FLUCELVAX® (Influenza Vaccine): Cell-Based Flu Vaccine

The influenza virus is constantly changing and evolving, making vaccine creation difficult.  FLUCELVAX®, the first FDA approved cell culture flu vaccine,¹ hopes to change that. Through innovative technology, this vaccine protects against influenza (the flu) and has been approved for individuals four years of age and older.  The vaccine contains no preservatives, no antibiotics, and it uses cell culture technology to create a vaccine that doesn’t require the use of fertilized chicken eggs in the production process.

FLUCELVAX® is a quadrivalent flu vaccine that will protect against four different influenza strains from both the A and B subtypes. The vaccine is not made in chicken eggs, meaning that it can be given to most people who have allergies.  The cell culture technology used to produce the vaccine also allows it to be produced more quickly than some other vaccinations and could make it easier to produce in case of an influenza pandemic².

The vaccine is made by introducing the influenza virus into cell cultures instead of fertilized chicken eggs. This means the vaccine is entirely egg-free, perfect for anyone with an egg-allergy.

The virus then goes through additional purification steps and is finally ready for mass use.  The FLUCELVAX® vaccine is produced in a closed, sterile, state-of-the-art facility that makes it possible for the vaccine to be produced without antibiotics.

FLUCELVAX® has been studied in multiple clinical trials, including a study of over 11,000 people, which evaluated the vaccine’s safety and the immune system response in test subjects compared to conventional egg-based vaccines and a placebo. Clinical studies demonstrated that FLUCELVAX® induced an immune response in healthy adults and seniors³.

FLUCELVAX® is approved for individuals four years or older and provides the same protection as traditionally manufactured vaccinations.  It is a good option for most anyone looking for influenza protection.

You can get FLUCELVAX® at some Passport Health locations nationwide.

FLUCELVAX® is approved for anyone over the age of 18 to prevent influenza disease.  Common side effects of FLUCELVAX® include:  pain or redness where you got the shot, headache, tiredness, muscle aches and feeling unwell (malaise).

You should not get FLUCELVAX® if you have had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (severe muscle weakness) after getting a flu shot or if you have ever fainted after receiving an injection.  Tell your healthcare provider if you have problems with your immune system, as your immune response to the vaccine may be less.