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The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) met to recommend the composition of the influenza virus vaccines for use within Australia in 2025. At this meeting, the expert committee reviewed and evaluated epidemiological, antigenic and genetic data of recent influenza isolates circulating in Australia and the southern hemisphere. Serological responses to the 2023-2024 vaccines, and the availability of candidate vaccines viruses and reagents, were also reviewed by the Committee.
AIVC Recommendation
The Committee recommended the following viruses for vaccines used in the 2025 southern hemisphere trivalent influenza vaccines in Australia:
Egg-based influenza vaccines:
- an A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Croatia/10136RV/2023 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus;
Cell-based influenza vaccines:
- an A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A//District of Columbia/27/2023 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus;
The recommendation for the B/Yamagata lineage component of quadrivalent influenza vaccines remains unchanged from previous recommendations:
- a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
The recommendation for quadrivalent influenza vaccines for the 2025 southern hemisphere season includes the B/Yamagata lineage virus although in the absence of confirmed detection of this virus circulating, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Influenza vaccine composition advisory committee recommended that continued inclusion of this antigen is no longer warranted. Consistent with previous recommendations, the WHO committee highlighted that every effort should be made to exclude this component from vaccines as soon as possible. The continued absence of confirmed detection of naturally occurring B/Yamagata lineage viruses after March 2020 is indicative of a very low risk of infection by B/Yamagata lineage viruses. The AIVC noted this position and supports the WHO committee’s views.
Candidate Vaccine Viruses (CVV) recommended may differ for egg- and cell-based vaccines. In some instances, the same virus is not ideal for both production systems. When this is the case, different viruses with similar properties are selected as the prototypes to help timely vaccine production. More information is available in the Frequently asked Questions factsheet on the WHO's website.
The AIVC recommendation for the composition of influenza vaccines for Australia in 2025 differs from the 2024 southern hemisphere and 2024/25 northern hemisphere recommendations. The southern hemisphere 2025 vaccine will contain one new strain for the Influenza A(H3N2) subtype virus component.
The recommendation made by AIVC aligns with the WHO recommendations (WHO recommendations for the 2025 Southern Hemisphere vaccines).
The TGA has accepted the recommendation of the AIVC.
Candidate Vaccine Viruses
The TGA considers that the following viruses or reassortants are suitable vaccine strains:
- those as listed on the WHO Influenza vaccine web pages: Influenza vaccine viruses and reagents for H1N1, H3N2 and B viruses.
Contacting TGA
Contact the TGA at influenza.reagents@health.gov.au on the suitability for use of other potential candidate vaccine viruses or reagents if they become available.