Flu Vaccine Update: What’s Changing in 2025
In recent years, global flu vaccination strategies have been carefully reviewed and updated. Previously, flu vaccines protected against four virus strains — two influenza A strains (H1N1 and H3N2) and two influenza B strains (B/Victoria and B/Yamagata). This was known as the quadrivalent vaccine (QIV), designed to cover both B lineages since both were once in circulation.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends that countries switch to trivalent flu vaccines (TIV), starting from the upcoming flu season. Why? Because one of the flu virus types, B/Yamagata, has not been detected anywhere in the world since 2020 — it’s considered likely extinct. As a result, WHO advises removing B/Yamagata from future flu vaccine formulations to simplify production and focus on the strains that still circulate.[1],[2]
|
Feature |
Quadrivalent Vaccine (QIV) |
Trivalent Vaccine (TIV) |
|---|---|---|
|
Flu strains covered |
4: A(H1N1), A(H3N2), B(Victoria), B(Yamagata) |
3: A(H1N1), A(H3N2), B(Victoria) |
|
Includes B/Yamagata? |
✅ Yes |
❌ No |
|
WHO recommendation |
Being phased out |
Recommended from 2025 onward |
|
Cost & manufacturing |
Higher, more complex |
Simpler, faster, more affordable |
-
🦠 No more B/Yamagata cases: No confirmed cases of this flu strain have been reported worldwide since 2020.
-
🌍 Smarter use of resources: Simplifying production allows manufacturers to make and distribute more vaccines globally.
-
💪 Same reliable protection: The new trivalent vaccines still protect against all flu viruses currently in circulation.
-
💰 More affordable coverage: Lower production costs mean more people can be vaccinated within the same budget.
Both the WHO and Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) strongly recommend flu vaccination for:
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Older adults
-
Pregnant women
-
Children under 5 years old
-
People with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease, or HIV/AIDS
Starting in 2025, Malaysia will begin its transition to trivalent influenza vaccines, such as Vaxigrip® 2025/2026, replacing the previous VaxigripTetra® (Southern Hemisphere 2025) formulation. These updated vaccines remain safe, well-tolerated, and backed by data from over 2 billion doses distributed globally.
The new trivalent flu vaccine is not weaker; it's simply updated to match the viruses currently circulating. By removing the extinct B/Yamagata strain, the vaccine provides more efficient protection for everyone. Getting your flu shot every year remains the best way to prevent flu-related illness and complications, especially for those most at risk.
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