Influenza Vaccine Composition

Influenza Prevention and Control Recommendations

Published for the 2010-11 Influenza Season; Adapted for the 2012-13 Influenza Season

Vaccine Strains for the 2012-13 Influenza Season

U.S. influenza vaccines for 2012–13 contain A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like, A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like, and B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like (Yamagata lineage) antigens. The influenza A(H3N2) and B antigens differ from the respective 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasonal vaccine antigens. The influenza A(H1N1) vaccine virus strain is derived from an influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 (2009[H1N1]) virus and was included in the 2009(H1N1) monovalent pandemic vaccine as well as the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasonal vaccines.

Both live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) and trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) contain strains of influenza viruses that are equivalent antigenically to the annually recommended strains: one influenza A (H3N2) virus, one influenza A (H1N1) virus, and one influenza B virus. Each year, one or more virus strains in the vaccine might be changed on the basis of global surveillance for influenza viruses and the emergence and spread of new strains.

Viruses for currently licensed TIV and LAIV preparations are grown in chicken eggs. Either vaccine is administered annually to provide optimal protection against influenza virus infection. Both TIV and LAIV are available in the United States. Although both types of vaccines are expected to be effective, the vaccines differ in several respects. None of the influenza vaccines licensed in the United States contains an adjuvant.

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