Fluenz Trivalent nasal spray suspension Influenza vaccine (live attenuated, nasal)

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
• This vaccine has been prescribed for you or your child only. Do not pass it on to others.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

1. What Fluenz is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you are given Fluenz
3. How Fluenz is given
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Fluenz
6. Contents of the pack and other information

When a person is given the vaccine, the immune system (the body’s natural defence system) will produce its own protection against the influenza virus. None of the ingredients in the vaccine can cause the flu.

Fluenz vaccine viruses are grown in chicken eggs. Each year the vaccine targets three strains of influenza, following the annual recommendations by the World Health Organisation.

• if you are allergic to gentamicin, gelatin or any of the other ingredients of this vaccine (listed in section 6 “Contents of the pack and other information”).
• if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs or egg proteins. For signs of allergic reactions, see section 4 “Possible side effects”.
• if you have a blood disorder or a cancer that affects the immune system.
• if you have been told by your doctor that you have a weakened immune system as a result of a disease, medicine or other treatment.
• if you are already taking acetylsalicylic acid (a substance present in many medicines used to relieve pain and lower fever). This is because of the risk of a very rare but serious disease (Reye’s syndrome).

If any of these apply, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before vaccination:

• if the child is less than 24 months of age. Children less than 24 months of age should not receive this vaccine because of the risk of side effects.
• if you have severe asthma or are currently wheezing.
• if you are in close contact with someone with a severely weakened immune system (for example, a bone marrow transplant patient needing isolation).

If any of these apply, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before vaccination. He or she will decide if Fluenz is suitable for you.

Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if the person being vaccinated is taking, has recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines that do not require a prescription.

• Do not give acetylsalicylic acid (a substance present in many medicines used to relieve pain and lower fever) to children for 4 weeks after vaccination with Fluenz unless your doctor, nurse or pharmacist tells you otherwise. This is because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a very rare but serious disease that can affect the brain and liver.
• It is recommended that Fluenz is not given at the same time as influenza-specific antiviral medicines, such as oseltamivir and zanamivir. This is because the vaccine may work less effectively.

Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will decide if Fluenz can be given at the same time as other vaccines.

• If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, plan to become pregnant soon or are breast-feeding, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before receiving this vaccine. Fluenz is not recommended for women who are pregnant or are breast-feeding.

• Fluenz has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

The recommended dose for children and adolescents is 0.2 ml Fluenz, administered as 0.1 ml in each nostril. Children who have not previously had an influenza vaccine will receive a second, follow-up dose after an interval of at least 4 weeks. Follow your doctor, nurse or pharmacist’s instructions about if and when your child should return for the second dose.

Very rare

(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• severe allergic reaction: signs of a severe allergic reaction may include shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue.

Tell your doctor straight away or seek urgent medical care if you experience any of the effects above.

Very common

(may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

• runny or stuffy nose
• reduced appetite
• weakness

Common

(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• fever
• muscle aches
• headache

Uncommon

(may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• rash
• nose bleed
• allergic reactions

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

The active substances are:

Reassortant influenza virus* (live attenuated) of the following strains**:

A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09 - like strain

(A/Norway/31694/2022, MEDI 369815) 10^7.0±0.5 FFU***

A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2) - like strain

(A/Thailand/8/2022, MEDI 370626) 10^7.0±0.5 FFU***

B/Austria/1359417/2021 - like strain

(B/Austria/1359417/2021, MEDI 355292) 10^7.0±0.5 FFU***

..................................................................................................................per 0.2 ml dose

* propagated in fertilised hens' eggs from healthy chicken flocks.

** produced in VERO cells by reverse genetic technology. This product contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

*** Fluorescent Focus Units.

This vaccine complies with the WHO (World Health Organisation) recommendations (Northern Hemisphere) and EU decision for the 2024/2025 season.

The other ingredients are sucrose, dipotassium phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, gelatin (porcine, Type A), arginine hydrochloride, monosodium glutamate monohydrate and water for injections.

This vaccine is presented as a nasal spray suspension in a single-use nasal applicator (0.2 ml) in a pack size of 1 and 10. Not all pack sizes may be available.

The suspension is colourless to pale yellow, clear to slightly cloudy. Small white particles may be present.