Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine 0.5mL — Annual Seasonal Flu Protection for Children from 6 Months, Adults, and Seniors
A Sourcing Guide for Hospitals, Clinics, Corporate Health Programs, and Pharmacies
Influenza Vaccine — Influvac Tetra® is a quadrivalent inactivated subunit influenza vaccine indicated, according to its approved prescribing information, for active immunisation against influenza disease caused by the influenza virus subtypes A and B contained in the vaccine, in individuals aged 6 months and above. As with all vaccines, the decision to administer Influvac Tetra, including timing, patient suitability, and dosing schedule for children receiving influenza vaccination for the first time, rests entirely with the treating physician or vaccination specialist, in accordance with the approved label. This page provides sourcing and procurement information for hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies — not clinical or treatment guidance.
As both a trusted medicine distributor in Delhi and a licensed pharma distribution company, A.K. Pharma supplies genuine Influenza Vaccine — Influvac Tetra (Quadrivalent) 0.5mL pre-filled syringes to hospitals, corporate health programs, travel medicine clinics, and pharmacies across India, manufactured by Abbott India Ltd. Among pharmaceutical distribution companies operating in Delhi, A.K. Pharma maintains cold chain-compliant storage and distribution infrastructure for all vaccine products — hospitals and clinics can source companion vaccines and specialty medicines through A.K. Pharma’s full product range.
Influenza Vaccine — Influvac Tetra is a quadrivalent inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. It contains purified surface antigens — haemagglutinin and neuraminidase — from four inactivated influenza virus strains. Because it contains no live virus, it cannot cause influenza infection.
What Makes It Quadrivalent — And Why It Matters:
Standard trivalent influenza vaccines protect against two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain. Influenza B circulates in two distinct lineages — Yamagata and Victoria — and predicting which would dominate in any given season meant making a choice. When the prediction was wrong, trivalent vaccines offered no protection against the circulating B lineage.
Quadrivalent vaccines like Influvac Tetra include both influenza B lineages — Victoria and Yamagata — alongside both influenza A subtypes (H1N1 and H3N2), eliminating lineage mismatch risk entirely and providing broader, more consistent seasonal protection across all four circulating influenza types.
Annual Strain Composition Update:
According to the manufacturer’s prescribing information, the specific virus strains included in Influvac Tetra are updated annually based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), which monitors circulating influenza strains globally and recommends strain compositions for each upcoming influenza season. This is why annual vaccination is recommended — the circulating strains change each season and the vaccine is reformulated to match them.
Full prescribing information is available from the WHO Prequalification Influvac Tetra Product Insert, with additional guidance on influenza vaccination available from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the approved prescribing information and published immunology literature, Influvac Tetra works by presenting inactivated influenza virus surface antigens to the immune system, triggering the production of protective antibodies — specifically against haemagglutinin, the protein influenza viruses use to attach to and enter human respiratory tract cells.
These antibodies neutralise the virus on subsequent exposure during the flu season, preventing infection or significantly reducing severity. Protective antibody levels are typically achieved within 2 to 3 weeks of vaccination — which is why vaccination before the start of the influenza season is recommended. In India, influenza typically peaks between January and March and again between June and September, and vaccination timing should be planned accordingly with the prescribing physician.
For broader clinical context on influenza immunology and vaccine development, the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal and CDC influenza vaccination resources provide comprehensive reference material.
Efficacy in Adults
According to the manufacturer’s prescribing information, in clinical studies in healthy adults aged 18 years and older, Influvac Tetra demonstrated immunogenicity meeting both European and US regulatory criteria for influenza vaccine approval across all four strains — haemagglutinin inhibition antibody responses meeting seroconversion, seroprotection, and mean geometric titre increase criteria for all four strains.
Efficacy in Children
In clinical studies in healthy children aged 3 to 17 years, Influvac Tetra demonstrated non-inferior immunogenicity to the trivalent Influvac vaccine for the shared strains, and superior immunogenicity for the additional B lineage strain not included in the trivalent formulation — directly demonstrating the clinical advantage of the quadrivalent formulation over trivalent predecessors.
In studies of children aged 6 months to 35 months, Influvac Tetra was assessed for safety and immunogenicity, with results supporting its use in this youngest age group.
For current clinical guidance on influenza vaccination in India, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Immunization Schedule and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) provide updated national recommendations.
Influenza Vaccine — Influvac Tetra is supplied as:
| Presentation | Volume | Administration |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-filled syringe (PFS) | 0.5mL suspension for injection | Intramuscular injection (IM) |
| Single-dose vial | 0.5mL suspension for injection | Intramuscular injection (IM) |
Each 0.5mL dose contains 15 micrograms of haemagglutinin antigen per strain — a total of 60 micrograms haemagglutinin per dose — across all four influenza strains per the manufacturer’s prescribing information.
