Companies start shipping influenza vaccine for 2024/25 season

Several companies, including GSK, Sanofi and CSL Seqirus are beginning to ship influenza vaccine for the upcoming season 2024/25 flu season. 

GSK has started shipping doses of its trivalent influenza vaccines to U.S. healthcare providers and pharmacies. This immediately follows a licensing and lot-release approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

The company noted that In February 2024, the World Health Organization recommended the removal of B/Yamagata strains from seasonal influenza vaccines. The WHO recommends that egg-based trivalent vaccines for the 2024-2025 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:`

A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus

A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus

B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus

GSK said it expects to distribute over 36 million doses of its trivalent influenza vaccines in the United States this season. Both Flulaval and Fluarix will be available in a 0.5ml, single-dose, pre-filled syringe and are indicated for people six months of age and older.

GSK noted that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, annual influenza vaccination is the best way to help protect against the flu. Ideally, vaccination should occur by the end of October, but people should continue to get vaccinated as long as the flu poses a threat. CDC recommends an annual flu vaccination for anyone aged six months or older who does not have contraindications, GSK said.

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The CDC estimates that from Oct. 1, 2023, through June 15, 2024, there have been 35 to 65 million flu illnesses, 390,000 to 830,000 flu hospitalizations and 25,000 to 72,000 flu deaths, GSK noted.

Sanofi also started shipping its first flu vaccines across the United States. Following this first shipment, additional shipments of the full Sanofi flu vaccine portfolio will continue through October to support fall immunization campaigns. 

Thomas Grenier, head of vaccines, North America at Sanofi said, "Today, we began shipping flu vaccines for the upcoming season, a moment that underscores our long-standing commitment to providing global protection against disease. Getting a flu shot is imperative to not only help protect against flu infection but also to help reduce the risks of its potentially severe complications, which can lead to hospitalizations, especially in those most vulnerable."

The company explained that Fluzone, Flublok, and Fluzone High-Dose are vaccines indicated for the prevention of disease caused by influenza A and B strains contained in the vaccine. Fluzone is given to people six months of age and older. Flublok is given to people 18 years of age and older. Fluzone High-Dose is given to people 65 years of age and older.

CSL Seqirus, a business of CSL, also has commenced shipping its differentiated portfolio of influenza vaccines. This year, the company's influenza vaccines are being produced as trivalent influenza vaccine formulations, in compliance with the FDA’s directive to remove the B/Yamagata strain, the company said.

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"We are proud to support healthcare providers in their efforts to vaccinate their patients and communities to help turn around concerning declines in seasonal influenza vaccination rates," said Stefan Merlo, vice president of commercial operations, North America, CSL Seqirus. "We are a committed partner in public health and are doing our part to educate, inform, and meet the evolving needs of the public, ensure customers are prepared for the upcoming flu season, and help reverse this downward trend to restore vaccination rates."

CSL Seqirus said it is the only manufacturer to offer a differentiated influenza vaccine option approved for use in people aged six months and older. Its portfolio includes:

Flucelvax (Influenza Vaccine), the first and only cell-based influenza vaccine indicated for use in people six months and older.

Fluad (Influenza Vaccine, Adjuvanted), the only adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for adults 65 and older, is preferentially recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices over standard-dose influenza vaccines.

Fluad contains an MF59 adjuvant that is designed to strengthen, broaden and lengthen the immune response when added to an influenza vaccine.

Afluria (Influenza Vaccine), an egg-based, influenza vaccine approved for use in eligible people six months of age and older.

"Influenza continues to pose a significant threat, as evidenced by recent flu seasons," said Gregg Sylvester, chief health officer at CSL Seqirus. "As we begin distributing influenza vaccines to healthcare providers throughout the U.S., it is imperative that we work to maintain high vaccination rates this season to help reduce the burden of influenza-related illnesses and the risk of severe outcomes."