2.1 Dose and Schedule

The dose and schedule for Fluzone Quadrivalent are presented in Table 1.

2.2 Administration

Inspect Fluzone Quadrivalent visually for particulate matter and/or discoloration prior to administration. If any of these defects or conditions exist, the vaccine should not be administered.

Before administering a dose of vaccine, shake the prefilled syringe or single-dose vial. Withdraw the vaccine using a sterile needle and syringe.

The preferred sites for intramuscular injection are the anterolateral aspect of the thigh in infants 6 months through 11 months of age, the anterolateral aspect of the thigh (or the deltoid muscle if muscle mass is adequate) in persons 12 months through 35 months of age, or the deltoid muscle in persons ≥36 months of age. The vaccine should not be injected into the gluteal area or areas where there may be a major nerve trunk.

Do not administer this product intravenously, intradermally, or subcutaneously.

Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine should not be combined through reconstitution or mixed with any other vaccine.

5.1 Guillain-Barré Syndrome

The 1976 swine influenza vaccine was associated with an elevated risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Evidence for a causal relation of GBS with other influenza vaccines is inconclusive; if an excess risk exists, it is probably slightly more than 1 additional case per 1 million persons vaccinated. (see ref. 1) If GBS has occurred within 6 weeks of previous influenza vaccination, the decision to give Fluzone Quadrivalent should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks.

5.2 Preventing and Managing Allergic Reactions

Appropriate medical treatment and supervision must be available to manage possible anaphylactic reactions following administration of Fluzone Quadrivalent.

5.3 Altered Immunocompetence

If Fluzone Quadrivalent is administered to immunocompromised persons, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, the expected immune response may not be obtained.

5.4 Limitations of Vaccine Effectiveness

Vaccination with Fluzone Quadrivalent may not protect all recipients.

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse event rates observed in the clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trial of another vaccine, and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

6.2 Post-Marketing Experience

Currently, there are no post-marketing data available for Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine.

The following events have been spontaneously reported during the post-approval use of the trivalent formulation of Fluzone. Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to vaccine exposure. Adverse events were included based on one or more of the following factors: severity, frequency of reporting, or strength of evidence for a causal relationship to Fluzone.

• Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy
• Immune System Disorders: Anaphylaxis, other allergic/hypersensitivity reactions (including urticaria, angioedema)
• Eye disorders: Ocular hyperemia
• Nervous System Disorders: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), convulsions, febrile convulsions, myelitis (including encephalomyelitis and transverse myelitis), facial palsy (Bell's palsy), optic neuritis/neuropathy, brachial neuritis, syncope (shortly after vaccination), dizziness, paresthesia
• Vascular Disorders: Vasculitis, vasodilation/flushing
• Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: Dyspnea, pharyngitis, rhinitis, cough, wheezing, throat tightness
• Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Pruritus, asthenia/fatigue, pain in extremities, chest pain
• Gastrointestinal Disorders: Vomiting

8.1 Pregnancy

8.3 Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether Fluzone Quadrivalent is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Fluzone Quadrivalent is administered to a nursing woman.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness of Fluzone Quadrivalent in children below the age of 6 months have not been established. Safety and immunogenicity of Fluzone Quadrivalent was evaluated in children 6 months through 8 years of age. [See Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Clinical Studies (14.1)]

8.5 Geriatric Use

Safety and immunogenicity of Fluzone Quadrivalent was evaluated in adults 65 years of age and older. [See Clinical Studies (14.3)] Antibody responses to Fluzone Quadrivalent are lower in persons ≥65 years of age than in younger adults.

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Influenza illness and its complications follow infection with influenza viruses. Global surveillance of influenza identifies yearly antigenic variants. Since 1977, antigenic variants of influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) viruses and influenza B viruses have been in global circulation. Since 2001, two distinct lineages of influenza B (Victoria and Yamagata lineages) have co-circulated worldwide. Protection from influenza virus infection has not been correlated with a specific level of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titer post-vaccination. However, in some human studies, antibody titers ≥1:40 have been associated with protection from influenza illness in up to 50% of subjects. (see ref. 2) (see ref. 3)

Antibodies against one influenza virus type or subtype confer limited or no protection against another. Furthermore, antibodies to one antigenic variant of influenza virus might not protect against a new antigenic variant of the same type or subtype. Frequent development of antigenic variants through antigenic drift is the virologic basis for seasonal epidemics and the reason for the usual change of one or more new strains in each year's influenza vaccine. Therefore, influenza vaccines are standardized to contain the hemagglutinins of influenza virus strains, representing the influenza viruses likely to be circulating in the US in the upcoming winter.

