What to expect for the 2024-2025 influenza season | Image credit: © Sherry Young – © Sherry Young – Stock.adobe.com.
More than 44,900 people died from flu complications during the 2023-2024 flu season, according to the CDC. Like every year, the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older, with rare exceptions, receive an up-to-date influenza vaccine. But this year’s flu vaccine is different from last season’s. That means COVID-19 is a major player along with influenza. , and patients may ask about new virus strains. Read below for the latest information.
In March 2024, the FDA recommended influenza virus strains with a trivalent vaccine composition for use in the upcoming 2024-2025 influenza season. Last season, a quadrivalent vaccine was used. These trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines contain two influenza A viruses (H1N1) and one influenza B virus.
The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) recommended that trivalent formulations of egg-based influenza vaccines include the following:
A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus, A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus. anda B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria strain) –-like virus.
For trivalent formulations of cell-based or recombinant-based influenza vaccines, the committee recommended the following2:
A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus, A/Massachusetts/18/2022 (H3N2)-like virus. anda B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria strain) –-like virus.
As for which strains may be more severe, Jane M. Carnazzo, M.D., a pediatrician at Pediatric Internal Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, says: I’ve seen B be just as toxic as A. This year, it’s anyone’s guess. ”
Why did they change the prescription from quadrivalent to trivalent from this season? “One of the strains that was prevalent, the B/Yamagata strain, has been dormant since 2020,” said Rebecca Sneed, RPh, senior director of strategic initiatives and long-term care at the National Association of Community Pharmacists. ” he explained. “(VRBPAC) said in October 2023 that this strain is dormant, so there is no point in vaccinating against something you can’t see, so maybe they will discontinue it. So we go back to the trivalent (composition) that has historically always been the influenza vaccine.
But Sneed added that there may be some challenges ahead when it comes to public messaging. “Some people may not get the message and think that maybe the flu isn’t as bad now because we’re moving from a quadrivalent vaccine to a trivalent vaccine,” she explained. “As health care providers, I think we need to educate and communicate to our patients that the trivalent vaccine is necessary to protect the public and is completely preventive.”
Vaccination via nasal spray is an option, but this comes with its own skepticism. “For children, nasal spray vaccines, which are live attenuated vaccines, are often more effective than injections,” Carnazzo said. “But I’ve heard people say, ‘Oh, I got the (nasal) vaccine and then I got the flu, so I can’t get another vaccine.'” With nasal sprays, It is important to let patients know that they cannot get the flu. Since it is a live, attenuated vaccine, there is a low chance that it will cause stuffy nose, but it will not give you the flu. ”
COVID-19 has forever changed the landscape of influenza season. Currently, preparing for this highly contagious period means getting vaccinated against both viruses. “This year will be the first season where the COVID-19 vaccine will be available right after (when) the flu vaccine is available,” Sneed said. “And we can start conditioning Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, just like we do with other respiratory virus vaccines.”
After the June Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting, CDC announced the latest 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to prevent severe cases of COVID-19 and influenza this fall and winter. (COVID-19) vaccine and the latest 2024-2025 influenza vaccine. 1
Sneed, who has spoken with this year’s vaccine manufacturers, said, “We should have ample supply of influenza vaccines this year and access them in a timely manner.” There are no unexpected issues at this time. Typically, (vaccines) start arriving in early August. ”
When should people expect to receive the vaccine? “We as pharmacists need to keep timing in mind,” Sneed explained. “If you (as a pharmacist) are going to vaccinate in late July or August, please vaccinate those who are pregnant in their third trimester first to help pregnant women and protect their babies. Also, children under 18 need two doses of the vaccine, so if you have a parent with a child at the pharmacy, make sure to get the child their first dose of the flu vaccine in August. I think so.”
Mr Carnazzo added: “For us pediatricians, it’s about getting it when it’s available. Mid-September to mid-October is the best time to vaccinate our patients.”
And don’t forget those who have received solid organ transplants. “They need higher doses of the vaccine. Vaccination for this group is more concentrated and it’s important that they get vaccinated as well,” Carnazzo said.
Avian influenza, also known as avian influenza, has been in the public eye since April 2024, when an individual in Texas became the first person to become infected with novel avian influenza A(H5N1). 3 Additional cases have since been confirmed in multiple U.S. states. , however, the national health risk assessment by the CDC remains low.
Although the public risk is low, the World Health Organization is “operating in constant readiness for the possibility of an influenza pandemic,” said Dr. Maria van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s head of epidemics, pandemic preparedness and prevention. I mentioned it in the. Published in Nature.4
As of this article’s publication, there have been only nine cases of avian influenza in the United States this year, four from exposure to dairy cows and five from exposure to poultry. 5 Low risk. It’s very closely monitored,” Sneed said. “But this is a question pharmacists might get when administering a flu vaccine: ‘Will this prevent avian influenza?’ and the answer is no. But the U.S. We are investing in the development of a vaccine for bird flu. But there is no need to worry at this time.”
Editor’s note: This article was originally published by our sister publication Drug Topics.
References:
1. CDC recommends the latest 2024-2025 COVID-19 and influenza vaccines for the fall/winter virus season. News release. CDC. June 27, 2024. Accessed July 8, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-t0627-vaccine-recommendations.html
2. Use of trivalent influenza vaccines in the 2024-2025 U.S. influenza season. F.D.A. March 5, 2024. Accessed July 8, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/lot-release/use-trivalent-influenza-vaccines-2024-2025-us-influenza-season
3. Health Alert: First Case of Novel Influenza A(H5N1) in Texas, March 2024. Texas Department of Health and Human Services. April 1, 2024. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/health-alert-first-case-novel-influenza-h5n1-texas-march-2024
4. Marapati S. Avian influenza could become a human pandemic: How are countries preparing?Natural. July 12, 2024. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02237-4
5. H5 Avian Influenza: Current Status. CDC. Updated on July 26, 2024. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html
