Northern hemisphere, 2007-2008

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2007-8 season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

— an A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus;
— an A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus^a ;
— a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

Candidate vaccine viruses include:
^a A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2) and A/Hiroshima/52/2005

For more information [pdf 92kb]

Southern hemisphere: 2007

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2007 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

— an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus,
— an A/Wisconsin/67/2005(H3N2)-like virus,^a
— a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

^a The currently used vaccine viruses are A/Wisconsin/67/2005 and A/Hiroshima/52/2005.

For more information

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2007 influenza season [pdf 82kb]

Northern hemisphere: 2006-2007

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2006-7 season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

— an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus;
— an A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus^a;
— a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus^b

Candidate vaccine viruses include:
^a A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2) and A/Hiroshima/52/2005
^b B/Malaysia/2506/2004 virus and B/Ohio/1/2005

For more information

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2006–2007 influenza season [pdf 24kb]

Southern hemisphere: 2006

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2006 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

— an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus;
— an A/California/7/2004(H3N2)-like virus^a;
— a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

^a The currently used vaccine virus is A/New York/55/2004

For more information

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2006 influenza season [pdf 26kb]

Northern hemisphere: 2005-2006

Addendum to the recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2005-2006 influenza season

WHO published interim recommendations on the composition of influenza vaccines for use in the 2005-2006 influenza season on 10th Feb 2005. The decision on A(H3N2) candidate vaccine viruses was postponed pending the identification of a suitable high growth reassortant.

Based on the results of antigenic and genetic analyses and growth in hens' eggs, obtained by WHO Collaborating Centers for Reference and Research on Influenza and Reference Laboratories, a high growth reassortant virus derived from A/New York/55/2004 (A/California/7/2004-like) virus and A/PR/8/34, is suitable as a candidate A(H3N2) vaccine virus.

Accordingly, it is recommended that the vaccines for use in the 2005-2006 influenza season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

A trivalent vaccine containing:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
• an A/California/7/2004(H3N2)-like virus^a
• a B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus ^b

^a A/New York/55/2004 is available as a vaccine virus

^b The currently used vaccine viruses are B/Shanghai/361/2002, B/Jiangsu/10/2003 and B/Jilin/20/2003

:: Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2005–2006 influenza season
Weekly Epidemiological Record, 25 February 2005

Southern hemisphere: 2005

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2005 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus;
• an A/Wellington/1/2004(H3N2)-like virus;
• a B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus^a

^a: Currently used vaccine viruses include B/Shanghai/361/2002, B/Jilin/20/2003 and B/Jiangsu/10/2003

For more detailed information please see:

:: Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2005 influenza season [pdf 216kb]
Weekly Epidemiological Record, 8 October 2004

Northern hemisphere: 2004-2005

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2004-2005 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
• an A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2)-like virus^a
• a B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus^b

^a The currently used vaccine virus is A/Wyoming/3/2003. A /Kumamoto/102/2002 is also available as a vaccine virus.

^b Candidate vaccine viruses include B/Shanghai/361/2002 and B/Jilin/20/2003 which is a B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus.

For more detailed information please see:
Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2004-2005 influenza season
Weekly Epidemiological Record, 27 February 2004

Southern hemisphere: 2004

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2004 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1) -like virus
• an A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2) - like virus*
• a B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like virus**

_________________________________
* A/Kumamoto/102/2002 and A/Wyoming/3/2003 are egg-grown A/Fujian/411/2002-like viruses.
**Currently used vaccine viruses include B/Shandong/7/97, B/Hong Kong/330/2001, B/Hong Kong/1434/2002. B/Brisbane/32/2002 is also available as a vaccine virus.

More information and details on the availability of reference reagents.

- Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2004 influenza season

Northern hemisphere: 2003-2004

Addendum to the recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2003-2004 influenza season

On February 28, 2003, WHO published a recommendation on the composition of influenza vaccines for use in the 2003-2004 influenza season. Because of insufficient data, a decision on the A(H3N2) component was deferred. Additional data has since confirmed that in haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests an increasing proportion of recent virus isolates was distinguishable from A/Panama/2007/99 and similar to A/Fujian/411/2002. However, since there is no A/Fujian/411/2002-like virus, isolated in embryonated eggs, suitable as a vaccine candidate and since many recent isolates are antigenically closely related to A/Panama/2007/99, it is recommended that the A(H3N2) component of vaccines to be used in the 2003-2004 season contain an A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2)-like virus.

