What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Fluad® Quad.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
All medicines, including vaccines, have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you having Fluad® Quad against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about Fluad® Quad, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
What Fluad® Quad is used for
Fluad® Quad is a vaccine used to help prevent certain types of influenza or “flu”. It is for use in people aged 65 years and older only.
Influenza is a sudden respiratory infection caused by a virus. It is usually spread from one person to another by small droplets from coughs and sneezes. The virus enters the nose or throat and may spread to the lungs. It is very contagious. There are several kinds of influenza viruses; however they all produce similar illness. Influenza is characterised by a sudden onset of headache, generalised aches and pain, fever that may be followed by a sore throat, a cough and a runny nose. The severity and types of symptoms can vary. Most people recover in about a week; however, infection with influenza in some people can lead to serious illness, especially adults 65 years of age and older and those who are “run down” or are in poor health.
Vaccination against influenza helps prevent infection with influenza and to control the spread of the disease.
How it works
Fluad® Quad works by causing your body to produce its own protection against the four types of influenza virus that are in the vaccine. It does this by making substances called antibodies in the blood that fight the influenza virus. If a vaccinated person comes into contact with the influenza virus, the body is usually ready to destroy it.
Your body usually takes 2 – 3 weeks after vaccination to develop protection against influenza.
As influenza viruses can change from year to year, Fluad® Quad may be changed to contain fragments of the new types of virus. Therefore, vaccination is required yearly.
Please note that an influenza vaccine will only protect you against the types of influenza virus used to make it. It will not protect you from other types of influenza virus or from infections with other agents causing flu-like symptoms (such as the common cold).
Most people will produce enough antibodies against influenza. However, as with all vaccines, 100% protection cannot be guaranteed.
The virus in the vaccine has been killed. Therefore the vaccine cannot give you “the flu”.
Before you are given Fluad® Quad
When you must not be given it
Do not have Fluad® Quad if you have severe allergy to:
- any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
- any other influenza vaccines
Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction may include:
- shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- skin rash, itching or hives
A minor illness such as a cold should not be a problem but talk to your doctor about this if being vaccinated.
Do not have Fluad® Quad if you are under 65. Fluad® Quad is for use in persons 65 years and older only.
Do not have Fluad® Quad after the expiry date printed on the pack.
Do not have Fluad® Quad if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you are not sure whether you should have Fluad® Quad, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Before you are given Fluad® Quad
Tell your doctor if you have reacted to previous vaccination with any of the following:
- severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
- difficulty breathing
- swelling of the throat
- fainting or collapse
- fits or convulsions
- high temperature (greater than 40°C)
- severe skin reaction at the injection site, including severe bruising
Tell your doctor if you have an infection or high temperature. 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.
Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any medical conditions, especially the following:
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (an illness affecting nerves resulting in weakness of muscles)
- lowered immunity due to diseases such as some blood disorders, malaria, kidney disease requiring dialysis, HIV/AIDS or cancer
- lowered immunity due to treatment with medicines such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin or other medicines used to treat cancer (including radiation therapy)
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to:
- any other medicines
- eggs or egg proteins
- any other substances, such as latex, foods, preservatives or dyes
Your doctor will decide if you can receive Fluad® Quad.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Fluad® Quad may interfere with each other and may affect how well the vaccine works. These include medicines which lower the immune system, such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin or other medicines used to treat cancer (including radiation therapy).
Your doctor will consider whether adjustment of your medication is necessary.
Having other vaccines
Tell your doctor if you have had any vaccines in the last 4 weeks. Fluad® Quad may be given with another vaccine.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines and vaccines to be careful with or to avoid during vaccination with Fluad® Quad.
How Fluad® Quad is given
Fluad® Quad is given as an injection, usually into your shoulder muscle by a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
How much is given
A single 0.5 mL dose.
When it is given
Fluad® Quad vaccine is usually given before the start of the influenza season or when recommended by your doctor or nurse.
Vaccination for influenza should be repeated every year as new types of influenza virus can appear each year.
After having Fluad® Quad
Things you must do
Keep an updated record of your vaccinations.
Keep any follow-up appointments with your doctor or clinic.
