WHO Strain Recommendations for 2017-18 Flu Vaccine

Date: March 10, 2017

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends changing one strain for the Northern Hemisphere's 2017-18 flu season.

Trivalent vaccines for use in the 2017-18 influenza season (Northern Hemisphere winter) should 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.

The WHO also recommends that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

For more information and to read the complete report, visit -
WHO Recommendations for 2017-2018 Northern Influenza Season.

This recommendation by the WHO was reviewed by the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) yesterday and approval was given to adopt these recommendations for the 2017-18 influenza vaccine strains.

The final VRBPAC decision allows vaccine manufacturers to start formulating the upcoming seasonal flu vaccine, a process that takes about 6 months.

Be Prepared for the 2017-18 Season

Place your 2017-18 influenza vaccine orders through MyFluVaccine with preferred pricing for early orders today! Visit MyFluVaccine or call your FFF representative or Wow! Customer Care at (800) 843-7477, to select from our comprehensive influenza vaccines portfolio and delivery date(s) that work best for you.