FDA approves vaccines for next flu season

Vaccines have been approved for the 2010-2011 influenza season, the FDA announced last week.

The agency chose the strains for the new vaccine based on the viruses that have been circulating in the Southern hemisphere. Three strains were included:A/California/7/09 (H1N1)-like virus (the pandemic 2009 influenza virus),A/Perth /16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus andB/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

The labeling for one vaccine, CSL Limited's Afluria, has undergone changes this season to inform clinicians about an increased incidence of fever and febrile seizure, which was seen in children, mainly those younger than 5 years, following administration of the vaccine in the Southern hemisphere.

This flu season will also be the first in which government recommendations call for vaccinating an expanded population: all people age 6 months or older. The recommendations were published by the CDC and are available online.