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The Exciting Journey from Flu Virus to Vaccine - IFPMA

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    It is recommended that trivalent vaccines for use in the 2017-2018 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

  an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;

  an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus; and

  a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

    It is recommended that quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses contain the above three viruses and a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

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True or False: The seasonal flu vaccine allows me to protect the people around me in my personal and professional life - TRUE - Getting yourself vaccinated against the flu every year is the best way to protect yourself and those around you in your personal and professional life.

(Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/)

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True or false: The flu vaccine protects you from the flu right away - FALSE - It takes 2 weeks for the vaccination to be active.

(Source: http//www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm)

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Overview of the 2015-2016 Influenza Season

HOW IS THE INFLUENZA VACCINE COMPOSITION PREDICTED

Twice a year the WHO recommends the influenza strains to be included in the influenza vaccine: in February for the Northern hemisphere influenza season (winter) and in September for the Southern hemisphere influenza season (winter). However new strains of influenza can emerge and influenza seasons are therefore difficult to predict.

Current influenza vaccines are designed to protect against either three or four strains: two A strains (A/H1N1 and A/H3N2) and either one of two B strains (B/Yamagata or/and B/Victoria).(4)

WHY ARE THE TWO B STRAINS RECOMMENDED IN THE COMPOSITION

Influenza B strains are a major cause of influenza epidemics every two to four years and can cause excess mortality in all age groups.(2)

Influenza B viruses have diverged into two distinct lineages that co-circulate today worldwide since 2000s.

The proportion of co-circulation depends on regions and seasons and is unpredictable.(4)

WHAT WAS THE CURRENT SITUATION FOR THE 2015-2016 INFLUENZA SEASON

Worldwide high levels of influenza A/H1N1 activity have been observed. The first effectiveness results coming from Europe and the US stated 60% effectiveness of current seasonal influenza vaccines. The A/H1N1 circulating strain corresponds to the A/H1N1 included in he vaccines.(1)

In Europe, influenza A viruses, in particular A(H1N1)pdm09 were dominant (70% of tested viruses) in almost all EU/EAA countries. Of the characterized B viruses, 92% were B/Victoria lineage and 8% were B/Yamagata. The B/Victoria lineage is not included in the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, which is the most widely used vaccine in Europe.(3) As a consequence, for example in Denmark in 65+yo population, the effectiveness was at 4.1% (95%CI: -22, 0 to 24.7%) against lab confirmed influenza B cases (interim adjusted VE). Influenza B cases accounted for 62% of the cases in elderly. (Emborg H, eurosurveillance, 21 (14))

The dominant circulation of the alternate B lineage, concretely observed during the 2015 Southern hemisphere season(7), illustrates the unpredictability of the circulating B strains and the need for a quadrivalent influenza vaccine that contains the two lineages (B/Yamagata and B/Victoria).

WHAT IS A QUADRIVALENT INFLUENZA VACCINE

A quadrivalent influenza vaccine is a seasonal influenza vaccine which includes two A strains (A/H1N1 and A/H3N2) and two B strains (B/Victoria and B/Yamagata).

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BETTER FIT THE VIROLOGICAL EVOLUTION

Quadrivalent influenza vaccines offer broader protection as they include both B lineages, better fit the virological situation, and could lead to increased public health benefits with reduced influenza-related cases, hospitalizations and even deaths.

As an example, based on the experience of influenza B co-circulation during the Southern hemisphere 2015 season, the Australian Ministry of Health decided to upgrade its national immunization program (NIP) by including the quadrivalent influenza vaccine for the 2016 season to offer broader protection free to the people who most need it.(8)

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The flu is a highly contagious acute viral infection, easily transmitted from one person to the next, regardlesss of age group.

Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/

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The flu can be transmitted before someone develops symptoms - TRUE - An infected person is contagious two days before and seven days after the appearance of the first symptoms.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm

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True or False: Flu vaccination can give you the flu.

FALSE – The virus contained in the flu vaccine is inactivated and cannot transmit the disease.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptiions.htm

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WHO/Europe launched the Flu Awareness Campaign initiative in 2013 as an extension of European Immunization Week. But why a specific campaign on flu?

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Flu or common cold? The flu is typically worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough can be more common and intense.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm

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Nurses play a key role in the prevention of seasonal influenza.

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Where do you stand against influenza?  When recommended by HCP's, patients are 3 to 6 times more likely to get vaccinated against influenza.

(JZM Phoenix Healthcare Practice, 2006 national consumer influenza immunization study, 2006 – Sanofi Pasteur Limited. Data on file.)

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWgKp2XdK2o)

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Influenza vaccination is effective.

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National Institute of Pediatrics, Mexico by Sanofi Pasteur Via Flickr: National Institute of Pediatrics (INP - Instituto Nacional de Pediatría), Mexico, June 2015 Copyright Sanofi Pasteur / Vaqueros File: IMG_7493