Human Influenza Vaccine Composition

An advisory group of experts, convened by the WHO Global Influenza Programme, analyze biannually influenza virus surveillance data generated by the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) and issues formal recommendation for the composition of influenza vaccines for either northern or southern hemisphere influenza seasons.

High yield candidate vaccine viruses are developed by collaboration of laboratories involved in developing reassortants and WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs).

Once developed, these candidate reassortants are sent to WHO CCs for characterization of their antigenic and genetic properties before being released to interested institutions on request. Reference reagents are subsequently developed and standardized by Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs), in collaboration with vaccine manufacturers.

2022 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

24 September 2021

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2022 Southern Hemisphere influenza season.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2022 southern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

Egg-based Vaccines

   an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus (EPI_ISL_417210);
   an A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus (EPI_ISL_2233240);
   a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus (EPI_ISL_1519459); and
   a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus (EPI_ISL_168822).

Cell- or recombinant-based Vaccines

   an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus (EPI_ISL_404460);
   an A/Darwin/6/2021 (H3N2)-like virus (EPI_ISL_3534319);
   a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus (EPI_ISL_983345); and
   a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus (EPI_ISL_161843).


It is recommended that trivalent influenza vaccines for use in the 2022 southern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

Egg-based Vaccines

   an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus (EPI_ISL_417210);
   an A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus (EPI_ISL_2233240); and
   a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus (EPI_ISL_1519459).

Cell- or recombinant-based Vaccines

   an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus (EPI_ISL_404460);
   an A/Darwin/6/2021 (H3N2)-like virus (EPI_ISL_3534319); and
   a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus (EPI_ISL_983345). 

Source: World Health Organization

2021-2022 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

26 February 2021

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2021-2022 northern hemisphere influenza season.

It is recommended that quadrivalent 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; (EPI_ISL_417210)
    an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus; (EPI_ISL_806547)
    a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; (EPI_ISL_352076) and
    a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus. (EPI_ISL_168822)

Cell- or recombinant-based Vaccines
    an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus; (EPI_ISL_404460)
    an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus; (EPI_ISL_944639)
    a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; (EPI_ISL_347829) and
    a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus. (EPI_ISL_161843)

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; (EPI_ISL_417210)
    an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus; (EPI_ISL_806547) and
    a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus. (EPI_ISL_352076)

Cell- or recombinant-based Vaccines
    an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus; (EPI_ISL_404460)
    an A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus; (EPI_ISL_944639) and 
    a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus. (EPI_ISL_347829)

Source: World Health Organization

2021 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

25 September 2020

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2021 Southern Hemisphere influenza season.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2021 southern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

Egg-based Vaccines

   an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
   an A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (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/Hong Kong/45/2019 (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 southern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

Egg-based Vaccines

   an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
   an A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (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/Hong Kong/45/2019 (H3N2)-like virus; and
   a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus. 

Source: World Health Organization

2020-2021 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

28 February 2020

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2020-2021 northern hemisphere influenza season.

It is recommended that quadrivalent influenza vaccines for use in the 2020 - 2021 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

Egg-based Vaccines
    an A/Guangdong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (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/Hawaii/70/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Hong Kong/45/2019 (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 2020-2021 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

Egg-based Vaccines
    an A/Guangdong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.

Cell- or recombinant-based Vaccines
    an A/Hawaii/70/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Hong Kong/45/2019 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2020 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

27 September 2019

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2020 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2020 southern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

    an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/South Australia/34/2019 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Washington/02/2019-like (B/Victoria lineage) virus;
    and a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like (B/Yamagata lineage) virus.

It is recommended that trivalent influenza vaccines for use in the 2020 southern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

    an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/South Australia/34/2019 (H3N2)-like virus;
    and a B/Washington/02/2019-like (B/Victoria lineage) virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2019-2020 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

21 February 2019 (updated on 21 March 2019)

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2019-2020 northern hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that egg based quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2019-2020 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

    an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus;*
    a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage); and
    a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage).

It is recommended that the influenza B virus component of trivalent vaccines for use in the 2019-2020 northern hemisphere influenza season be a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus of the B/Victoria/2/87-lineage.

* The A(H3N2) component was recommended on 21 March 2019.

Source: World Health Organization

2019 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

27 September 2018

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2019 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that egg based quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2019 Southern Hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

    an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Switzerland/8060/2017 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage); and
    a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage).

