Who Makes Flu Vaccines?

Prior to the 2009/2010 flu season, relatively few people were getting the flu shot, and several companies got out of the flu vaccine business. Today there are only a few flu manufacturers producing both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines.

Novartis Vaccines

• Novartis, based in Switzerland, makes several flu vaccines used around the world. These include seasonal flu vaccines Agrippal and Begrivac for adults and children and Fluad for seniors. Fluvirin is the most common seasonal flu vaccine in the U.S. Focetria is their H1N1 vaccine.

CSL Limited

• The Australian-based pharmaceutical company CSL Limited makes Panvax H1N1, known as the Monovalent Vaccine in the United States. CSL also makes Fluvax for adults and Fluvax Junior for children. These are seasonal flu vaccines not found in the United States.

MedImmune

• MedImmune makes FluMist, a live flu virus vaccine that is sprayed into the nose. MedImmune is based in Maryland and makes the nasal spray vaccine for both the seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses.

Sanofi Pasteur

• Sanofi Pasteur is a French manufacturer of both types of flu virus vaccines. Their H1N1 vaccine is sold under the name Paneza. They also make the seasonal flu virus vaccines Vaxigrip, which is not found in the United States and Fluzone which is found in the United States.

GlaxoSmithKline

• The British-based GlaxoSmithKline makes different forms of the seasonal flu vaccine. Their products include Fluarix for adults and children and FluLaval for adults and children.