Influenza

Influenza (flu) does more damage than most people realize. It can lead to severe complications, increasing the risk of heart attack and pneumonia. Vaccines are the best public health tool available to prevent it.
Healthy grown-up and child playing
Healthy grown-up and child playing
With our influenza vaccines, we seek not only to prevent influenza but also to protect as many people as possible from its severe complications, with the highest level of evidence.
Ayman Chit

Ayman Chit

Global Medical Affairs, Influenza & Covid

Did You Know?

Flu can wreak havoc on major organs and systems.(1-5)

Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu triggered heart attacks by up to 45%(7).

People under 5, over 65, pregnant, or living with chronic conditions are the most at risk of severe complications from flu (1).

Nikita Khadse Sr. Research Associate Delivery Unit 1, mRNA, R&D, Waltham, Massachusetts
Nikita Khadse Sr. Research Associate Delivery Unit 1, mRNA, R&D, Waltham, Massachusetts

Innovating to Protect Beyond Flu 

Not all flu vaccines are the same. We’re using mRNA, protein-based technologies, and novel antigen-selection methods to develop next generation vaccines, designed to induce broader protection against different strains of the influenza virus. We never stop innovating on our existing technologies, which help us protect people everywhere against flu and its complications. 

L-R: Chaitanya Sarangapani and Emma Kennedy, scientists Sanofi MSAT laboratory in Waterford, Ireland.
L-R: Chaitanya Sarangapani and Emma Kennedy, scientists Sanofi MSAT laboratory in Waterford, Ireland.

The Real Burden of Flu 

Flu is an unpredictable infectious disease and can be severe. That’s why vaccination is so important, especially for people at increased risk of severe infection1. 

  • Flu can cause a 10X increased risk of heart attack within the week following an influenza infection2  
  • Flu can increase your risk of stroke and pneumonia X82,5 
     

All About Flu

Flu Vaccines: Take a Tour

Take a look at photos of our vaccine teams at work
Take a look

Protecting Heart Health: Flu vaccines and beyond

Discover how we seek to protect every kind of heart
Read more

Flu is unpredictable

How managing COVID-19 has made predicting influenza even more complex
Read the article

Explore More

Why Vaccines Matter

See more

A Strong Legacy in Immunoscience

Read the article

References 

  1. World Health Organization (2018) Influenza (seasonal) Fact Sheet. Accessed 4 October 2022 

  1. Warren-Gash C, et al. (2018) Laboratory-confirmed respiratory infections as triggers for acute myocardial infarction and stroke: a self-controlled case series analysis of national linked datasets from Scotland. Eur Resp J 51:1701794; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01794-2017 

  1. Andrew MK, et al. (2021) Persistent functional decline following hospitalization with influenza or acute respiratory illness. J Am Geriatr Soc 69:696-703; DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16950 

  1. Samson SI, et al. (2021) Quantifying the impact of influenza among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a new approach to determine medical and physical activity impact. J Diabet Sci  Technol 15:44-52; DOI: 10.1177/1932296819883340 

  1. Kubale J, et al. (2021) Individual-level association of influenza infection with subsequent pneumonia: a case-control and prospective cohort study. Clin Infect Dis 73:e4288-e4295; DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1053  

  1. Chang LJ, et al. (2019). Safety and immunogenicity of high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine in adults ≥65 years of age: a phase 3 randomized clinical trial. Vaccine 37:5825-5834; DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.08.016 

  1. MacIntyre CR, (2016) Influenza vaccine as a coronary intervention for prevention of myocardial infarction. Heart 102:1953-1956. DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2016-309983  

  1. World Health Organization (2021) Coadministration of seasonal inactivated influenza and COVID-19 vaccines: Interim Guidance. Accessed 4 October 2022  

  1. Izikson R, et al. (2022) Safety and immunogenicity of a high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine administered concomitantly with a third dose of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in adults aged ≥65 years: a phase 2, randomised, open-label study. Lancet Respir Med 10:392-402; DOI: 10.1016/s2213-2600(21)00557-9 

 
 

Page updated October 2022

MAT-GLB-2201308 v2.0 10/2022