It is recommended that egg based trivalent vaccines for use in the 2019 Southern Hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

     an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
     an A/Switzerland/8060/2017 (H3N2)-like virus; and
     a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage).  

It is recommended that the A(H3N2) component of non-egg based vaccines for use in the 2019 Southern Hemisphere influenza season be an A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016-like virus together with the other vaccine components as indicated above.

Source: World Health Organization

2018-2019 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

22 February 2018

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2018-2019 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2018-2019 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

    an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage); and
    a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage).

It is recommended that the influenza B virus component of trivalent vaccines for use in the 2018-2019 northern hemisphere influenza season be a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus of the B/Victoria/2/87-lineage.

Source: World Health Organization

2018 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

28 September 2017

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2018 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2018 influenza season (Southern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2017-2018 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

2 March 2017

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2017-2018 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2017-2018 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

    an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2017 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

29 September 2016

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2017 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2017 influenza season (Southern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2016-2017 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

25 February 2016

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2016-2017 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2016-2017 influenza season (Northern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus; e.g. EPI_ISL/30485
    an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2016 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

24 September 2015

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2016 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2016 influenza season (Southern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2015-2016 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

26 February 2015

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2015-2016 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2015-2016 influenza season (Northern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2015 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

25 September 2014

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2015 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2015 influenza season (Southern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virusa;
    a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

aA/South Australia/55/2014, A/Norway/466/2014 and A/Stockholm/6/2014 are A/Switzerland/9715293/2013-like viruses

Source: World Health Organization

2014-2015 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

20 February 2014

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2014-2015 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2014-2015 influenza season (Northern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Texas/50/2012 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2014 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

26 September 2013

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2014 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2014 influenza season (Southern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virusa;
    an A/Texas/50/2012 (H3N2)-like virusb*;
    a B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

aA/Christchurch/16/2010 is an A/California/7/2009-like virus.
bA/Texas/50/2012 is an A(H3N2) virus that following adaptation to growth in eggs has maintained antigenic properties similar to the majority of recently circulating cell-propagated A(H3N2) viruses including A/Victoria/361/2011.

Source: World Health Organization

2013-14 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

21 February 2013

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2013-14 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2013-14 influenza season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virusa;
    an A(H3N2) virus antigenically like the cell-propagated prototype virus A/Victoria/361/2011b*;
    a B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus.

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virusc.

aA/Christchurch/16/2010 is an A/California/7/2009-like virus;
bA/Texas/50/2012 is an A(H3N2) virus antigenically like the cell-propagated prototype virus A/Victoria/361/2011;
cB/Brisbane/33/2008 is a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

* It is recommended that A/Texas/50/2012 is used as the A(H3N2) vaccine component because of antigenic changes in earlier A/Victoria/361/2011-like vaccine viruses (such as IVR-165) resulting from adaptation to propagation in eggs.

Source: World Health Organization

2013 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

20 September 2012

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2013 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2013 influenza season (Southern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus *;
    an A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus **;
    a B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus ***;

It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus ****.

* A/Christchurch/16/2010 is an A/California/7/2009-like virus;
** A/Ohio/2/2012, A/Maryland/2/2012, A/South Australia/30/2012, A/Brisbane/1/2012 and A/Brisbane/6/2012 are A/Victoria/361/2011-like viruses;
*** B/Hubei-Wujiagang/158/2009 and B/Texas/6/2011 are B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like viruses;
**** B/Brisbane/33/2008 is a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2012-13 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

23 February 2012

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2012-2013 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2012-2013 influenza season (Northern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
    an A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus;
    a B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2012 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2012 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2012 influenza season (Southern Hemisphere) contain the following:    an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;    an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus;    a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2011-12 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2011-2012 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2011-2012 influenza season (Northern Hemisphere) contain the following:   

  an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;   
  an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus;   
  a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

Source: World Health Organization

2011 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2011 Southern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2011 influenza season (Southern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

— an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;
— an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus;*
— a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

* A/Wisconsin/15/2009 and A/Victoria/210/2009 are A/Perth/16/2009-like viruses.

Source: World Health Organization

2010-11 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

Recommended viruses for influenza vaccines for use in the 2010-2011 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. It is recommended that the following viruses be used for influenza vaccines in the 2010-2011 influenza season (Northern Hemisphere):

  an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;
  an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus;*
  a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

* A/Wisconsin/15/2009 is an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus and is a 2010 southern hemisphere vaccine virus.

Source: World Health Organization

 
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