Influenza vaccine for 1996-97 season will include B/Harbin/7/94 -- Vaccines Advisory Committee.
Executive Summary
FLU VACCINE FOR 1996-97 SEASON SHOULD RETAIN B/HARBIN/7/94 in the trivalent vaccine, FDA's Vaccines & Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended Jan. 27. The choice of the B influenza component was simplified because there has been very little worldwide influenza B activity in the past six months and no antigenic variants isolated. In the U.S., B viruses account for only 1% of the isolates reported so far this season, of which 100% have been B/Harbin/7/94-like.