Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2016–2017 northern hemisphere influenza season

Health Protection Scotland: eWeekly Report:

On 25 February 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) published recommendations on the composition of the trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines for the 2016/17 northern hemisphere influenza season. The recommendations for the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 strain remained the same as in the previous year while the recommended strains for influenza A(H3N2) and B viruses have changed from those recommended in 2015/16. WHO recommends that trivalent influenza vaccines should 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.

For the quadrivalent influenza vaccines which contain two influenza B viruses, the WHO recommends that the above three viruses plus a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus be used.

As in previous years, national or regional authorities approve the composition and formulation of vaccines used in each country and will be responsible for making recommendations regarding the use of the vaccine.