It’s that time of the year again: flu season is almost upon us, and the Food and Drug Administration and various safety agencies are warning persons across the nation about the importance of submitting to a flu shot. The FDA has released a new report focused on the precautions taken in order to ensure the safety and viability of these vaccines.
There are two types of vaccines: egg-based units and cell-based units. The latter are only to be used by persons over the age of 18, but the FDA is keen on this type of vaccine because of the longer-term storage and growth potential.
To verify the safety of these vaccines, the FDA goes through a process designed to protect consumers from impurities and contaminations. The agency drops in to manufacturing facilities to ensure that their practices are up to par with current good manufacturing practices. The agency also keeps tabs on vaccines once they’re out in the world. During the creation process, companies must send the FDA samples and test results.
The Center for Biologics Research and Evaluation director notes that last year’s flu season was particularly deadly. The CDC is requesting that all persons older than six months old get the vaccine, especially those that could be considered as being in a susceptible demographic, like elderly persons and younger children.