Accordingly, it is recommended that the vaccines used in the 2003-2004 season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
• an A/Moscow/10/99(H3N2)-like virus*
• A B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like virus**

* The widely used vaccine strain is A/Panama/2007/99
** Currently used vaccine strains include B/Shandong/7/97, B/Hong Kong/330/2001, B/Hong Kong/1434/2002

More information and details on the availability of reference reagents were provided in Weekly Epidemiological Record Vol. 78 No. 9, 2003, pp. 58-62:
Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2003–2004 influenza season

Southern hemisphere: 2003

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2003 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
• an A/Moscow/10/99(H3N2)-like virus*
• a B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like virus**

* The widely used vaccine strain is A/Panama/2007/99.
** Some currently used vaccine strains are B/Shandong/7/97, B/Hong Kong/330/2001, B/Hong Kong/1434/2002.

(from Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.77, 41,2002)

Northern hemisphere: 2002-2003

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2002-2003 season (Northern Hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
• an A/Moscow/10/99(H3N2)-like virus* a B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like virus

*The widely used vaccine strain is A/Panama/2007/99.

(from Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.77, 8, 2002)

Southern hemisphere: 2002

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2002 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
• an A/Moscow/10/99(H3N2)-like virus*
• a B/Sichuan/379/99-like virus**

* The widely used vaccine strain is A/Panama/2007/99 ** B/Guangdong/120/2000, B/Johannesburg/5/99 and B/Victoria/504/2000 are B/Sichuan/379/99-like viruses, which have been used for vaccine production.

(from Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.76, 40, 2001 )

Northern hemisphere: 2001-2002

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2001-2002 season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
• an A/Moscow/10/99(H3N2)-like virus*
• a B/Sichuan/379/99-like virus**

* The widely used vaccine strain A/Panama/2007/99 is an A/Moscow/10/99-like virus. **B/Johannesburg/5/99 and B/Victoria/504/2000 are B/Sichuan/379/99-like viruses, which have been used for vaccine production.

(from Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.76, 8, 2001 )

Southern hemisphere: May-October 2001

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2001 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2)-like virus*
• an A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like virus
• a B/Sichuan/379/99-like virus

* The widely used vaccine strain is A/Panama/2007/99, which is an A/Moscow/10/99-like virus.

(from Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.75, 41, 2000 )

Northern hemisphere: 2000-2001

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2000-2001 season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2)-like virus*
• an A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like virus
• a B/Beijing/184/93-like virus**

* A/Panama/2007/99 is an A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2)-like virus.
**The most widely used vaccine strain is B/Yamanashi/166/98.

(from Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.75, 8, 2000 )

Southern hemisphere: May-October 2000

This recommendation relates to the composition of vaccines for the forthcoming winter in the southern hemisphere (May-October 2000). A recommendation will be made in February 2000, which relates to vaccines that will be used for the winter in the northern hemisphere (November 2000 to April 2001). Epidemiological considerations will influence which recommendation (September 1999 or February 2000) is more appropriate for countries in equatorial regions.

Consequently, it is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2000 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2)-like virus;
• an A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like virus;
• a B/Beijing/184/93-like virus*

or

• a B/Shangdong/7/97-like virus.

* The most widely used vaccine virus is B/Yamanashi/166/98.

(from Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.74, 39, 1999 )

Addendum to the recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the southern hemisphere in 2000

On 1 October 1999, WHO made a recommendation on the composition of the influenza vaccine for use in 2000 in the southern hemisphere.

This recommendation remains valid. However, attempts by several laboratories to produce an A/Moscow/10/99-like vaccine strain with suitable antigenic properties and with a yield appropriate for vaccine production have to date been unsuccessful. At present therefore, it is not possible for manufacturers to include the recommended H3N2 component in vaccines to be available at the beginning of the southern hemisphere winter.

In these circumstances and since a majority of recent isolates are antigenically closely related to A/Sydney/5/97, it is acceptable that vaccines to be used in the 2000 season in southern hemisphere countries contain a high-yield A/Sydney/5/97-like virus as the A(H3N2) component.

Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.74, 47, 1999)

(fromWeekly Epidemiological Record, Vol. 74, 8, 1999 )

Southern hemisphere 1999

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 1999 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/Sydney/5/97 (H3N2)-like virus;
• an A/Beijing/262/95 (H1N1)-like virus;
• a B/Beijing/184/93-like virus. *

* The most widely used vaccine virus is B/Harbin/7/94.

(from Weekly Epdemiological Record, Vol. 73, 40, 1999)

Northern hemisphere November 1998-April 1999

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 1998-1999 season contain the following:

• an A/Sydney/5/97(H3N2)-like virus;
• an A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1)-like virus;
• a B/Beijing/184/93-like virus. *

* The most widely used vaccine virus is B/Harbin/7/94.

(from Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol. 73, 9, 1999)