2026 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season Vaccine Recommendations Issued
Southern Hemisphere (Vax-Before-Travel News) – The World health Organization (WHO) today, September 26, 2025, announced it’s recommendations for the composition of influenza vaccines intended for use during the 2026 influenza season in the Southern Hemisphere. These recommendations are crucial, as the WHO emphasizes that regular updates to vaccine composition are essential to maintain effectiveness against evolving influenza viruses and protect global public health.
For the 2026 Southern Hemisphere season, the WHO recommends that trivalent influenza vaccines contain specific viral components, detailed in their published recommendations. Quadrivalent vaccines, still in use during the transition to trivalent formulations, will continue to include a fourth component: a B/Yamagata lineage virus (B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus).
The WHO influenza vaccine composition advisory committee has consistently recommended against including a B/Yamagata lineage antigen, a position maintained in their latest guidance and echoed in four previous recommendations since September 2023.
Beyond seasonal influenza, the WHO has also released updated recommendations concerning the development of candidate vaccine viruses for zoonotic influenza, focusing on pandemic preparedness.
These WHO recommendations will inform national and regional regulatory bodies,pharmaceutical companies,and other stakeholders as they develop,produce,and license influenza vaccines for the upcoming season.
