The WHO recommendation on the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the northern hemisphere 2021-2022 was announced in the WHO Information Meeting and Round-table Discussion with manufacturers and regulatory agencies today, 26 February 2021.
It followed the 7-day virtual Consultation Meeting with Advisers from WHO Collaboration Centres (CCs) and WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs) based on year-round surveillance by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS).
It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2021-2022 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:
Egg-based Vaccines
an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus;
a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
Cell- or recombinant-based Vaccines
an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus;
a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
It is recommended that trivalent influenza vaccines for use in the 2021-2022 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:
Egg-based Vaccines
an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus; and
a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.
Cell- or recombinant-based Vaccines
an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus; and
a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.
Background
The periodic update of viruses contained in influenza vaccines is necessary for the vaccines to be effective due to the constant evolving nature of influenza viruses, including those circulating and infecting humans.
Twice annually, WHO organizes consultations with an advisory group of experts to analyse influenza virus surveillance data generated by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), and issues recommendations on the composition of the influenza vaccines for the following influenza season. These recommendations are used by the national vaccine regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce and license influenza vaccines.
About WHO
The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with 194 Member States, across six regions and from more than 150 offices, to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for 2019-2023 is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and wellbeing.