Key points
Updates for the 2026-2027 flu season
On March 13, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made recommendations to update the composition of 2026-2027 U.S. influenza vaccines. All three virus components of 2026-2027 U.S. seasonal flu vaccines were updated compared to those used for 2025-2026 U.S. seasonal flu vaccines. This includes a change to protect against the influenza A(H3N2) subclade K virus that spread widely during the 2025-2026 season.
Composition of 2026-2027 flu vaccines
The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) met on March 12, 2026, to discuss and make recommendations on the selection of influenza viruses for the composition of flu vaccines for the 2026-2027 U.S. flu season. The committee recommended that U.S. flu vaccines will contain following:
- Egg based vaccines
- an A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Darwin/1454/2025 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Tokyo/EIS13-175/2025 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.
- Cell- or recombinant vaccines
- an A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- an A/Darwin/1415/2025 (H3N2)-like virus; and
- a B/Pennsylvania/14/2025 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.
FDA has informed the manufacturers of FDA-approved seasonal influenza vaccines of these recommendations. FDA anticipates that there will be an adequate and diverse supply of approved seasonal influenza vaccines for the 2026-2027 U.S. influenza season. More information is available at Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2026-2027 U.S. Influenza Season | FDA.