Core flu vaccination recommendations carry over for 2017-’18

Core requirements for influenza immunization will remain the same for the 2017-’18 flu season, under a recommendation approved by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) committee Wednesday.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) also recommended allowing any licensed, recommended and age-appropriate trivalent or quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) for pregnant women. The previous recommendation specified use of IIV for pregnant women.

In addition, the committee reiterated that the quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4), which is given by nasal spray, not be used in any setting during the upcoming flu season. Last year, it was reported that in all pediatric age groups, LAIV did not have any statistically significant benefit in preventing influenza during three flu seasons. Additional data on LAIV4 are expected in October.

Also, Afluria (IIV3) now is indicated for people 5 years and older (down from 9 years and older).

The CDC director will review ACIP’s recommendations. Those that are approved will be published as official recommendations in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The Academy will review the CDC’s changes and make official policy recommendations of its own.

Current CDC-AAP recommendations call for annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older who doesn't have contraindications.

During the current influenza season, 101 children have died, according to reports to the CDC. Overall, flu activity has been moderate, with peak incidence in mid-February and regional variation. Influenza A (H3N2) viruses have predominated overall, but since late March, influenza B viruses have been reported more frequently than A viruses.

Vaccine effectiveness for the current season showed “significant protectiveness” in children.

The U.S. influenza vaccine composition for the 2017-’18 season is as follows:

Trivalent vaccines:

• A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus (updated)
• A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus (Victoria lineage)

Quadrivalent vaccines:

• The three used in the trivalent vaccines, plus B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (Yamagata lineage)