A Reliable Supply of Flu Vaccine

Year after year, we work to earn your confidence by producing millions of vaccines and delivering on time.1

Two Brands manufactured at separate secure locations

Claymation of two factories

GSK quadrivalent influenza vaccines are produced at 2 different manufacturing sites.2 This diversification reduces risk and helps us to provide an adequate, uninterrupted supply of vaccine for timely delivery.

Our influenza vaccine manufacturing process

GSK has a long history—over 30 years—of producing and supplying influenza vaccines.2 It requires a great deal of coordination—with the manufacturer, the WHO, the CDC, and the FDA working through steps that take 5-6 months to complete.3-5

Manufacturing begins as soon as we receive the seasonal viruses.3,4 Our process to produce FLUARIX QUADRIVALENT and FLULAVAL QUADRIVALENT vaccines is outlined below:

  • (3-4 WEEKS) OPTIMIZATION

    • The vaccine manufacturer receives the vaccine virus, and if it is a new strain, we check to optimize the appropriate growing conditions3,4
  • (2-4 MONTHS) MANUFACTURING

    • The four vaccine strains are grown in eggs3,4
    • The virus is inactivated and purified in order to achieve target levels for the main viral protein (HA antigen)3
    • The four different strains of HA antigen are then combined into the final formulation3
  • (2 WEEKS) QUALITY CONTROL TESTING

    (NOTE: The QC process begins once the reagents for testing are supplied by the WHO)

    Each batch of vaccine undergoes many tests, and sterility is verified3

  • (2-4 WEEKS) FILLING & TESTING

    • The desired concentration of the antigen is then put into each syringe3
    • Randomly selected filled syringes then undergo sterility testing, confirmation of protein concentration, visual inspection, and other testing3
  • (1-3 MONTHS) LABELING & PACKAGING

    • The prefilled syringes are labeled and then packed in boxes of 10 with a package insert
  • (3-4 WEEKS) FDA REVIEW & RELEASE

    • Before the vaccine can be sold or administered to people, regulatory approval is required3
    • US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review process begins4
  • (VARIES) DISTRIBUTION TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

    • Distribution after FDA release
    • GSK has systems in place to provide timely delivery to each of our customers, so the vaccinations can begin

WHO=World Health Organization; CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FDA=US Food and Drug Administration

Over a billion influenza vaccine doses supplied

Each year, GSK produces a large supply of flu vaccines that are distributed worldwide. GSK has distributed more than a billion doses globally over the course of the company's history.1,*

*Combined amount for FLUARIX and FLULAVAL (both trivalent and quadrivalent inactivated virus vaccine) distributed.

3 ways to order or to prebook

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Online at GSKDirect.com 

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Call 1-855-475-4QIV (4748)

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Contact your GSK Vaccines
Sales Representative