- Respiratory diseases cause at least 650 thousand deaths in the world each year.
- The flu vaccine formulation should be updated each season to provide the maximum possible protection.
- The WHO released the composition of the biological for the 2023-2024 season in the northern hemisphere.
The flu vaccine is one of the most important innovations of recent years. As with other biologics, its role is not to prevent contagion but to reduce the probability of a severe condition in the event of an infection. Thanks to the massive campaigns carried out around the world, millions of tragic cases have been prevented.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) respiratory diseases are responsible for at least 650,000 deaths. Although one of the good news is that there are already immunizations against some of them.
In the specific case of the Influenza vaccine the indication is that it should be applied annually. Although because the virus that causes the disease tends to mutate easily, each season the formula of the biological is modified to offer the maximum possible safety.
With this in mind, influenza is a viral infection that primarily affects the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and occasionally the lungs. The Pan American Health Organization (OPS) indicates that it generally lasts a week and is characterized by the sudden onset of high fever, muscle aches, headache, severe malaise, dry cough, sore throat, and rhinitis.
The virus is easily transmitted from one person to another through droplets and small particles expelled by coughing or sneezing. Influenza usually spreads rapidly in the form of seasonal epidemics.
Most of those affected recover in one to two weeks without the need for medical treatment. However, in young children, the elderly, and people with other serious medical conditions, the infection can lead to serious complications of the underlying disease, pneumonia, or death.
Influenza Vaccine for the 2023-2024 Season
Through a press conference, the WHO presented the recommendations for the composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2023-2024 season in the northern hemisphere.
Egg-based vaccines
- A virus similar to A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09
- A virus similar to A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)
- A B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus (B/Victoria lineage)
- A B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata lineage)
Vaccines based on cell cultures or recombinants
- A virus similar to A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09
- A virus similar to A/Darwin/6/2021 (H3N2)
- A B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus (B/Victoria lineage)
- A B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata lineage)
Egg-based trivalent vaccines
- A virus similar to A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09
- A virus similar to A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)
- A B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus (B/Victoria lineage)
Trivalent vaccines based on cell cultures or recombinants
- A virus similar to A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09
- A virus similar to A/Darwin/6/2021 (H3N2)
- A B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus (B/Victoria lineage)
LIVE: Virtual Press Conference on #Influenza Vaccine Composition for Northern Hemisphere (2023-2024) and Zoonotic Influenza. Tune in. https://t.co/H9eBrZFJgR
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) February 24, 2023
The issued recommendations are used by national vaccine regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce, and license influenza vaccines for the following influenza season.
Periodic updating of the viruses contained in influenza vaccines is necessary for the vaccines to be effective due to the constantly evolving nature of influenza viruses, including those that circulate and infect humans.
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