not give you or your child influenza. The chance of a severe reaction from VAXIGRIP is very small, but the risks from not being vaccinated against influenza may be very serious. Do not have VAXIGRIP if you or your child has an allergy to: Symptoms of an allergic reactions may include: Do not have VAXIGRIP if you or your child has a high temperature (current acute feverish illness). Speak to your doctor before you have VAXIGRIP if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of having VAXIGRIP during pregnancy. VAXIGRIP is not recommended for use in infants under 6 months. Do not have VAXIGRIP after the expiry date printed on the pack Do not have VAXIGRIP if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If you are not sure whether you or your child should have VAXIGRIP, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Tell your doctor if you or your child has reacted to previous vaccination with any of the following: Tell your doctor if you or your child has an infection or high temperature. Tell your doctor if you or your child has, or has had, any medical conditions, especially the following: Tell your doctor if you or your child has allergies to: Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you or your child is taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. These medicines may be affected by VAXIGRIP, or may affect how well it works. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you and decide whether or not to give the vaccine. Tell your doctor if you or your child has had any vaccines in the last 4 weeks. VAXIGRIP is given as an injection, usually into muscle or tissue below the skin of your upper arm or leg although your doctor may choose to give it elsewhere. VAXIGRIP should not be injected directly into the veins. Adults and children 3 years of age and over: 0.5mL Some people require a second injection of VAXIGRIP a month later. Please ask your doctor if this includes you or your child. VAXIGRIP should be given annually, in the autumn, in anticipation of winter outbreak of influenza. Keep an updated record of your vaccination. Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how VAXIGRIP affects you. Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you or your child does not feel well after having VAXIGRIP. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you: These side effects are usually common and mild, and usually disappear within 1-2 days without treatment. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following: These may be serious side effects. You or your child may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare. If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital: These are very serious side effects. You or your child may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. All of these side effects are rare. Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you or your child feel unwell. VAXIGRIP is usually stored in the doctor's surgery or clinic, or at the pharmacy. However if you need to store VAXIGRIP: VAXIGRIP is 0.5mL of liquid vaccine in a single dose syringe. Active Ingredients: VAXIGRIP is made from inactivated parts of the following Influenza virus strains: Other Ingredients: VAXIGRIP may also contain traces of egg proteins, formaldehyde, octoxynol-9 and neomycin. Sanofi Pasteur SA New Zealand November 2007
INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERSConsumer Medicine Information
VAXIGRIP®
Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (Split Virion) BP
What is in this leaflet
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines, including vaccines, have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you or your child having VAXIGRIP against the benefits they expect it will have.What VAXIGRIP is used for
Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for the following individuals:
Influenza vaccination is recommended for any pregnant women who are beyond the first trimester of pregnancy i.e. those who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season. Influenza vaccination is funded by the government for those pregnant women with a medical condition listed above.
Healthy individuals should consider the use of the vaccine, especially if they are in close contact with individuals at high risk of complications i.e. those who work in medical or health services and those who can transmit influenza to persons in any of the previously mentioned at risk groups.How VAXIGRIP works
Before you are given VAXIGRIP
When you or your child must not be given it
Before you or your child is given it
Your doctor may decide to delay vaccination until the illness has passed. A mild illness, such as a cold, is not usually a reason to delay vaccination.Taking other medicines
Some medicines and VAXIGRIP may interfere with each other. These include:Having other vaccines
Your doctor will advise you if VAXIGRIP is to be given with another vaccine. Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines and vaccines to be careful with or avoid during vaccination with VAXIGRIP.How VAXIGRIP is given
How much is given
Infants and children 6 months to 35 months: 0.25mLWhen it is given
After having VAXIGRIP
Things you or your child must do
Things to be careful of
VAXIGRIP should not normally interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery.Side Effects
VAXIGRIP may have unwanted Side Effects in a few people. All medicines, including vaccines, can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You or your child may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.Storing VAXIGRIP
Freezing destroys the vaccineProduct Description
What it looks like
Ingredients
Buffered saline solution composed of:
- Sodium chloride
- Potassium chloride
- Sodium phosphate - dibasic dihydrate
- Potassium phosphate - monobasic
- Water for injection
VAXIGRIP does not contain lactose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.Manufacturer
Lyon, FranceDistributor
sanofi-aventis new zealand limited
Level 8, James & Wells Tower
56 Cawley St
Ellerslie
Auckland
New Zealand
Tel: 0800 727 838Date of preparation