Have any blood tests when your doctor says to. Your doctor may wish to test your body’s response to Fluad® Quad to make sure that you have developed protection against influenza.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Fluad® Quad affects you. Fluad® Quad should not normally interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery. However, it may cause dizziness, light-headedness or tiredness in some people.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible, if you do not feel well after having Fluad® Quad.
Fluad® Quad 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 may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- local reaction around the injection site such as redness, tenderness, pain, warmth, burning or stinging, swelling or the formation of hard lumps, and bruising
- fatigue
- headache
- soreness, aching muscles or joints, muscle tenderness or weakness (not caused by exercise)
- diarrhoea
- chills
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
- fever
These are the more common side effects of Fluad® Quad. Mostly these are mild and usually disappear within 3 days without treatment.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- abscess at the injection site
- skin rash, itchy spots or red lumps on the skin
- tingling
- swollen lymph nodes
These may be serious side effects. You 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:
- sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing
- rapid, shallow breathing, cold, clammy skin, a rapid, weak pulse, dizziness, weakness and fainting (shock)
- fits or convulsions
- muscular weakness
- passing little or no urine
- headache and high temperature associated with hallucinations, confusion, paralysis of part or all of the body, disturbances of behaviour, speech and eye movements, stiff neck and sensitivity to light
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
- stabbing or throbbing nerve pain
Very rarely, a serious disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) may occur. GBS is an autoimmune syndrome caused by your body’s own immune system. GBS may make you feel weak; you may have difficulty moving around or you may experience numbness and tingling in your limbs.
These are very serious side effects. You 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, nurse or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Storing Fluad® Quad
Fluad® Quad is usually stored in the doctor’s surgery or clinic, or at the pharmacy. However, if you need to store Fluad® Quad:
- Keep it where children cannot reach it.
- Keep Fluad® Quad in the original pack until it is time for it to be given.
-
Keep it in the refrigerator, between 2°C and 8°C. Do not freeze Fluad® Quad. Discard if the vaccine has been frozen.
Freezing destroys the vaccine
Product description
What it looks like
Fluad® Quad is a milky-white liquid in a pre-filled syringe.
Ingredients
- Active ingredients:
Each 0.5 mL contains 15 micrograms of influenza virus fragments (influenza virus haemagglutinin) from each of the following types of influenza virus:
- A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like strain
- A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like strain
- B/Washington/02/2019-like strain
- B/Phuket/3073/2013-like strain
These strains have been recommended by the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee for the 2021 Southern Hemisphere winter. - Other ingredients
Adjuvant: MF59C.1: containing squalene, polysorbate 80, sorbitan trioleate, sodium citrate dihydrate, citric acid monohydrate, water for injections.
Other: sodium chloride, potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, calcium chloride dihydrate, water for injections.
Fluad® Quad may also contain traces of kanamycin sulfate, neomycin sulfate, egg proteins (ovalbumin), formaldehyde, cetrimonium bromide, sucrose, and hydrocortisone as residues of the manufacturing process.
Fluad® Quad does not contain lactose, gluten, tartrazine, any other azo dyes, or preservative.
Manufacturer/Distributor/ Supplier
Fluad® Quad sponsored by:
Seqirus Pty Ltd
ABN 26 160 735 035
63 Poplar Road
Parkville VIC 3052
AUST R313724
AUST R 316323
Date of Revision:
15 October 2020
Fluad® Quad is a trademark of Seqirus UK Limited or its affiliates.
Published by MIMS March 2021
Unsolicited adverse events (AEs) were collected for 21 days after vaccination. The frequency of unsolicited AEs was similar between the different vaccination groups, Fluad Quad (15.3%), Fluad (11.3%) and aTIV-2 (15.3%). Influenza-like-illness (2.0%), injection site bruising (1.1%) and cough (1.0%) were reported in ≥ 1% of subjects who received Fluad Quad.
Immunogenicity based on CBER (Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research) criteria as measured by the percentage of subjects achieving seroconversion for HI antibodies and percentage of subjects achieving an HI antibody titre ≥ 1:40 at 21 days post-vaccination was assessed as a second co-primary endpoint. Success criteria was met if the lower limit of the two-sided 95% CI for the percentage of subjects achieving seroconversion for HI antibody met or exceeded 30% and the lower limit of the two-sided 95% CI for the percentage of subjects achieving an HI antibody titre ≥ 1:40 met and exceeded 60%.
Fluad Quad contains no antimicrobial preservative.