Overview
- The VRBPAC voted 7-0 to recommend a trivalent 2026–2027 formulation covering H1N1, H3N2 and a B/Victoria lineage strain.
- For egg-based vaccines the panel backed A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like, A/Darwin/1454/2025 (H3N2)-like and B/Tokyo/EIS13-175/2025, while cell and recombinant platforms would use A/Darwin/1415/2025 and B/Pennsylvania/14/2025.
- Advisers cited CDC surveillance showing H3N2 dominance this season, with 93% of H3N2 samples in subclade K that the A/Darwin pick is intended to cover.
- CDC reports classify the season as severe for children, with high hospitalization rates and 90 pediatric deaths, about 85% of whom were not fully vaccinated.
- Vaccination coverage and performance were modest, with about 48% of children and 47% of adults vaccinated and effectiveness around 22%–41% across outcomes depending on age.