Home > News > Flu FAQs:| Flu FAQs: - 10/30/2012 |
Q: How long have flu vaccines been tested and given?
A: The past 50 years
Q: How do the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) ensure that flu vaccines are safe?
A: Yearly the CDC works closely with the Federal Drug Agency (FDA) to make sure the highest safety standards for flu vaccines are achieved. The flu vaccine is monitored, tested and drug processing companies are inspected at their plants that produce the vaccine to assure its safety.
Q: Why does the FDA do this?
A: So they can quickly identify new or rare adverse events or health problems following vaccination. Yearly they look for any reported adverse events, especially for increases in frequency or severity, especially for adverse events in high risk populations, examples would be pregnant women or people with chronic health conditions.
Viruses included in the seasonal flu vaccine change each year as needed to prevent cases of flu. Virus strains are selected months before the flu season begins each fall. Also there is special attention each year in the testing of the vaccine on possible risks to the public. Each year any suspected adverse event is reported by practitioners giving the vaccine into the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.
With 50 years of documented testing for adverse reactions, monitoring each year''s flu vaccinations and confirming the vaccine is manufactured in a clean, safe environment the flu vaccine is one of the longest and best tested vaccinations and very safe for those who have no contraindications to taking the vaccine.
That makes just one more reason to get your flu vaccine every year.
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