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FDA to Reformulate Flu Vaccine Next Year

Physicians Should Order Shots Early

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to completely overhaul next year’s flu vaccine after this year’s shot didn’t work for 60 percent of active strains.  

It may be tough for vaccine manufacturers to produce enough doses by next fall, so physician practices should place orders for next season’s shots when manufacturers begin accepting orders in April. 

Normally, only one or two strains are changed each year, but next year, the government will change all three strains included in the vaccine. 

"Two of the three strains that were used in this year’s vaccine are slightly different than the strains that are circulating in most of the country, so vaccine-induced immunity is most likely sub-optimal," said Margaret Hessen, MD, an infectious disease specialist and Pennsylvania Medical Society member. 

The Brisbane/10 strain, which has caused the most sickness this year, surfaced too late last year to be included in this year’s vaccine and is difficult to grow in the laboratory. 

"There’s no shortage of flu shots predicted now," Dr. Hessen said. "But we have to remember that the time between designating the viruses that are going to be covered and the need to give the vaccine is short, and there are only a few manufacturers."

Manufacturers also will be under pressure to produce more doses than this year because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expanding its recommendation of who should receive the shot to include children up to 18 years old, Dr. Hessen said. 

The government has created successful flu vaccines in 16 of the last 19 flu seasons. 

"The CDC and the World Health Organization have done a good job of predicting strains in what is really a fluid, dynamic situation," Dr. Hessen said. "The influenza virus is notorious for its ability to mutate."

Dr. Hessen also encourages health care workers to get vaccinated. 

"Even though they are often young and healthy, they certainly get exposed to lots of infectious people and can perpetuate the illness among vulnerable patients," she said.