Global Influenza Programme
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Recommendations for influenza vaccine composition - archive 1998-2010

Southern hemisphere: 2010

It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2010 influenza season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

  • an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;
  • an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus;
  • a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

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Full report (pdf, 68 KB)

Frequently asked questions (pdf, 19 KB)

Northern hemisphere: 2009-2010

It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2009-2010 influenza season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

  • an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus*;
  • an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus**;
  • a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus#.

* A/Brisbane/59/2007 is a current vaccine virus; A/South Dakota/6/2007 (an A/Brisbane/59/2007-like virus) is a current vaccine virus used in live attenuated vaccines.
** A/Brisbane/10/2007 and A/Uruguay/716/2007 (an A/Brisbane/10/2007-like virus) are current vaccine viruses.
# B/Brisbane/33/2008 is a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus. 

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Southern hemisphere: 2009

It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2009 influenza season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

  • an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus;*
  • A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;**
  • a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus#.

* A/South Dakota/6/2007 (an A/Brisbane/59/2007-like virus) is a current vaccine virus used in live attenuated vaccines.
** A/Brisbane/10/2007 and A/Uruguay/716/2007 (an A/Brisbane/10/2007-like virus) are current vaccine viruses.
# B/Florida/4/2006 and B/Brisbane/3/2007 (a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus) are current vaccine viruses.

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Full report (pdf, 135 KB)

Northern hemisphere: 2008-2009

It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2008-2009 influenza season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

  • an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus;
  • an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus*;
  • a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus#.

* A/Brisbane/10/2007 is a current southern hemisphere vaccine virus.
# B/Florida/4/2006 and B/Brisbane/3/2007 (a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus) are current southern hemisphere vaccine viruses. 

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Southern hemisphere: 2008

It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2008 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

  • an A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus;
  • an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
  • a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus. 

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Full report (pdf, 99 KB)

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 virusa ;
  • a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

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

 

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Full report (pdf, 91 KB)

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.

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Full report (pdf, 82 KB)

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 virusa;
  • a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virusb

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

 

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Full report (pdf, 24 KB)

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 virusa;
  • a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

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

 

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Full report (pdf, 26 KB)

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 10 February 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 virusa
    • 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

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2005–2006 influenza season - Weekly Epidemiological Record, 25 February 2005 (pdf, 561 KB)

    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 virusa

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

     

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2005 influenza season - Weekly Epidemiological Record, 8 October 2004 (pdf, 216 KB)

    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 virusa
    • a B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virusb

    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.

     

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2004-2005 influenza season - Weekly Epidemiological Record, 27 February 2004 (pdf, 374 KB)

    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.

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    Full report (pdf, 407 KB)

    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**

    Influenza vaccination for the 2003–04 season (pdf, 200 KB)

    * 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:

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2003–2004 influenza season - Weekly Epidemiological Record Vol. 78 No. 9, 2003, pp. 58-62 (pdf, 172 KB)

    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. 

     

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2003 influenza season - Weekly Epidemiological Record,Vol.77, 41,2002 (pdf, 95 KB)

    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.  

     

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2002-2003 season - Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.77, 8, 2002 (pdf, 158 KB)

    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.

     

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2002 influenza season - Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.76, 40, 2001 (pdf, 135 KB)

    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.

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2001-2002 season - Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.76, 8, 2001 (pdf, 163 KB)

    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.

     

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in 2001 - Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.75, 41, 2000 (pdf, 171 KB)

    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.

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2000-2001 season - Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.75, 8, 2000 (pdf, 203 KB)

    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)

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in 2000 - Weekly Epidemiological Record, 1999, 74, 321-328 (pdf, 253 KB)

    Influenza vaccines – Addendum to the recommended composition for the southern hemisphere in 2000 - Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol.74, 47, 1999 (pdf, 227 KB)

    Northern hemisphere: November 1999 to April 2000

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

    or

    • a B/Shangdong/7/97-like virus.

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

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 1999-2000 season - Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol. 74, 8, 1999 (pdf, 79 KB)

    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.

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    Recommendation for the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in 1999 - Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol. 73, 40, 1999 (pdf, 363 KB)

    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.

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    Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 1998-1999 season - Weekly Epidemiological Record, 1998, 73, 56-63 (pdf, 201 KB)