Flu Shot Planning Completed for Southern Hemisphere 2023

Even though the USA is prepping for the start of flu season, the World Health Organization (WHO) is already planning for next year's influenza vaccines. Each September and February, the WHO guides regulatory authorities and vaccine manufacturers' development of influenza vaccines for the next flu season.

The WHO announced today its recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2023 southern hemisphere influenza season.

These recommendations are announced to provide approximately 6-8 months to produce new flu shots.

In contrast to many other vaccines, the viruses in influenza vaccines need to be evaluated and updated regularly because circulating influenza viruses evolve continuously.

From February through August 2022, influenza activity remained lower than in pre-COVID-19 pandemic years.

During this period, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and influenza B viruses circulated, although the viruses varied among reporting countries.

And the WHO confirmed on September 23, 2022, in the USA and the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, increased influenza activity was reported in March and April, but declined in May, then returned to inter-seasonal levels from June through August 2022.

This peak in activity occurred later than usual, generally associated with COVID-19 pandemic activities.

Furthermore, the U.S. CDC advises most people over six months to get their annual flu shots asap.

Various influenza vaccines are offered for free at many clinics and pharmacies in the USA.

Additional flu shot news for 2022 is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/Flu.