Pharmacy Guide

Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.

Pharmacy Guide

Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.

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Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1

⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued

The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.

If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Influenza vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated) may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.

What it is and what it is used for

for

Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus is a vaccine against flu (influenza). 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 flu. Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus is used to prevent flu in adults of 50 years of age and older. The vaccine targets four strains of influenza virus following the recommendations by the World Health Organisation for the 2024/2025 Season.

2.

What you need to know before you take it

e Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus You should not receive Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus If you are allergic to

  • the active ingredients or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
  • egg or chicken proteins (such as ovalbumin), kanamycin and neomycin sulphate, formaldehyde, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and hydrocortisone, which are trace residues from the manufacturing process.
  • If you have had a severe allergic reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis) to previous influenza vaccination. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before receiving Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus. 1

BEFORE receiving the vaccine

  • Your doctor or nurse will make sure that appropriate medical treatment and supervision is readily available in case of a rare anaphylactic reaction (a very severe allergic reaction with symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, dizziness, a weak and rapid pulse and skin rash) following the administration. This reaction may occur with Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus as with all vaccines that are injected.
  • You should tell your doctor if you have an illness associated with fever. Your doctor may decide to delay your vaccination until your fever is gone.
  • You should tell your doctor if your immune system is impaired, or if you are undergoing treatment which affects the immune system, e.g. with medicine against cancer (chemotherapy) or corticosteroid medicines (see Section "Other medicines and Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus ").
  • You should tell your doctor if you have a bleeding problem or bruise easily.
  • Fainting can occur following, or even before, any needle injection, therefore tell the doctor or nurse if you fainted with a previous injection. As with all vaccines, Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus may not fully protect all persons who are vaccinated. Children Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus is not recommended for use in children. Other medicines and Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus Tell your doctor or nurse if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription or if you have recently received any other vaccine. Pregnancy and breast-feeding This vaccine is for use in adults 50 years and older. It is not to be used in women who are, or may be, pregnant or breast-feeding. Driving and using machines Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus contains potassium and sodium This vaccine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, i.e. essentially 'sodium free'. This vaccine contains potassium, less than 1 mmol (39 mg) per dose, i.e. essentially 'potassium free'. 3.

How to take it

Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus is given by your doctor or nurse as an injection into the muscle at the top of the upper arm (deltoid muscle). Adults of 50 years of age and older: One dose of 0.5 ml

4.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you experience the following serious side effect – you may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation: 2

  • Difficulty in breathing, dizziness, a weak and rapid pulse and skin rash which are symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction (a very severe allergic reaction) The following side effects have been reported during clinical trials in adults 50 years of age and older. Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
  • Pain at injection site
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Joint pain (arthralgia)
  • Muscular pain (myalgia) Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
  • Redness at injection site (erythema)
  • Hardening of the skin at injection site (induration)
  • Bruising at injection site (ecchymosis)
  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever (≥ 38°C)
  • Shivering
  • Flu-like symptoms (only reported in individuals 65 years of age and older) Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
  • Vomiting
  • Swelling of the glands in the neck, armpit or groin (lymphadenopathy) In individuals 65 years of age and older, some side effects were less frequent, such as arthralgia, myalgia (common) and fever (uncommon). Most side effects were mild or moderate and went away within 3 days of appearing. Next to the above side effects, the following side effects occurred occasionally during general use of Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus or a similar vaccine in elderly individuals 65 years of age and older.
  • reduction in the number of certain types of particles in the blood called platelets; a low number of these can result in excessive bruising or bleeding (thrombocytopenia)
  • swelling, pain and redness at the injection site (injection site cellulitis-like reaction)
  • extensive swelling of injected limb
  • swelling of the lower legs or hands (peripheral swelling)
  • general weakness or lack of energy (asthenia), generally feeling unwell (malaise)
  • fever (pyrexia)
  • muscular weakness
  • pain on the nerve path (neuralgia), unusual feeling of touch, pain, heat and cold (paraesthesia), fits (convulsions), neurological disorders that may result in stiff neck, confusion, numbness, pain and weakness of the limbs, loss of balance, loss of reflexes, paralysis of part or all the body (encephalomyelitis, neuritis, Guillain-Barré Syndrome)
  • skin reactions that may spread throughout the body including itchiness of the skin (pruritus, urticaria), skin redness (erythema), non-specific rash, severe skin rash (erythema multiforme)
  • swelling most apparent in the head and neck, including the face, lips, tongue, throat or any other part of the body (angioedema)
  • blood vessel swelling that may cause skin rashes (vasculitis) and temporary kidney problems
  • dizziness
  • fainting, feeling about to faint (syncope, presyncope)

3

Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme website: 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.

