Influenza Vaccine Composition

 

2009/10 Influenza Season - Northern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2009/2010 season (Northern Hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva in February 2009.

It is recommended that vaccines contain the following:

  • an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus;*
  • an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;**
  • a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.#


* A/Brisbane/59/2007 is a current vaccine virus; A/South Dakota/6/2007 (an A/Brisbane/59/2007-like virus) is a current vaccine virus used in live attenuated vaccines.
** A/Brisbane/10/2007 and A/Uruguay/716/2007 (an A/Brisbane/10/2007-like virus) are current vaccine viruses.
# B/Brisbane/33/2008 is a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.


 

2009 Influenza Season - Southern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2009 season (Southern Hemisphere winter ) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva in September 2008.
It is recommended that vaccines contain the following:

  • an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus;*
  • an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;**
  • a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus.#

* A/South Dakota/6/2007 (an A/Brisbane/59/2007-like virus) is a current vaccine virus used in live attenuated vaccines.

** A/Brisbane/10/2007 and A/Uruguay/716/2007 (an A/Brisbane/10/2007-like virus) are current vaccine viruses.

# B/Florida/4/2006 and B/Brisbane/3/2007 (a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus) are current vaccine viruses.

(Source WHO web page): http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/recommendations2009south/en/index.html

 

2008/2009 Influenza Season - Northern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2008/2009 season (Northern Hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva in February 2008.

It is recommended that vaccines contain the following:

  • an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus;
  • an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;*
  • a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus.#

* A/Brisbane/10/2007 is a current southern hemisphere vaccine virus.
# B/Florida/4/2006 and B/Brisbane/3/2007 (a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus) are current southern hemisphere vaccine viruses.

 

2008 Influenza Season - Southern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2008 season (Southern Hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva in September 2007.
It is recommended that vaccines contain the following:

  • an A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus*;
  • an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
  • a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus.

*A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 is a current vaccine virus

 

2007/2008 Influenza Season - Northern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2007/2008 season ( Northern Hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva on the 15 February 2007.

It is recommended that vaccines contain the following:

  • an A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus
  • an A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus*
  • a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

 

Candidate vaccine viruses include:
* A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2) and A/Hiroshima/52/2005

 

2007 Influenza Season - Southern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2007 season ( Southern Hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva in September 2006.

It is recommended that vaccines contain the following:

  • an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
  • an A/Winconsin/67/2005(H3N2)-like virus,*
  • a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

*The currently used vaccine viruses are A/Winconsin/67/2005 and A/Hiroshima/52/2005.

 

2006/2007 Influenza Season - Northern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2006/2007 season ( Northern Hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva on the 14 February 2006. The A/H1N1component is unchanged from the 2005-06 northern hemisphere vaccine. The B component is the same as that used in the southern hemisphere 2005-06 vaccine

Accordingly, it is recommended that the vaccines to be used in the 2006-07 season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

  • an A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like virus
  • an A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus*
  • a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus**

Candidate vaccine viruses include:
*A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2) and A/Hiroshima/52/2005
**B/Malaysia/2506/2004 virus and B/Ohio/1/2005

 

2006 Influenza Season - Southern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2006 season, May - September ( Southern hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva in September 2005. It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2006 season contain the following:

  • an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus;
  • an A/California/7/2004-(H3N2)-like virus*
  • a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

* The currently used vaccine virus is A/New York/55/2004

 

2005/2006 Influenza Season - Northern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2005/2006 season ( Northern Hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva on 10 February 2005.

The decision on the influenza A (H3N2) candidate vaccine virus was postponed pending the identification of a suitable high growth reassortant. The decision was made on 12 March 2005, and based on the results of antigenic and genetic analyses and growth in hen's eggs, a high growth reassortant virus derived from influenza A/New York/55/2004 (A/California/7/2004-like) virus and A/PR/8/34, has been identified as a suitable candidate influenza A (H3N2) vaccine virus.

Accordingly, it is recommended that the vaccine contain the following:

  • an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
  • an A/California/7/2004-(H3N2)-like virus*
  • a B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus**

* A/New York/55/2004 is available as a vaccine virus
** The currently used vaccine viruses are B/Shanghai/361/2002, B/Jiangsu/10/2003 and B/Jilin/20/2003.

 

Pandemic Influenza A (H5N1) Vaccine

The normal seasonal influenza vaccine provides protection against currently circulating strains of human influenza. It does not provide protection against avian influenza H5N1. The Department of Health website contains information about who should receive seasonal flu vaccine.

In the event of an influenza pandemic, an appropriate vaccine will be developed and made available. The Department of Health has invited manufacturers to tender for a contract to supply a limited amount of H5N1 vaccine. The move is part of the work to prepare for and reduce the impact of a possible flu pandemic, for more information see the Department of Health Website.


Last reviewed: 16 February 2009