Vaccination Schedule — General Reference (per approved prescribing information):
| Age Group | First-Time Flu Vaccine | Previously Vaccinated |
|---|---|---|
| Children 6 months to 8 years | Two doses, minimum 4 weeks apart | One dose annually |
| Children 9 years and above | One dose annually | One dose annually |
| Adults (18–64 years) | One dose annually | One dose annually |
| Seniors (65 years and above) | One dose annually | One dose annually |
| Pregnant women | One dose per season | One dose per season |
Active Immunisation Against Seasonal Influenza:
High-Priority Groups:
According to WHO and national vaccination guidelines, influenza vaccination is particularly important for:
Hospital and Corporate Vaccination Programs:
For detailed indication information refer to MedlinePlus Influenza Vaccine and the WHO Influenza Vaccination Policy.
Quadrivalent Coverage — Both B Lineages Included
Influvac Tetra covers both influenza B lineages — Yamagata and Victoria — alongside both influenza A subtypes, eliminating the seasonal B lineage mismatch risk of trivalent vaccines and providing more consistent protection regardless of which B strain dominates in a given season.
Annual WHO-Aligned Strain Composition
Updated each year based on WHO global surveillance data, ensuring the vaccine targets the strains most likely to circulate in the upcoming season.
Broad Age Coverage From 6 Months Upward
A single vaccine product covering children from 6 months through to seniors simplifies procurement for hospitals, clinics, and vaccination programs managing multi-age patient populations.
Established Global Safety Profile
Inactivated subunit influenza vaccines have one of the most extensively documented safety profiles of any vaccine class — billions of doses administered globally across decades of seasonal use.
Recommended in Pregnancy
Inactivated influenza vaccines including Influvac Tetra are recommended during any trimester of pregnancy — protecting the mother during a period of increased influenza risk and providing passive antibody protection to the newborn during the first months of life.
Safe for Most Egg-Allergic Individuals
Individuals with egg allergy — including severe egg allergy — can generally receive Influvac Tetra safely per published clinical guidance, as egg protein content is extremely low. Individuals with a history of anaphylaxis specifically to a previous influenza vaccine require specialist assessment before vaccination.
Swine Flu (H1N1) Protection Included
Influvac Tetra includes the H1N1 (swine flu) influenza A subtype in its quadrivalent composition — making it effective against both seasonal and pandemic-potential H1N1 strains within its approved formulation.
Dosing and scheduling of Influvac Tetra is determined by the administering physician or vaccination specialist according to the approved label. General administration information from the manufacturer’s prescribing information includes:
Post-Vaccination Observation:
Per standard vaccination practice, patients should be observed for approximately 15 to 30 minutes following administration to monitor for any immediate adverse reactions.
Monitoring:
Full dosing and administration guidelines are available in the manufacturer’s official prescribing information and should always be followed exactly as directed by the administering healthcare professional.
Influvac Tetra is recommended annually for:
As a licensed pharma distribution company in Delhi, A.K. Pharma supplies Influenza Vaccine — Influvac Tetra to hospitals, corporate health programs, travel clinics, and pharmacies across India.
Common side effects reported in clinical trials include injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, bruising), headache, fatigue, myalgia (muscle aches), malaise, and low-grade fever. Per the manufacturer’s prescribing information, most reactions occur within the first 1 to 3 days following vaccination and resolve spontaneously within 1 to 3 days.
Serious side effects — rare but include:
Anaphylaxis and Severe Allergic Reactions: Very rarely reported following influenza vaccination — standard post-vaccination observation for 15 to 30 minutes is recommended to monitor for immediate reactions.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS): A very rare association with influenza vaccines has been reported in some studies — estimated at approximately 1 to 2 additional cases per million doses. The benefit of influenza vaccination significantly outweighs this rare risk across all recommended groups.
Vasovagal Syncope: Fainting can occur after any injection — patients should be seated or lying down during and immediately after administration.
Aspirin and Salicylates in Children: Taking aspirin or salicylate-containing medicines for at least 6 weeks after influenza vaccination is not recommended in children, as this combination has been associated with Reye’s syndrome — a rare but serious condition causing liver and brain damage.
Full side effect information is available at FDA Influenza Vaccine Safety Information and Medicines.org.uk Influvac Tetra SmPC.
As one of Delhi’s most trusted pharmaceutical distribution companies, A.K. Pharma maintains cold chain-compliant storage and last-mile delivery for all vaccine products including Influvac Tetra — ensuring every vial arrives at the hospital or clinic within the required 2°C to 8°C temperature range, with temperature monitoring documentation available for every shipment.
