The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially released updated recommendations for the composition of the seasonal influenza vaccine for the 2026–2027 Northern Hemisphere season.
Following expert consultations under the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), the updated vaccine composition includes:
• Inclusion of A(H3N2) J.2.4.1 (“Subclade K”), which emerged in mid-2025 and rapidly became the predominant circulating strain globally.
• Adjustment of the influenza B component due to ongoing viral evolution.
• Updated zoonotic influenza preparedness guidance, including recommendation for development of a new Candidate Vaccine Virus (CVV) for avian influenza A(H9N2).
Influenza continues to cause approximately 1 billion infections annually worldwide, including 3–5 million cases of severe illness and an estimated 290,000–650,000 respiratory deaths.
The WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), composed of 165 institutions across 138 countries, analyzes 10–12 million samples annually to track influenza virus evolution and support vaccine updates.
These recommendations guide vaccine manufacturers, regulatory authorities and national immunization programmes in preparing for the upcoming influenza season.
To provide additional structured analysis and discussion of the WHO announcement, we invite readers to listen to the latest episode of the GMJ Podcast:
GMJ Podcast Episode – WHO Influenza Vaccine Update 2026–2027
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bwlg7gL29YTsi6yl6TY0I?si=be1d35f037b44455
The Georgian Medical Journal will continue to monitor and report major global health developments relevant to clinical practice and public health policy.
