Thorough Prevention with the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine, Vaxigrip Tetra

Hello.

This is Mutoel Plastic Surgery.

As the hot summer passes and autumn arrives,

the temperature difference between day and night is also gradually increasing.

Before the seasonal flu begins in earnest,

more and more people seem to be contacting Mutoel

to get vaccinated.

Every flu vaccination season, the question I hear most often is,

“Which vaccine is the best?”

Since COVID-19 spread worldwide,

more people have also been looking into

the products and characteristics of each vaccine.

In Korea, the quadrivalent

vaccine has been widely used as the standard following the trivalent one,

and among them, Sanofi’s Vaxigrip Tetra is

used a lot in many medical institutions.

Today, I’ll explain in detail what this vaccine is exactly,

its mechanism of action, recommended recipients and vaccination method,

expected effects and side effects, and the important points

I’ve noticed while administering it in practice, one by one.

What exactly is Vaxigrip Tetra?

Vaxigrip Tetra is a

'purified split influenza vaccine,'

and it is a quadrivalent flu vaccine that covers

all four types of influenza: two type A strains (H1N1, H3N2)

and two type B strains (B-Victoria, B-Yamagata).

Simply put, it is a vaccine designed to prevent,

all at once, the four influenza viruses that cause seasonal flu.

It is supplied in a prefilled syringe

(ready-to-use injection) form, and vaccination is recommended without age restrictions

from 6 months of age and older. What is different from other vaccines?

In the past, the trivalent vaccine also included

two type A strains, but for type B,

unlike the quadrivalent vaccine, it included only one strain.

However, type B has two major lineages

coexisting, so it was difficult to predict which lineage

would be dominant in a given year.

Because the quadrivalent vaccine includes both type B lineages,

it significantly reduces the risk of prevention failure

due to a type B mismatch compared with before,

allowing for broader protective effects.

This is also why the WHO and many public health authorities

recommend the use of quadrivalent vaccines.

Who should get it, and when?

Vaxigrip Tetra can be safely used in all age groups

from 6 months of age and older.

It is especially strongly recommended for high-risk groups

at risk of severe complications, such as infants and young children

(6 months to 5 years), pregnant women,

the elderly (65 years and older), and people with chronic diseases.

The vaccination period is usually recommended from September to November,

before that year’s flu season begins,

but it is implemented flexibly depending on regional outbreak timing

and individual schedules. How is it administered?

Both adults and children receive it as an intramuscular (IM) injection.

However, among children aged 6 months to 8 years,

if this is their first time receiving an injectable vaccine,

an initial dose is given first, and then a second dose

after 4 weeks, so a total of two doses may be required.

For pediatric recipients, please check their previous history

and make a plan accordingly.

It is safest to follow the exact dosage and injection interval

stated in the product instructions and the opinion of the attending medical professional.

Can we trust the side effects and safety?

Vaxigrip Tetra is a reliable quadrivalent flu vaccine

that has been confirmed through global clinical trials

for its immunogenicity and safety profile.

As a quadrivalent formulation, it can reduce the risk of failure

due to type B lineage mismatch, and some studies have reported

that it effectively reduced flu-related hospitalization rates and complications

in both infant and adult groups.

However, because the characteristics of circulating viruses vary every year

and individual immune responses differ, no vaccine guarantees

'100% prevention.' Rather, it plays an important role

in reducing severe illness and complications even if you do

become infected with the flu.

As with all injectable vaccines,

pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site,

as well as systemic fever, muscle aches, and fatigue,

are common post-injection reactions.

In rare cases, severe side effects such as allergic reactions

(anaphylaxis) may occur, so please get vaccinated at a clinic

that can provide emergency treatment.

In post-marketing surveillance in Korea, the incidence of serious adverse reactions

has so far been reported to be low, and the safety profile

has been evaluated as favorable across all age groups.

In addition, safety data have been accumulated in studies involving pregnant women,

which serves as evidence for recommending vaccination during pregnancy.

So unless you are in the very early stages of pregnancy,

it should be fine to get vaccinated without too much concern.

In closing...

In Korea, Vaxigrip (the quadrivalent flu vaccine)

has already been included in the National Immunization Program (NIP)

and has been supplied as a vaccine available at public health centers

and designated medical institutions. Considering that this is a policy-based

support made on the basis of reviews of large-scale safety data

by the manufacturer and public health authorities,

the safety of current quadrivalent vaccine use

can be considered sufficiently verified,

and it is proving very helpful in community-based

and high-risk-group-centered prevention strategies.

Vaccines are like a strong shield

that protects both individuals and communities.

The Vaxigrip Tetra quadrivalent flu vaccine can prevent

a broader range of influenza viruses while still being a safe vaccine.

However, before vaccination, we recommend fully discussing

your underlying conditions, allergy history, and whether you are pregnant

with the attending medical professional before setting your vaccination schedule.

If you have any questions before getting vaccinated,

or if you would like to decide on the timing of your vaccination,

please visit Mutoel and inquire.

After carefully checking each person’s health status,

we will recommend the most appropriate vaccination schedule.

This has been Mutoel Plastic Surgery.

Thank you.