Annual vaccination with the current vaccine is recommended because immunity during the year after vaccination declines, and because circulating strains of influenza virus change from year to year.

14.1 Immunogenicity of Fluzone Quadrivalent in Children 6 Months through 8 Years of Age

In Study 1 (NCT01240746) (see Section 6.1), 1419 children 6 months through 35 months of age and 2101 children 3 years through 8 years of age were included in the per-protocol immunogenicity analysis. Participants received one or two 0.25 mL doses or one or two 0.5 mL doses, respectively of Fluzone Quadrivalent, TIV-1, or TIV-2. For participants who received two doses, the doses were administered approximately 4 weeks apart. The distribution of demographic characteristics was similar to that of the safety analysis (see Section 6.1).

HI antibody geometric mean titers (GMTs) and seroconversion rates 28 days following vaccination with Fluzone Quadrivalent were non-inferior to those following each TIV for all four strains, based on pre-specified criteria (see Table 7 and Table 8).

Non-inferiority immunogenicity criteria based on HI antibody GMTs and seroconversion rates were also met when age subgroups (6 months to <36 months and 3 years to <9 years) were examined. In addition, HI antibody GMTs and seroconversion rates following Fluzone Quadrivalent were higher than those following TIV for the B strain not contained in each respective TIV based on pre-specified criteria (the lower limit of the 2-sided 95% CI of the ratio of the GMTs [Fluzone Quadrivalent divided by TIV] >1.5 for each B strain in Fluzone Quadrivalent compared with the corresponding B strain not contained in each TIV and the lower limit of the two 2-sided 95% CI of the difference of the seroconversion rates [Fluzone Quadrivalent minus TIV] >10% for each B strain in Fluzone Quadrivalent compared with the corresponding B strain not contained in each TIV).

14.2 Immunogenicity of Fluzone Quadrivalent in Adults ≥18 Years of Age

In Study 2 (NCT00988143) (see Section 6.1), 565 adults 18 years of age and older who had received one dose of Fluzone Quadrivalent, TIV-1, or TIV-2 were included in the per-protocol immunogenicity analysis. The distribution of demographic characteristics was similar to that of the safety analysis (see Section 6.1).

HI antibody GMTs 21 days following vaccination with Fluzone Quadrivalent were non-inferior to those following each TIV for all four strains, based on pre-specified criteria (see Table 9).

14.3 Immunogenicity of Fluzone Quadrivalent in Geriatric Adults ≥65 Years of Age

In Study 3 (NCT01218646) (see Section 6.1), 660 adults 65 years of age and older were included in the per-protocol immunogenicity analysis. The distribution of demographic characteristics was similar to that of the safety analysis (see Section 6.1).

HI antibody GMTs 21 days following vaccination with Fluzone Quadrivalent were non-inferior to those following TIV for all four strains, based on pre-specified criteria (see Table 10). Seroconversion rates 21 days following Fluzone Quadrivalent were non-inferior to those following TIV for H3N2, B/Brisbane, and B/Florida, but not for H1N1 (see Table 11). The HI antibody GMT following Fluzone Quadrivalent was higher than that following TIV-1 for B/Florida but not higher than that following TIV-2 for B/Brisbane, based on pre-specified criteria (the lower limit of the 2-sided 95% CI of the ratio of the GMTs [Fluzone Quadrivalent divided by TIV] >1.5 for each B strain in Fluzone Quadrivalent compared with the corresponding B strain not contained in each TIV). Seroconversion rates following Fluzone Quadrivalent were higher than those following TIV for the B strain not contained in each respective TIV, based on pre-specified criteria (the lower limit of the two 2-sided 95% CI of the difference of the seroconversion rates [Fluzone Quadrivalent minus TIV] >10% for each B strain in Fluzone Quadrivalent compared with the corresponding B strain not contained in each TIV).

16.1 How Supplied

Single-dose, prefilled syringe (yellow plunger rod), without needle, 0.25 mL (NDC 49281-513-00) (not made with natural rubber latex). Supplied as package of 10 (NDC 49281-513-25).

Single-dose, prefilled syringe (purple plunger rod), without needle, 0.5 mL (NDC 49281-413-88) (not made with natural rubber latex). Supplied as package of 10 (NDC 49281-413-50).

