Recommended Injection Site for Fluzone in Infants

Rationale for Site Selection

• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the anterolateral aspect of the thigh as the preferred injection site for infants and young children receiving intramuscular vaccines, including Fluzone 1, 2
• The ACIP guidelines consistently recommend the anterolateral thigh as the optimal site for infants, due to insufficient muscle mass in the deltoid muscle 3, 4
• The deltoid muscle is the recommended site for older children and adults, but not for infants 3, 5

Administration Guidelines

• The American Academy of Pediatrics and ACIP-approved guidelines state that Fluzone is approved for children aged 6 through 35 months at either 0.25 mL or 0.5 mL per dose 2, 4
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cleaning the site with an alcohol swab before administration, and proper technique includes stabilizing the thigh and injecting quickly at the recommended angle, although this specific fact is from Praxis Medical Insights, a similar recommendation can be found from the World Health Organization (WHO) 6