For the 2012-2013 flu season in the US:
This year's trivalent seasonal flu vaccines will protect against the following three strains of influenza:
Influenza vaccines are used for the seasonal flu and for swine flu (H1N1/09). There is no vaccine commercially available for the Bird (Avian) Flu. See the related questions for more details.
The most prevelent strains of the flu are used to develop the vaccines. These may not be the same strains as the year before. Also, the flu symptoms change due to the atmosphere and climate.
Vaccines are used to make your body produce antibodiesand T-cells against viruses or bacteria! The Measles and Flu vaccines are viral. The Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and Tuberculosis vaccines are bacterial.
The only medical treatments available are used to relieve the symptoms of flu, NOT to cure the disease - you cannot cure flu. Flu vaccine, like all vaccines is a prophylactic - it stops you getting flu. All vaccines of all types are based on the virus they are used against or some very closely related virus that the body regards as identical - some vaccines are dead, some are weakened (attenuated) so that they do not cause disease.
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Since 2001, with the exception of some influenza (flu) vaccines, thimerosal is not used as a preservative in routinely recommended childhood vaccines.
There are some vaccines,but there are no such medicines that kills swine flu.
The best way to ship flu vaccines is by a company such as FedEx. FedEx would be the best way to ensure the flu vaccines get to where they are going.
Yes, a large percentage of vaccines are for viral infections, there are not many vaccines for bacterial infections but there are a few. The flu is caused by a virus, vaccinations against the flu work very well, for example.
The answer varies by state law.
What you are talking about is a vaccine that is given by injection so you will not get the flu. The flu mutate all the time so you will need to get vaccines for each new strain. The first vaccine was used in 1940 during WWII.
They are available now. In fact, in the 2010-2011 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, the regular seasonal flu vaccination includes the vaccine for H1N1/09 (swine flu). If you already had the vaccine in the 2009-2010 season, it will not harm you and might help you to get it again along with the vaccines for the other flu viruses expected in this flu season.
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There is a drug called Tamiflu that is an anti-viral drug that is used to help your immune system fight the flu. Flu vaccinations prevent the flu but they do not fight the flu if you already have it. The vaccines can be administered either by injection as a flu shot or can be given by intra-nasal route with a nasal spray preparation.