AIVC’s recommendations for the 2025 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Vaccines in Australia
The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) met in October to provide expert recommendations for the composition of influenza vaccines to be used in Australia during the 2025 southern hemisphere flu season. This meeting brought together specialists to review data on circulating influenza strains, vaccine effectiveness, and the availability of candidate viruses, ultimately shaping the next phase of influenza vaccine development.
AIVC’s Vaccine Composition Recommendations for 2025
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has reported that the AIVC has outlined specific virus strains for inclusion in the 2025 influenza vaccines, which will be used in Australia. These vaccines will consist of both trivalent (three-component) and quadrivalent (four-component) formulations, designed to offer protection against the most prevalent flu strains expected for the upcoming season.
Composition of the 2025 Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine
- A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
- A/Croatia/10136RV/2023 (H3N2)-like virus (updated for 2025)
- B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus
- B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus
Despite the inclusion of the B/Yamagata lineage strain in quadrivalent vaccines, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has noted the absence of this strain in circulation since March 2020, marking a very low risk of infection from this lineage. Given the continued absence of the virus, the WHO has recommended that efforts be made to eventually exclude this component from future vaccines.
The AIVC aligns with the WHO’s position on the B/Yamagata lineage, recognising the reduced need for this component in future formulations.
Alignment with WHO Recommendations
The AIVC’s recommendations for the 2025 influenza vaccines in Australia are closely aligned with those from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Both the AIVC and WHO seek to ensure that vaccines provide optimal protection based on the most recent influenza trends in the southern hemisphere.
The WHO’s guidance has played an important role in shaping the AIVC’s decision, especially with the evolving global situation with influenza virus strains. The recommendations for the 2025 vaccine season differ from the previous 2024 formulations, particularly in the choice of an updated H3N2 strain for the southern hemisphere.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Acceptance
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s regulatory body for medical goods, has officially accepted the AIVC’s recommendations for the 2025 influenza vaccine composition. This ensures that the proposed vaccines will move forward in the development and approval process, aiming for distribution ahead of the next flu season.
Protect your staff from seasonal illness in 2025
Get prepared for next flu season. We are already providing quotes for clients for 2025. To ensure that we can run a clinic on your preferred dates, request a quote today!
