Influenza vaccines can change from year to year as new strains of influenza virus appear. This is one reason vaccination against influenza is given every year.
The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) has reviewed data related to epidemiology, antigenic and genetic characteristics of recent influenza isolates circulating in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, serological responses to 2020-2021 vaccines, and the availability of candidate vaccines viruses and reagents. Based on this review and the World Health Organization’s recommendation, the AIVC recommended the viral strains to be used for influenza vaccines in the 2022 southern hemisphere influenza season.
The TGA has accepted the recommendations of AIVC. This year there is a new A (H3N2)-like virus strain and a new B Victoria-like virus strain when compared to the composition of quadrivalent vaccines for Australia in 2021.
The egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines contain the following four viral strains:
- an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
- a B/Austria/1359417/2021-like (B/Victoria lineage) virus; and
- a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
Cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines contain the following four viral strains:
- an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Darwin/6/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
- a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
- a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination
Can I have the Influenza and COVID vaccine at the same time?
COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered (that is, given on the same day) with an influenza vaccine. Studies demonstrate the safety and immunogenicity of co-administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
