The seasonal influenza vaccine Agriflu®

Seasonal influenza continues to have a large impact annually. Combined with pneumonia, influenza is the sixth leading cause of death in the USA, and vaccination has been the most important tool to prevent it. Agriflu (R) is an egg-derived, subunit, nonadjuvanted trivalent inactivated vaccine indicated for immunization to prevent disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and B contained in the vaccine. Agriflu was approved in the USA by the US FDA on 27 November 2009, for those aged 18 years and older, to prevent disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and B. Based on clinical trial evidence, Agriflu has been shown to be safe, with <1% serious adverse event rates, and immunogenic. It has been proven to be highly effective to prevent culture-confirmed influenza and, thus, is an alternative to previously licensed seasonal influenza vaccines. Besides Fluvirin (R), Agriflu is the only subunit vaccine available in the USA. Owing to the economic burden, morbidity and mortality caused by seasonal influenza, addition of new, safe and effective vaccines to the available tools, to reduce the impact of influenza, is of importance and benefit, especially in the face of the recent shortages of influenza vaccines.