CDC: Updated Influenza Vaccination Recommendations for 2019-2020

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has issued new guidelines for the prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines for the 2019–2020 season.

For the 2019–2020 season, the following influenza vaccines will be available:

• Trivalent influenza vaccines (A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09–like virus, A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)–like virus, B/Colorado/06/2017–like virus [Victoria lineage])
• Quadrivalent influenza vaccines (includes 3 viruses + additional influenza B virus hemagglutinin, a B/Phuket/3073/2013–like virus [Yamagata lineage])
• Standard-dose, unadjuvanted, inactivated influenza vaccines will be available in quadrivalent and trivalent formulations
• Recombinant influenza vaccine and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) will be available in quadrivalent formulations
• High-dose inactivated influenza vaccine and adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine will be available in trivalent formulations

In general, routine annual vaccination is recommended for all patients ≥6 months of age who have no contraindications. Flu vaccine should be offered to patients by the end of October, if possible.

Updates for this upcoming flu season include the following:

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an expanded age indication for Afluria Quadrivalent. The vaccine is now approved for use in patients aged ≥6 months; previously the vaccine was indicated for patients ≥5 years of age.
• The FDA approved the expanded use of Fluzone Quadrivalent 0.5mL to include pediatric patients aged 6 through 35 months. Both the 0.25mL and 0.5mL will be available this flu season for this age range.

The full report, which includes guidance for influenza vaccination of specific populations (ie, children, pregnant women, older patients, immunocompromised individuals), and situations (ie, history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, egg allergy) can be found here.

For more information visit cdc.gov.