Regulatory information - EMA issues recommendations for 2014/2015 seasonal flu vaccine composition
The European Medicines Agency has issued the
European Union (EU) recommendations for the influenza virus strains
that should be included in vaccines for the prevention of seasonal influenza next winter.
Trivalent vaccines for the 2014/2015 season should contain these virus strains:
- an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Texas/50/2012 (H3N2)-like virus;
- a B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus.
Quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza-B viruses should also include a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
Every year, the ad hoc Influenza Working Group of the Agency's Biologics Working Party issues EU recommendations for the composition of seasonal influenza vaccines on the basis of observations by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted these recommendations on 20 March 2014.