Single-dose vial, 0.5 mL (NDC 49281-413-58) (not made with natural rubber latex). Supplied as package of 10 (NDC 49281-413-10).

16.2 Storage and Handling

Store all Fluzone Quadrivalent presentations refrigerated at 2° to 8°C (35° to 46°F). DO NOT FREEZE. Discard if vaccine has been frozen.

Do not use after the expiration date shown on the label.

2.1 Preparation for Administration

Shake the syringe vigorously before administering the vaccine and shake the multidose vial preparation each time before withdrawing a dose of vaccine.

Inspect FLUVIRIN® syringes and multidose vials visually for particulate matter and/or discoloration prior to administration [see DESCRIPTION (11)]. If either of these conditions exists, the vaccine should not be administered.

Between uses, return the multidose vial to the recommended storage conditions between 2º and 8ºC (36º and 46ºF). Do not freeze. Discard if the vaccine has been frozen.

A separate sterile syringe and needle must be used for each injection to prevent transmission of infectious agents from one person to another. Needles should be disposed of properly and not recapped.

It is recommended that small syringes (0.5 mL or 1 mL) should be used to minimize any product loss.

For intramuscular use only.

2.2 Recommended Dose and Schedule

The dose and schedule for Fluvirin is presented in Table 1.

In children, the needle size may range from 7/8 to 1¼ inches, depending on the size of the child's deltoid muscle, and should be of sufficient length to penetrate the muscle tissue. The anterolateral thigh can be used, but the needle should be longer, usually 1 inch.

In adults, a needle of ≥1 inch is preferred because needles <1 inch might be of insufficient length to penetrate muscle tissue in certain adults. The preferred site for intramuscular injection is the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. The vaccine should not be injected in the gluteal region or areas where there may be a major nerve trunk.

4.1 Hypersensitivity

Do not administer FLUVIRIN® to anyone with known history of severe allergic reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis) to egg proteins (eggs or egg products), or to any component of FLUVIRIN®, or who has had a life-threatening reaction to previous influenza vaccinations.

5.1 Guillain-Barré Syndrome

If Guillain-Barré syndrome has occurred within 6 weeks of receipt of prior influenza vaccine, the decision to give FLUVIRIN® should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks.

5.2 Altered Immunocompetence

If FLUVIRIN® is administered to immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy, the expected immune response may not be obtained.

5.3 Preventing and Managing Allergic Reactions

Prior to administration of any dose of FLUVIRIN®, the healthcare provider should review the patient's prior immunization history for possible adverse events, to determine the existence of any contraindication to immunization with FLUVIRIN® and to allow an assessment of benefits and risks. Appropriate medical treatment and supervision must be available to manage possible anaphylactic reactions following administration of the vaccine.

The tip caps of the FLUVIRIN® prefilled syringes may contain natural rubber latex which may cause allergic reactions in latex sensitive individuals.

5.4 Limitations of Vaccine Effectiveness

Vaccination with FLUVIRIN® may not protect all individuals.

6.1 Overall Adverse Reaction Profile

Serious allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been observed in individuals receiving FLUVIRIN® during postmarketing surveillance.

6.2 Clinical Trial Experience

Adverse event information from clinical trials provides a basis for identifying adverse events that appear to be related to vaccine use and for approximating the rates of these events. However, because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another vaccine, and may not reflect rates observed in clinical practice.

6.3 Postmarketing Experience

The following additional adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval use of FLUVIRIN®. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to vaccine exposure. Adverse events described here are included because: a) they represent reactions which are known to occur following immunizations generally or influenza immunizations specifically; b) they are potentially serious; or c) the frequency of reporting.

• Body as a whole: Local injection site reactions (including pain, pain limiting limb movement, redness, swelling, warmth, ecchymosis, induration), hot flashes/flushes; chills; fever; malaise; shivering; fatigue; asthenia; facial edema.
• Immune system disorders: Hypersensitivity reactions (including throat and/or mouth edema). In rare cases, hypersensitivity reactions have lead to anaphylactic shock and death.
• Cardiovascular disorders: Vasculitis (in rare cases with transient renal involvement), syncope shortly after vaccination.
• Digestive disorders: Diarrhea; nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain.
• Blood and lymphatic disorders: Local lymphadenopathy; transient thrombocytopenia.
• Metabolic and nutritional disorders: Loss of appetite.
• Musculoskeletal: Arthralgia; myalgia; myasthenia.
• Nervous system disorders: Headache; dizziness; neuralgia; paraesthesia; confusion; febrile convulsions; Guillain-Barré Syndrome; myelitis (including encephalomyelitis and transverse myelitis); neuropathy (including neuritis); paralysis (including Bell's Palsy).
• Respiratory disorders: Dyspnea; chest pain; cough; pharyngitis; rhinitis.
• Skin and appendages: Stevens-Johnson syndrome; sweating; pruritus; urticaria; rash (including non-specific, maculopapular, and vesiculobulbous).

