WHO Consultation
21- 24 February 2022
Background
Due to the constant evolving nature of influenza viruses, viruses contained in influenza vaccines must be updated periodically in order for the vaccines to be effective.
Twice annually, WHO organizes consultations with an advisory group of experts to analyse influenza virus surveillance data generated by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), and issues recommendation on the composition of the influenza vaccines for the following influenza season. These recommendations are used by the national vaccine regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce and license influenza vaccines.
Objectives
- analyse the antigenic and genetic characteristics of seasonal influenza viruses circulating and infecting humans, taking into consideration of available epidemiological and clinical information from individual countries and regions;
- make recommendations on the composition of influenza vaccines for use in the northern hemisphere 2022 - 2023; and
- review the antigenic and genetic characteristics of recent zoonotic viruses including A(H5), A(H7N9), A(H9) and other subtypes or variant influenza viruses that the WHO Collaborating Centres of the GISRS received and the need to develop new candidate vaccine viruses for pandemic preparedness purposes.
Participants
- Representatives from the WHO Collaborating Centres for influenza (CCs) of GISRS
- Representatives from WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs) of GISRS
- Representatives from National Influenza Centres and WHO H5 Reference Laboratories of GISRS
- Representatives from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Modelling, Evolution, and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Representatives from the OIE/FAO Network and other groups of expertise on animal influenza (OFFLU)
Agenda
- review of antigenic and genetic characterization data of seasonal A(H5), A(H7N9), A(H9) and other subtypes or variant influenza viruses analysed by CCs and other reference laboratories;
- review of the global influenza activity;
- analysis of results of vaccine serological studies;
- recommendations for influenza vaccine composition for the northern hemisphere 2022 - 2023;
- review of the need and subsequent selection of new A(H5), A(H7N9), A(H9) and other subtype or variant viruses for the development of new candidate vaccine viruses for pandemic preparedness purposes; and discussion of other relevant topics.