WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES INFLUENZA VACCINE FORMULA FOR 1996-1997
Press Release
H/2898
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES INFLUENZA VACCINE FORMULA FOR 1996-1997
19960215 GENEVA, 15 February (WHO) -- A new composition of the influenza vaccine for the 1996-1997 season has been announced by an international experts meeting at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva. Scientists are constantly challenged to identify major newly emerging strains of influenza viruses, so that effective vaccines can be formulated in time. Compared to last year's recommendations for the vaccine, one of the three influenza vaccine components has been changed.Every February, the influenza experts advise national health authorities and pharmaceutical companies on the composition of the virus strains that should be used to produce vaccines for the next influenza season.
Influenza causes epidemics worldwide every year. The WHO strongly advises the use of vaccine as a preventive measure against this potentially fatal disease. Special attention should be paid to vaccinate the elderly, individuals with immunodeficiency, sufferers of chronic diseases of the heart or lungs, as well as diabetes.
For the adult population, one dose of inactivated vaccine should be adequate. However, previously unimmunized children in these categories should receive two doses of vaccine, with an interval between doses of at least four weeks.
"The degree of protection conferred by influenza vaccines varies depending on the age and immune status of the vaccine recipient", explains Dr. Daniel Lavanchy, in charge of WHO's influenza programme. "We believe that up to 80 per cent of recipients will be protected against disease when there is a good match between the vaccine and circulating strains. The severity of illness and the frequency of serious complications is reduced among the remaining 20 per cent."
The latest formula recommended by WHO is:
-- an A/Wuhan/359/95(H3N2)-like strain; -- an A/Singapore/6/86(H1N1)-like strain; and -- a B/Beijing/184/93-like strain.
This differs from last year's composition in that the first of these strains replaces an A/Johannesburg/33/94(H3N2)-like strain.
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As in previous years, the specific viruses used in vaccine manufacturing in each country will need to be approved by the national control authorities.
The WHO programme on influenza surveillance and control was established in 1948. Today, it involves 109 WHO-recognized National Institutes on Influenza in 79 countries, and three WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, United States), the National Institute for Medical Research (London), and CSL (Parkville, Australia). This fully operational network helps WHO to monitor influenza activity in all regions of the world and ensures that WHO receives information needed to select the new variants of influenza viruses which will be used to produce influenza vaccines for the next influenza season.
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