6.4 Other Adverse Reactions Associated with Influenza Vaccination

Anaphylaxis has been reported after administration of FLUVIRIN®. Although FLUVIRIN® contains only a limited quantity of egg protein, this protein can induce immediate hypersensitivity reactions among persons who have severe egg allergy. Allergic reactions include hives, angioedema, allergic asthma, and systemic anaphylaxis [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4)].

The 1976 swine influenza vaccine was associated with an increased frequency of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Evidence for a causal relation of GBS with subsequent vaccines prepared from other influenza viruses is unclear. If influenza vaccine does pose a risk, it is probably slightly more than 1 additional case/1 million persons vaccinated.

Neurological disorders temporally associated with influenza vaccination such as encephalopathy, optic neuritis/neuropathy, partial facial paralysis, and brachial plexus neuropathy have been reported.

Microscopic polyangiitis (vasculitis) has been reported temporally associated with influenza vaccination.

7.1 Concomitant Administration with Other Vaccines

There are no data to assess the concomitant administration of FLUVIRIN® with other vaccines. If FLUVIRIN® is to be given at the same time as another injectable vaccine(s), the vaccines should always be administered at different injection sites.

FLUVIRIN® should not be mixed with any other vaccine in the same syringe or vial.

7.2 Concurrent Use with Immunosuppressive Therapies

Immunosuppressive therapies, including irradiation, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, cytotoxic drugs, and corticosteroids (used in greater than physiologic doses), may reduce the immune response to FLUVIRIN®.

8.1 Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with FLUVIRIN®. It is also not known whether FLUVIRIN® can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. FLUVIRIN® should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

8.3 Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether FLUVIRIN® is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when FLUVIRIN® is administered to a nursing woman.

8.4 Pediatric Use

The safety and immunogenicity of FLUVIRIN® have not been established in children under 4 years of age.

The safety and immunogenicity of FLUVIRIN® have been established in the age group 4 years to 16 years. The use of FLUVIRIN® in these age groups is supported by evidence from adequate and well controlled studies of FLUVIRIN® in adults that demonstrate the immunogenicity of FLUVIRIN® [see ADVERSE REACTIONS (6) and CLINICAL STUDIES (14)].

8.5 Geriatric Use

Since 1997, of the total number of geriatric subjects (n = 397) in clinical studies of FLUVIRIN®, 29% were 65 years and over, while 2.1% were 75 years and over.

Antibody responses were lower in the geriatric population than in younger subjects. Adverse events occurred less frequently in geriatric subjects (≥65 years) than in younger adults. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. [See ADVERSE REACTION (6) and CLINICAL STUDIES (14)].

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Influenza illness and its complications follow infection with influenza viruses. Global surveillance of influenza identifies yearly antigenic variants. For example, since 1977, antigenic variants of influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) viruses and influenza B viruses have been in global circulation. Specific levels of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers post-vaccination with inactivated influenza virus vaccine have not been correlated with protection from influenza illness. In some human studies, antibody titer of ≥1:40 have been associated with protection from influenza illness in up to 50% of subjects [see REFERENCES (15.1, 15.2)].

Antibody against one influenza virus type or subtype confers limited or no protection against another. Furthermore, antibody to one antigenic variant of influenza virus might not protect against a new antigenic variant of the same type or subtype. Frequent development of antigenic variants through antigenic drift is the virologic basis for seasonal epidemics and the reason for the usual change of one or more new strains in each year's influenza vaccine. Therefore, inactivated influenza vaccines are standardized to contain the hemagglutinin of strains (i.e., typically two type A and one type B), representing the influenza viruses likely to be circulating in the United States in the upcoming winter.

Annual revaccination with the current vaccine is recommended because immunity declines during the year after vaccination, and because circulating strains of influenza virus change from year to year [see REFERENCES (15.3)].

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

FLUVIRIN® has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.

