The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it has approved this year's seasonal influenza (flu) vaccines that include the new strains of virus judged likely to cause flu in the Northern Hemisphere in 2006-2007.
"These approvals signal our commitment to doing all we can to help ensure the timely availability of seasonal flu vaccine for the American public," said Jesse L. Goodman, MD, MPH, director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "We will continue to work closely with the manufacturers so they can deliver vaccine in time for the start of vaccinations, which begin in the fall."
Each year influenza vaccine manufacturers submit information and samples to FDA of their virus strains being manufactured for the upcoming seasonal influenza season for review and testing in FDA laboratories. Because different influenza virus strains may appear each year, one or more of the strains in the vaccine may need to be changed to protect against what public health experts think are the strains most likely to infect people that year. This season's approved formulation for the U.S. vaccine is identical to that recommended by both the World Health Organization and FDA's Advisory Committee. The formulation includes one strain that was used in last year's vaccine and two new strains. Seasonal flu vaccines do not protect against avian flu, which is caused by different viral strains.