EMA Updates Flu Vaccine Composition for 2026-2027 Season
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released their official recommendations for the composition of seasonal influenza vaccines for the 2026-2027 northern hemisphere...
- The recommendations were endorsed by the EMA's human medicines committee (CHMP) during its March 2026 plenary meeting.
- The WHO announced its recommendations on February 27, 2026, following a four-day consultation.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released their official recommendations for the composition of seasonal influenza vaccines for the 2026-2027 northern hemisphere season. These updates are essential to maintain vaccine effectiveness as influenza viruses continuously change and evolve.
The recommendations were endorsed by the EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) during its March 2026 plenary meeting. The guidelines are used by pharmaceutical companies and national regulatory agencies globally to develop, produce, and license the vaccines for the upcoming season.
The Role of Global Surveillance
The WHO announced its recommendations on February 27, 2026, following a four-day consultation. This process involved the analysis of global influenza surveillance data provided by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) and its partners.
Experts from Essential Regulatory Laboratories and WHO Collaborating Centres review this data twice a year—once for each hemisphere—to ensure that the vaccine strains are closely matched to the viruses expected to circulate. This alignment is intended to provide the best possible protection against severe illness and death.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
WHO’s recommendations for influenza vaccine composition rest on the diligent, year‑round work of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) and partners. Thanks to GISRS, next season’s vaccines have been updated to counter the latest strains of influenza viruses, in turn better protecting communities.
Addressing Viral Evolution
A primary driver for the 2026-2027 updates is the emergence of new viral variants. Specifically, a notably different variant of the A(H3N2) virus emerged in August 2025. This variant, classified as J.2.4.1 and also referred to as subclade K
, spread rapidly across the globe.
Because influenza viruses are constantly changing, periodic replacement of the virus strains contained in the vaccines is necessary. The updated composition for the 2026-2027 season includes recommendations for both egg-based and cell culture-based vaccines.
Implementation and Regulatory Impact
The EMA’s release of these official recommendations ensures that the vaccines distributed across Europe remain effective against the latest evolving strains. The process allows manufacturers to begin the production cycle with the most current genetic information available.
The coordination between the WHO’s surveillance and the EMA’s regulatory endorsement creates a standardized framework for vaccine development. This global cooperation is described by the WHO as a necessary response to shared risks in a connected world.