English: This image depicts a qualified nurse in a clinical setting, who was in the process of administering a dosage of FluMist® live attenuated intranasal vaccine LAIV) into the left nostril, and into this patient’s nasal cavity. Note that the nurse’s hands were gloved, thereby, avoiding the possibility of cross-contamination.

What kind of flu vaccines are there?

There are two types of flu vaccines:

1. The “flu shot” — is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.

There are three different flu shots available:

- a regular flu shot approved for people ages 6 months and older

- a high-dose flu shot approved for people 65 and older, and

- an intradermal flu shot approved for people 18 to 64 years of age.

2. The nasal-spray flu vaccine — is a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that is given as a nasal spray (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). The viruses in the nasal spray vaccine do not cause the flu. LAIV is approved for use in healthy* people 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant.