Administration of Influenza Vaccine
Advisory Alert
December 2, 2019
To community health care providers:
Re: Administration of Influenza Vaccine
Below is a communication from the Chief Medical Officer of Health regarding the administration of influenza vaccine.
Needle Gauge and Length for Intramuscular Injections
For intramuscular injections (IM), using the appropriate needle is important to ensure the immunizing agent reaches the appropriate tissue site to optimize the immune response.
| Vaccine recipient | Recommended needle gauge | Recommended needle length |
|---|---|---|
| Infants, toddlers and older children | 22-25 | ⅞ inch – 1 inch |
| Adolescents and adults | 22-25 | 1 inch - 1½ inch |
For further information see Table 1: Vaccine Administration in the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules for Ontario, available at http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/immunization/docs/immunization_schedule.pdf
Influenza Vaccine Dose
The recommended influenza vaccine dosage for individuals 6 months of age and older is 0.5mL.
- Fractional doses should not be given. Individuals with influenza vaccine allergies should be referred to a specialist for appropriate immunization.
- Double dosing should not be practiced. Individuals should not receive more than one dose (0.5mL) of influenza vaccine at one time. For example, individuals should not be given two doses (2 x 0.5mL) of Fluzone® Quadrivalent during the same immunization visit.
- Individuals 9 years of age and older should not be given two doses of influenza vaccine within the same influenza season. For example, individuals 65 years of age and older, should not receive Fluzone® Quadrivalent and then later be given Fluzone® High-Dose, within the same influenza season.
Safety Engineered Needles
The Needle Safety Regulation, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which requires the use of safety engineered needles, applies to all workplaces where health related services are provided. The use of safety engineered needles reduce the risk of a skin puncture or injury to the worker.
Additional information regarding the Universal Influenza Immunization Program can be found at http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/flu/.
Should you have any questions, please contact the immunization program at 705.522.9200, ext. 301.
Sincerely,
Ariella Zbar, MD, CCFP, MPH, MBA, FRCPC
Associate Medical Officer of Health and Director, Clinical Services
Administration of Influenza Vaccine, Chief Medical Officer of Health
English
Administration of Influenza Vaccine CMOH Letter to HCP (PDF, 148 KB)
French
Administration of Influenza Vaccine CMOH Letter to HCP (PDF, 148 KB)
This item was last modified on December 2, 2019