Influenza Vaccine — Influvac Tetra is manufactured by Abbott India Ltd, the Indian affiliate of Abbott Laboratories, one of the world’s leading healthcare companies. Abbott Biologicals B.V. develops the quadrivalent influenza vaccine formulation annually in alignment with WHO strain recommendations. Unlike general wholesale pharmaceutical distributors, A.K. Pharma maintains verified cold chain sourcing from authorised Abbott distribution channels for every Influvac Tetra supply. Learn more about Abbott India directly from the manufacturer.
Q. What is Influenza Vaccine — Influvac Tetra used for?
Influvac Tetra is a quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine used for annual active immunisation against seasonal influenza — including swine flu (H1N1), H3N2, and both influenza B lineages (Victoria and Yamagata) — in children from 6 months of age, adults, and seniors.
Q. What is the generic name of Influvac Tetra?
The generic name is Inactivated Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV). Influvac Tetra is manufactured by Abbott India Ltd and contains 15 micrograms of haemagglutinin antigen per influenza strain in each 0.5mL dose.
Q. Why does the influenza vaccine need to be taken every year?
Two reasons — first, immunity from the previous year’s vaccine wanes over time. Second, and more importantly, the influenza virus mutates each season and the strains circulating in 2026-2027 will differ from those in 2025-2026. The vaccine formulation is updated annually by WHO to match the strains most likely to circulate, which is why a new dose each season is required for continued protection.
Q. Why is Influvac Tetra better than a trivalent flu vaccine?
Influvac Tetra covers four influenza strains — two A subtypes and both B lineages (Yamagata and Victoria). Trivalent vaccines covered only one B lineage, meaning they offered no protection against the other if the predicted lineage turned out not to be dominant. Influvac Tetra eliminates this mismatch risk entirely.
Q. Does Influvac Tetra protect against swine flu?
Yes — Influvac Tetra includes the influenza A H1N1 subtype (swine flu) in its quadrivalent composition, providing protection against H1N1 as part of its annual formulation.
Q. How many doses does a child need for the first time?
Children aged 6 months to 8 years who have never previously been vaccinated against influenza require two doses of Influvac Tetra, given at least 4 weeks apart, for the first vaccination season. From the following season onward, one dose annually is sufficient. Children aged 9 years and above require one dose annually regardless of prior vaccination history, per the approved prescribing information.
Q. Is Influvac Tetra safe during pregnancy?
Yes — inactivated influenza vaccines including Influvac Tetra are recommended during any trimester of pregnancy. Vaccination protects the mother during a period of increased risk of severe influenza illness, and provides passive antibody protection to the newborn during the first months of life. Pregnant women should discuss timing with their obstetrician.
Q. Can egg-allergic individuals receive Influvac Tetra?
Individuals with egg allergy — including severe egg allergy — can generally receive Influvac Tetra safely, as the egg protein content in the vaccine is extremely low per the prescribing information and published clinical guidelines. Individuals with a history of anaphylaxis specifically to a previous influenza vaccine should discuss this with their physician before vaccination.
Q. Is Influvac Tetra available in India?
Yes — Influvac Tetra manufactured by Abbott India Ltd is available through licensed specialty pharmaceutical distributors. A.K. Pharma is a licensed medicine distributor in Delhi supplying genuine Influvac Tetra to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies across India with cold chain-compliant delivery. Contact A.K. Pharma at 011 4172 6999 or WhatsApp +91 9810034827 for availability and pricing.
Q. What is the price of Influvac Tetra in India?
Influvac Tetra price in India varies by season and order quantity. Contact A.K. Pharma at 011 4172 6999 or WhatsApp +91 9810034827 for current pricing and bulk supply rates for corporate or hospital vaccination programs.
Q. Can Influvac Tetra be given at the same time as other vaccines?
Yes — Influvac Tetra can generally be administered at the same time as other vaccines including COVID-19 vaccines, but they should be given in different injection sites. The administering physician or vaccination specialist will advise on the appropriate schedule for each patient.
Q. Does A.K. Pharma supply Influvac Tetra in bulk for hospital vaccination programs?
Yes. As one of Delhi’s established pharmaceutical distribution companies, A.K. Pharma supplies Influvac Tetra in bulk to hospitals, corporate health programs, travel medicine clinics, and pharmacies across Delhi and India — with cold chain-compliant delivery and complete batch documentation.
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Disclaimer: This page is intended for informational and sourcing/procurement purposes only and does not constitute medical or clinical advice. All vaccination decisions, including timing, patient suitability, and dosing schedule, should be made by a qualified healthcare professional in accordance with the approved prescribing information and current national vaccination guidelines. A.K. Pharma is a licensed medicine distributor and does not provide clinical guidance.