INFLUENZA – NORTHERN HEMISPHERE: WHO VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
2025-2026
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Fri 28 Feb 2026
Source: WHO [edited] https://www.who.int/news/item/28-02-2025-recommendations-announced-for-influenza-vaccine-composition-for-the-2025-2026-northern-hemisphere-influenza-season
The WHO today [28 Feb 2025] announced the recommendations for the
viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2025-2026 influenza
season in the Northern Hemisphere. The announcement was made at an
information session at the end of a 4-day meeting on the Composition
of Influenza Virus Vaccines, a meeting that is held twice annually.
WHO organizes these consultations with an advisory group of experts
gathered from WHO Collaborating Centres and WHO Essential Regulatory
Laboratories to analyse influenza virus surveillance data generated by
the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). The
recommendations issued are used by the national vaccine regulatory
agencies and pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce, and license
influenza vaccines for the following influenza season.
The periodic update of viruses contained in influenza vaccines is
necessary for the vaccines to be effective due to the constant
evolving nature of influenza viruses, including those circulating and
infecting humans.
The WHO recommends that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2025-2026
Northern Hemisphere influenza season contain the following:
Egg-based vaccines