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The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) met to recommend the composition of the influenza virus vaccines for Australia in 2023. At this meeting, the expert committee reviewed and evaluated epidemiology, antigenic and genetic data of recent influenza isolates circulating in Australia and the southern hemisphere. Serological responses to the 2021-2022 vaccines, and the availability of candidate vaccines viruses and reagents were also reviewed by the Committee.
AIVC Recommendation
The committee recommended that the following viruses for the 2023 southern hemisphere season quadrivalent influenza vaccines:
Egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines:
- an A/Sydney/5/2021 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
- a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
- a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
Cell- or recombinant-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines:
- an A/Sydney/5/2021 (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.
The H1N1, H3N2 and B Victoria lineage viruses are recommended for trivalent influenza vaccines for 2023 southern hemisphere season.
Candidate Vaccine Viruses (CVV) recommended for H1N1 and H3N2 may differ for egg- and cell- or recombinant-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 World Health Organisation’s website.
The AIVC recommendation for the composition of influenza vaccines for Australia in 2023 differs from the 2022 southern hemisphere and 2022/23 northern hemisphere recommendations. The southern hemisphere 2023 vaccine will contain one new strain for the A(H1N1)pdm09-like virus.
The recommendation made by AIVC aligns with the World Health Organisation recommendation (WHO recommendations for the 2023 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.