WHO Consultation on the Composition of Influenza Vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere 2008 - 2009

11 - 13 February 2008: Consultation by invitation only

Table of contents 11 - 13 February 2008: Consultation by invitation only 14 February 2008: Information meeting (Morning)

WHO headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland

Background

Twice annually, the WHO Global Influenza Programme analyses the global data on circulating influenza strains and issues recommendations on the formulation of the influenza vaccine for the following influenza season. These recommendations are used by the national drug licensing agencies and the pharmaceutical companies to update the content of the influenza vaccines they produce. An annual adjustment of the vaccine content is necessary to match the vaccine with the ever changing antigenic and genetic characteristics of circulating influenza viruses.

Objectives

• Analyse the antigenic and genetic characteristics of seasonal influenza strains circulating globally, taking into consideration epidemiological data on influenza obtained from individual countries and regions.
• Make recommendations on the composition of the influenza vaccine for the northern hemisphere 2008 - 2009.
• Analyse the antiviral susceptibility of seasonal influenza strains circulating and prepare a summary to support relevant national policy making.
• Review the antigenic and genetic characteristics of recent A(H5N1) strains, evaluate the need and select subsequently A(H5N1) virus(es) to develop new vaccine viruses.

Participants

• Directors from four WHO Collaborating Centres on Reference and Research on Influenza in Atlanta, United States, London, United Kingdom, Melbourne, Australia and Tokyo, Japan; and the Director from the WHO Collaborating Centers for Studies on the Ecology of influenza in Animals in Memphis, United States.
• Representatives of national drug regulatory agencies involved in the preparation of vaccine viruses and vaccine standardization reagents.
• A representative from an antigenic cartography group in the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Representatives from National Influenza Centers of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network, and from the WHO H5 Reference Laboratories.

Agenda

• Analysis of antigenic and genetic characterization of seasonal and H5N1 influenza viruses investigated in the WHO Collaborating Centers and other WHO laboratories.
• Summary of global seasonal influenza activity
• Analysis of serological studies with inactivated influenza vaccines
• Recommendations for influenza vaccine composition for use in Northern Hemisphere 2008 - 2009.
• Review of the status of new H5N1 vaccine virus and relevant reagents development
• Discussion of topics of common interest

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