The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) met to recommend the composition of the influenza virus vaccines for Australia in 2024. 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 2022-2023 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 2024 southern hemisphere season trivalent influenza vaccines:
Egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines:
- an A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus;
Cell- or recombinant-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines:
- an A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Massachusetts/18/2022 (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 2024 southern hemisphere season includes the B Yamagata lineage virus although in the absence of confirmed detection of this virus circulating, WHO Influenza vaccine composition advisory committee recommended that continued inclusion of this antigen is no longer warranted. Further, the WHO committee, highlighted that every effort should be made to exclude this component from vaccines as soon as possible. The AIVC noted this position and supports the WHO committees views.
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 2024 differs from the 2023 southern hemisphere and 2023/24 northern hemisphere recommendations. The southern hemisphere 2023 vaccine will contain two new strains for the A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2)- like virus.
The recommendation made by AIVC aligns with the World Health Organisation recommendation (WHO recommendations for the 2024 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 us at influenza.reagents@health.gov.au on the suitability for use of other potential candidate vaccine viruses or reagents if they become available.