Which one should you get?



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You've heard it many times: you should get an annual flu shot. You can get vaccinated at your local pharmacy, doctor's office or hospital, but you probably need to know that there are two different types of vaccines, each with varying coverage.

One is the trivalent vaccine and the other is the quadrivalent vaccine. The trivalent vaccine protects against three strains of the influenza virus – an influenza A or H1N1 virus; an influenza A or H3N2 virus; and a B flu virus. The quadrivalent vaccine protects against four strains: all strains of the trivalent vaccine, plus one additional strain of the B virus.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is one type of quadrivalent influenza vaccine that can be given to children under 6 months of age. Other quadrivalent influenza vaccines are approved for people aged 3 years and older.



Close-up of a person with a tattoo on their head: what about the two types of influenza vaccines? (Photo: Getty Images)


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What is the problem with two types of influenza vaccines? (Photo: Getty Images)

So which one are you likely to get, and should you opt for something different?

In general, you probably receive the quadrivalent vaccine, told Yahoo Lifestyle Amesh A. Adalja, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the Johns Hopkins Health Safety Center. "Most places will store mainly quadrivalent," he says. "You want to get this vaccine because it covers against more strains."

However, there is one major exception: the CDC recommends that people 65 years of age and older receive what is known as a high dose influenza vaccine, which is another name for a trivalent vaccine. "Because of the formulation, it only has three strains," says Adalja, explaining that with only three strains in the formula, the doses may be a little higher than for four. "It's a bit of a compromise: you get a higher dose against some of the most dangerous strains. In high doses, there is only too much to do in a vaccine. "

As a reminder, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices did not indicate a preference for quadrivalent or trivalent. Yet the quadrivalent makes sense for many people, says Adalja. "The CDC does not want to confuse people anymore," he says. "They just want people to get something, which is better than nothing."

If you know you want to get the flu shot and you do not know what type you are getting, just ask. Your doctor or pharmacist should be able to tell you.

Gallery: 15 Simple Ways to Fight Colds and Flu (provided by Cheapism)

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