ACIP updates flu vaccinations recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has updated its recommendations regarding use of seasonal influenza vaccines for the 2015–16 season.

The updated information includes:
• Antigenic composition of seasonal influenza vaccines in the United States
• Information on influenza vaccine products expected to be available for the coming season
• An updated algorithm for determining the appropriate number of doses for children aged 6 months through 8 years
• Recommendations for the use of live attenuated influenza vaccine and inactivated influenza vaccine when either is available, including removal of the 2014–15 preferential recommendation for LAIV for healthy children aged 2–8 years.

For the 2015–16 season, U.S.-licensed trivalent influenza vaccines will contain hemagglutinin derived from an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus, an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus, and a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like (Yamagata lineage) virus. Quadrivalent influenza vaccines will contain these three vaccine viruses and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like (Victoria lineage) virus.

ACIP recommended everyone 6 months and older receive an annual influenza vaccination. In addition, ACIP said that healthy children aged 2–8 years with no contraindications or precautions can receive either LAIV or IIV, and there was no preference for LAIV or IIV for anyone aged 2–49 years for whom either vaccine is appropriate.