Vaxigrip (Sanofi)

Vaxigrip (and its US counterpart Fluzone) is an inactivated split-virion influenza vaccine developed by Sanofi Pasteur for active immunization against seasonal influenza. The vaccine is produced by propagating influenza viruses in embryonated chicken eggs, followed by inactivation with formaldehyde and disruption (splitting) using detergents. This splitting process reduces the lipid content and reactogenicity of the whole virus while retaining the immunogenic hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) surface proteins. The vaccine is updated annually to include the specific influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and influenza B strains recommended by the World Health Organization for each season. It works by inducing the production of strain-specific neutralizing antibodies that prevent the virus from attaching to and entering host cells, thereby preventing infection and reducing the severity of influenza disease.

Brand names

VaxigripFluzoneVaxigripTetraFluzone QuadrivalentFluzone High-Dose

Other names

Inactivated influenza vaccine (split virion)Split-virion influenza vaccineInactivated split-virion influenza vaccineSanofi Pasteur influenza vaccine