EMA Supports WHO Recommendations for Influenza Vaccines

The European Medicines Agency endorsed the World Health Organization’s recommendations for the composition of 2018/2019 seasonal influenza vaccines.

The EMA said traditional flu shots should contain:

• An A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
• An A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus; and
• A B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage).

For vaccines that target a second type B strain in addition to the other three strains, a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus is considered appropriate, EMA said.