5.

How to store it

Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Store in a refrigerator (2 °C to 8 °C). Do not freeze. Discard if the vaccine has been frozen. Keep the pre-filled syringe in the outer carton in order to protect from light. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6.

Contents of the pack and other information

What Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus contains –

The active substances are influenza virus surface antigens (haemagglutinin and neuraminidase), inactivated, of the following strains*: per 0.5 ml dose A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like strain (A/Victoria/4897/2022 IVR-238) A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like strain (A/Thailand/8/2022 IVR-237) B/Austria/1359417/2021-like strain (B/Austria/1359417/2021 BVR-26) B/Phuket/3073/2013-like strain (B/Phuket/3073/2013 BVR-1B)

15 micrograms HA** 15 micrograms HA** 15 micrograms HA** 15 micrograms HA**

*propagated in fertilised hens' eggs from healthy chicken flocks and adjuvanted with MF59C.1 **haemagglutinin

This vaccine complies with the WHO recommendations (Northern Hemisphere) and EU recommendation for the 2024/2025 Season. –

MF59C.1 is included in this vaccine as an adjuvant. Adjuvants are substances included in certain vaccines to accelerate, improve and/or prolong the protective effects of the vaccine. MF59C.1 is an adjuvant that contains per 0.5 ml dose: squalene (9.75 mg), polysorbate 80 (1.175 mg), sorbitan trioleate (1.175 mg), sodium citrate (0.66 mg) and citric acid (0.04 mg).

–

The other ingredients are: sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium phosphate dihydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, calcium chloride dihydrate and water for injections.

4

What Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus looks like and contents of the pack Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus is a suspension for injection in a pre-filled syringe. Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus is a milky-white suspension. A single syringe contains 0.5 ml of suspension for injection. Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Seqirus is available in packs containing 1 or 10 pre-filled syringes with or without needles. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder Seqirus UK Ltd. Point, 29 Market Street Maidenhead SL6 8AA, United Kingdom

Manufacturer Seqirus Vaccines Limited Gaskill Road, Speke L24 9GR Liverpool United Kingdom

This leaflet was last revised in 08/2024. ———————————————————————————————————————–The following information is intended for healthcare professionals only: Appropriate medical treatment and supervision should always be readily available in case of a rare anaphylactic event following the administration of the vaccine. Gently shake before use. After shaking, the normal appearance of the vaccine is a milky white suspension. The vaccine should be visually inspected for particulate matter and discolouration prior to administration. In the event of any foreign particulate matter and/or variation of physical aspect being observed, do not administer the vaccine. When using a pre-filled syringe supplied without a needle, remove the tip cap from the syringe and then attach a suitable needle for administration. For Luer Lock syringes, remove the tip cap by unscrewing it in a counter-clockwise direction. Once the tip cap is removed, attach a needle to the syringe by screwing it on in a clockwise direction until it locks. Once the needle is locked in place, remove the needle protector and administer the vaccine.

5

Frequently asked questions about Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1

How do I take Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1?

Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1 comes as oral solution. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.

What is the active substance in Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1?

The active substance in Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1 is influenza vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated).

Are there equivalent medicines to Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1?

Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Adjuvanted Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe, Adjuvanted Zoonotic Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre‐filled syringe, Cell-based Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe. In total there are 4 equivalent products. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.

Where does this information come from?

This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.

Can I get Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1 without a prescription?

Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.

About this leaflet

The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.

  • Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
  • Active substance: influenza vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated)
  • Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
Medical disclaimer: This page is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the leaflet supplied with your medicine. If you are unwell, call NHS 111; in an emergency, call 999.

Medicines with the same active substance: Influenza vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated) (5 medicines)
See every medicine containing this substance, or browse the full A–Z of active substances.

💬 Ask about this leaflet

Ask anything about Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (Surface Antigen, Inactivated) Seqirus suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe Influenza vaccine, Adjuvanted with MF59C.1. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.

Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.

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