14.1 Immunogenicity in Adults (18 to 64 years of age)

Tables 5 and 6 show the immunogenicity data for the adult age group. The seven clinical studies presented enrolled a total of 774 adult subjects. In the adult group, for all antigens (A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B) at least one of the following point estimate criteria was met: the proportion of subjects with seroconversion (post-vaccination titer ≥1:40 from a pre-vaccination titer <1:10) or significant increase (at least a four-fold increase from pre-vaccination titer ≥1:10) in antibody titer was greater than 40%; the geometric mean titer (GMT) increase was >2.5; the proportion of subjects with a post-vaccination hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titer ≥1:40 was greater than 70%.

14.2 Immunogenicity in Geriatric Subjects (65 years of age and older)

Tables 7 and 8 show the immunogenicity of FLUVIRIN® in the geriatric age group. The six clinical studies presented enrolled a total of 296 geriatric subjects. For each of the influenza antigens, the percentage of subjects who achieved seroconversion and the percentage of subjects who achieved HI titers of ≥1:40 are shown, as well as the fold increase in GMT.

For all antigens (A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B) at least one of the following point estimate criteria was met: the proportion of subjects with seroconversion (post-vaccination titer ≥1:40 from a pre-vaccination titer <1:10) or significant increase (at least a four-fold increase from pre-vaccination titer ≥1:10) in antibody titer was greater than 30%; the geometric mean titer (GMT) increase was >2.0; the proportion of subjects with a post-vaccination hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titer ≥1:40 was greater than 60%. The pre-specified efficacy criteria were met in each study, although a relatively lower immunogenicity of A/H1N1 strain was seen in the last four studies (the same strain was in each of the formulations).

14.3 Immunogenicity in Pediatric Subjects

A small-scale study, was conducted in 1987 to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of FLUVIRIN® in 38 ‘at risk’ children, with diabetes and/or asthma, or lymphoid leukemia. Thirty-eight participants aged between 4 and 12 years of age were assessed. Ten subjects had diabetes, 21 had asthma, two had both diabetes and asthma, and one had lymphoid leukemia. There were four healthy control subjects. All participants received a single 0.5-mL dose of FLUVIRIN®.

Immunogenicity results were obtained for 19 of the 38 subjects enrolled in the study. The point estimate of the percentage of subjects achieving a titer of ≥ 1:40 was 84% for the A/H1N1 strain 79% for the B strain, and 53% for the A/H3N2 strain. The GMT fold increases were 5.8 for the A/H1N1 strain, 40 for the B strain and 17.7 for the A/H3N2 strain.

Three clinical studies were carried out between 1995 and 2004 in a total of 520 pediatric subjects (age range 6-47 months). Of these, 285 healthy subjects plus 41 ‘at risk’ pediatric subjects, received FLUVIRIN®.

In a 1995/1996 clinical study, 41 subjects (aged 6-36 months) at increased risk for influenza-related complications received two 0.25-mL doses of FLUVIRIN®. At least 49% of subjects showed a ≥4-fold increase in HI antibody titer to all three strains. HI antibody titers of 1:40 or greater were seen in at least 71% of the subjects for all three influenza strains, with increases in geometric mean titer of 6.0-fold or greater to all three strains.

Two clinical studies (1999-2000 and 2004) indicated a lower immunogenicity profile for FLUVIRIN® compared with two commercial split vaccines; in a study in the age group 6-47 months the comparator was a US licensed vaccine, Fluzone®, and in another study in the age group 6-36 months the comparator was a non-US licensed inactivated influenza vaccine. Despite the small sample size (a total of 285 healthy subjects received FLUVIRIN® in these two clinical studies) the lower immunogenicity profile of FLUVIRIN® was greatest versus the comparator vaccines in children <36months but was also evident in those 36-47 months of age, though the differences were less.

FLUVIRIN® should only be used for the immunization of persons aged 4 years and over.

16.1 How Supplied

FLUVIRIN® is supplied as:

• 0.5-mL prefilled syringe, package of 10 syringes per carton (may contain latex). NDC 66521-115-02
• 5-mL multidose vial, individually packaged in a carton (contains no latex). NDC 66521-115-10

16.2 Storage and Handling

Store FLUVIRIN® refrigerated between 2º and 8ºC (36º and 46ºF).

Do not freeze. Discard if the vaccine has been frozen.

Store in the original package to protect from light.

Do not use after the expiration date.

Between uses, return the multidose vial to the recommended storage conditions.

Do not use with electrocautery procedures, or in/near eyes.

Stop use if irritation or redness develops.

If irritating condition persists for more than 72 hours, consult a physician.

Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, seek medical attention and/or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.