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Flublok® (Influenza Vaccine)

Technology

Recombinant technology leads to a broader immune response and may provide cross-protection against drifted strains during mismatched seasons1*

Flublok is a vaccine indicated for active immunization for the prevention of disease caused by influenza A virus subtypes and influenza type B virus represented by antigens contained in the vaccine. Flublok is approved for use in individuals 9 years of age and older. 

On this page, you will learn:

  • Complex glycosylation may mask antigenic sites on hemagglutinin (HA) antigen proteins1

  • Recombinant DNA technology glycosylation patterns may allow for broader access to conserved antigenic sites1

  • Recombinant DNA technology does not use influenza virus in any part of the manufacturing process, avoiding the possibility of mutation or adaptation1,2

Cross-protection may be a result of simpler glycosylation because recombinant DNA technology allows for broader access to conserved antigenic sites1,3

Glycosylation occurs during viral replication and in the vaccine manufacturing process, blocking access to antigenic sites on HA proteins, which are necessary for developing an immune response. Complex glycosylation interferes with antigenic site access.1,3

Pictorial representation explaining glycosylation: traditional IIV (complex) vs recombinant DNA (less complex, more accessible)

How it’s made

Recombinant DNA technology eliminates the need to grow influenza virus and avoids the possibility of mutation or adaptation4,5

Pictorial representation of recombinant DNA flu vaccine process, avoiding virus growth and mutation risk, vs traditional method

Graphical representation is for illustrative purposes only. rHA=recombinant hemagglutinin.

*Flublok is produced using a novel production platform in which recombinant HA is expressed in insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). Recombinant HA antigens produced using BEVS have been shown to induce significantly higher levels of broadly cross-reactive antibodies against highly conserved regions of HA compared with egg-derived vaccines, which may potentially protect against drift-variant influenza viruses.1

Frequently asked questions

During the creation of traditional split or subunit vaccines, the vaccine virus can acquire adaptive mutations, which is called antigenic mismatch. This could reduce the effectiveness of the resultant vaccine.1

Flublok is the only recombinant influenza vaccine available in the United States.6

No, since Flublok is not grown in mammalian cells, it is not considered a cell-based vaccine.5,7

Egg- and cell-based influenza vaccines are made by infecting eggs or mammalian cells with live influenza virus, Flublok instead uses recombinant DNA technology, in which scientists insert the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) gene into an insect cell system, which then produces purified HA protein. Recombinant technology does not use the influenza virus in any part of the manufacturing process.2,5,7

Egg- and cell-based influenza vaccines use egg or mammal cells to grow the virus used in the vaccine. Flublok’s recombinant technology does not use the influenza virus in any part of the manufacturing process.2,5,7

Flublok® Influenza Vaccine and VaccineShop Logo

Order Flublok

To order Flublok, call 1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463) or click below to order on VaccineShop

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Flublok Study Results

Learn more about the performance of Flublok even against mismatched strains

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The Burden of Influenza

It's only the flu, until it isn't

Important Safety Information

Do not administer Fluzone, Flublok, or Fluzone High-Dose to anyone with a history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of the vaccine (including egg protein for Fluzone and Fluzone High-Dose). Fluzone and Fluzone High-Dose should not be administered to anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction after previous dose of any influenza vaccine.

Appropriate medical treatment must be immediately available to manage potential anaphylactic reactions following administration of the vaccine.

If Guillain-Barré syndrome has occurred within 6 weeks following previous influenza vaccination, the decision to give Fluzone, Flublok, or Fluzone High-Dose should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks.

Syncope (fainting) has been reported following vaccination with Fluzone, Flublok and Fluzone High-Dose. Procedures should be in place to avoid injury from fainting.

In two separate postmarketing observational studies, an increased risk of febrile seizures was observed during the first day following vaccination with standard dose trivalent (2024-2025) and quadrivalent (2023-2024) influenza vaccines in children 6 months through 4 years of age.

If Fluzone, Flublok, or Fluzone High-Dose are administered to immunocompromised persons, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, the expected immune response may not be attained.

Vaccination with Fluzone, Flublok, or Fluzone High-Dose may not protect all recipients.

For Fluzone, in children 6 months through 8 years of age, the most common injection-site adverse reactions were pain or tenderness and redness; the most common solicited systemic adverse reactions were irritability, drowsiness (6 months through 35 months), and myalgia (3 years through 8 years). In adults 18 through 64 years of age, the most common injection-site adverse reaction was pain; the most common solicited systemic adverse reactions were headache and myalgia. In adults over 65 years of age, the most common injection-site adverse reaction was pain; the most common solicited systemic adverse reactions were headache, myalgia, and malaise.

For Flublok, in children 9 through 17 years of age who received Flublok Quadrivalent, the most common solicited injection-site adverse reaction was pain; the most common solicited systemic adverse reactions were myalgia, headache, and malaise. In adults 18 through 64 years of age who received Flublok, the most common injection site adverse reaction was pain; the most common solicited systemic adverse reactions were headache, fatigue, and myalgia. In adults 65 years of age and older who received Flublok, the most common injection-site adverse reaction was pain; the most common solicited systemic adverse reactions were fatigue and headache.

For Fluzone High-Dose, in adults 65 years of age and older, the most common injection-site reaction was pain; the most common solicited systemic adverse reactions were myalgia, malaise, and headache.

For Fluzone, Flublok, and Fluzone High-Dose, other adverse reactions may occur.

Indications

Fluzone, Flublok, and Fluzone High-Dose are vaccines indicated for active immunization for the prevention of disease caused by influenza A virus subtypes and type B virus contained in (or in the case of Flublok, represented by antigens contained in) the vaccine. Fluzone is approved for use in persons 6 months of age and older. Flublok is approved for use in individuals 9 years of age and older. Fluzone High-Dose is approved for use in persons 65 years of age and older.

Important Safety Information
Indications

References: 1. Arunachalam AB, Post P, Rudin D. NPJ Vaccines. 2021;6:144. doi:10.1038/s41541-021-00403-7 2. Dunkle LM, Izikson R, Patriarca P, et al; PSC12 Study Team. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(25):2427-2436. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1607762 3. Watanabe Y, Bowden TA, Wilson IA, Crispin M. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2019;1863(10):1480-1497. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.05.012 4. Cox MM, Karl Anderson D. Production of a novel influenza vaccine using insect cells: protection against drifted strains. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2007 Jan;1(1):35-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2006.00007.x 5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How influenza (flu) vaccines are made. Published June 11, 2026. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-process/index.html 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recombinant influenza (flu) vaccine. Published June 16, 2026. Accessed July 27, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-types/flublok-vaccine.html 7. Flublok. Prescribing Information. Protein Sciences Corporation.

MAT-US-2607246-v1.0-08/2026 Last updated: August 2026