Commonground
Senior Moderator
21 – 24 September 2026
WHO Academy, Lyon, France
WHO Consultation
Background
Influenza vaccines must be updated regularly to remain effective against constantly evolving circulating viruses.
Twice each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) organizes consultations with an advisory group of experts to analyse influenza virus surveillance data generated by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) and issues recommendations on the composition of the influenza vaccines for the following influenza season. These recommendations are used by national vaccine regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce and license influenza vaccines.
Objectives
WHO Academy, Lyon, France
WHO Consultation
Background
Influenza vaccines must be updated regularly to remain effective against constantly evolving circulating viruses.
Twice each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) organizes consultations with an advisory group of experts to analyse influenza virus surveillance data generated by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) and issues recommendations on the composition of the influenza vaccines for the following influenza season. These recommendations are used by national vaccine regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce and license influenza vaccines.
Objectives
- Analyse the antigenic and genetic characteristics of seasonal influenza viruses circulating and infecting humans, taking into consideration the available epidemiological and clinical information from individual countries and regions;
- Make recommendations on the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2027 southern hemisphere influenza season; and
- Review the antigenic and genetic characteristics of recent A(H5) and other subtypes or variant zoonotic influenza viruses, that the WHO Collaborating Centres of the GISRS received and the need to develop new candidate vaccine viruses for pandemic preparedness purposes.
- Representatives from WHO Collaborating Centres for influenza of GISRS;
- Representatives from WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratories of GISRS;
- Representatives from National Influenza Centres and WHO H5 Reference Laboratories of GISRS;
- Representatives from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Modelling, Evolution, and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases;
- Representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Organisation for Animal Health Network of Expertise on Animal Influenza (OFFLU); and
- Other subject matter experts
- Review of antigenic and genetic characterization data of seasonal influenza viruses, A(H5) and other subtypes or variant influenza viruses analysed by the WHO Collaborating Centres and other reference laboratories;
- Review of global influenza activity;
- Analysis of results of vaccine serological studies;
- Recommendations for the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2027 southern hemisphere influenza season; and
- Review of the need and subsequent selection of new A(H5) and other subtypes or variant viruses for the development of new candidate vaccine viruses for pandemic preparedness purposes.