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

How it’s made
Recombinant DNA technology eliminates the need to grow influenza virus and avoids the possibility of mutation or adaptation4,5

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
Order Flublok
To order Flublok, call 1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463) or click below to order on VaccineShop
Flublok Study Results
Learn more about the performance of Flublok even against mismatched strains
The Burden of Influenza
It's only the flu, until it isn't
Important Safety Information
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.

