WHO Issues 2020-2021 Flu Vaccine Recommendations

By leahdurantlaw on July 27, 2020 • ( 0 )

Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) issues recommendations for the annual flu shot. Once the WHO issues its recommendations, national health agencies around the world then make their own decisions about which vaccines they will recommend based on local infection risks. In the United States, these decisions are made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in coordination with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

WHO Flu Vaccine Recommendations for the 2020-2021 Flu Season

The WHO released its recommendations for the 2020-2021 flu season on February 26, 2020. It issued recommendations both for quadrivalent vaccines (vaccines that protect against four different strains of the flu virus) and for trivalent vaccines (vaccines that protect against three different strains). As the CDC explains, “[d]ifferent vaccines are approved for different age groups. There is a quadrivalent influenza shot that can be given to children as young as 6 months of age.” Trivalent flu vaccines are generally recommended for adults age 65 and older.

The WHO’s 2020-2021 quadrivalent flu vaccine recommendations are:

Egg-Based Vaccines

A/Guangdong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like virus
B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus
B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus

Cell-Based and Recombinant-Based Vaccines

A/Hawaii/70/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
A/Hong Kong/45/2019 (H3N2)-like virus
B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus
B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus

The WHO’s 2020-2021 trivalent flu vaccine recommendations are:

Egg-Based Vaccines

A/Guangdong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like virus
B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus

Cell-Based and Recombinant-Based Vaccines

A/Hawaii/70/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
A/Hong Kong/45/2019 (H3N2)-like virus
B/Washington/02/2019 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus

What Should Parents and Other Adults Know about the 2020-2021 Flu Shot?

As a parent or an adult who is planning to get an annual flu shot in 2020, you can rely on your flu shot provider to administer the recommended vaccine for the upcoming flu season. Manufacturers only produce the recommended vaccines each year, so the risk of receiving a non-recommended formulation of the flu shot is virtually non-existent.

However, like all vaccines, the annual flu shot does carry certain risks. This is true regardless of its specific formulation in any given year. These risks include (but are not limited to):

Shoulder Injuries Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) – SIRVA result from errors during the administration of the flu shot. Severe or lingering pain after a flu shot could be a sign of SIRVA.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) – GBS is a potentially-serious medical condition that has been linked to the annual flu shot. Early symptoms include pain, tingling and weakness emanating from the extremities.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) – CIDP is a chronic variant of GBS that has also been linked to the annual flu shot.
Anaphylaxis – Anaphylaxis, or a severe allergic or hypersensitivity reaction, is of particular concern for flu shot recipients who have egg allergies, although other allergies can potentially trigger anaphylaxis as well.

What Should You Do if You or a Loved One Experiences a Flu Shot Injury?

If you or a member of your family is diagnosed with a flu shot injury during the 2020-2021 flu season, you may be able to recover your losses through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Our firm provides no-cost legal representation for VICP claims nationwide. To learn more in a free and confidential consultation, call 202-800-1711 or tell us how you would like to be contacted online today.

Leah Durant Bio

Experienced litigation attorney Leah Durant focuses on representing clients in complex vaccine litigation matters. Leah Durant is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, a litigation firm based in Washington, DC. Leah Durant and her staff represent clients and their families who suffer from vaccine-related injuries, adverse vaccine reactions and vaccine-related deaths. The Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC is dedicated to assisting individuals in recovering the highest level of compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible. To learn more, contact vaccine attorney Leah Durant today.