ACIP Releases Immunization Recommendations for 2017-2018 Flu Season

With the 2016-2017 flu season officially over, flu activity is low in the United States. In order to match circulating flu viruses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the vaccine for the next flu season.

In the meantime, last week, the CDC shared Advisory Committee Immunization Practices recommendations regarding the prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines for the 2017-2018 season.

Based on discussions during ACIP meetings held over the past year, just as the vaccine has been updated, the new report provides updates to the 2016-2017 recommendations as well.

For the 2017-2018 season the committee shares that:

• Quadrivalent and trivalent influenza vaccines will be available.
• Inactivated influenza vaccines and recombinant influenza vaccines will be available in trivalent and quadrivalent formulation.
• Live-attenuated influenza vaccines are not recommended for use during this season.

The updated recommendations include the following:

• The trivalent influenza vaccines will contain A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus, an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus, and a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus. Quadrivalent influenza vaccines will contain these 3 viruses and an additional influenza B vaccine virus, a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.
• Afluria Quadrivalent and Flublok Quadrivalent have been licensed and FluLaval Quadrivalent vaccines now have an expanded age indication.
• Pregnant women may receive any licensed, recommended, age-appropriate influenza vaccine.
• Afluria may be used for individuals 5 years of age and older, consistent with FDA-approved labeling.
• FluMist Quadrivalent should not be used during the 2017-2018 due to concerns about its effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses in the United States during the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 influenza seasons.

Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all individuals 6 months of age and older who do not have contraindications. The committee recommended that individuals should be vaccinated before the onset of flu activity in the community, and that vaccinations should be offered before the end of October and continue to be offered as long as influenza viruses are circulating and unexpired vaccine is available.