CSL Seqirus Starts Shipping 2024/25 Flu Vaccines

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) trend findings indicate a significant decline in influenza vaccination rates, which poses a serious risk to public health infrastructure and underscores the importance of receiving an annual influenza vaccination.

According to the CDC, it is recommended that all eligible people aged six months and older receive their annual influenza vaccine, especially people at an increased risk of severe influenza-related complications, such as older adults, pregnant people, and children under five years old.

CSL Seqirus, a business of CSL, has announced the commencement of shipping its influenza vaccines for the 2024/25 flu season. This year's vaccines are trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) formulations, adhering to the FDA's directive to remove the B/Yamagata strain.

Stefan Merlo, Vice President of Commercial Operations, North America, CSL Seqirus, emphasized the company's commitment to supporting healthcare providers in vaccinating communities to counter the decline in vaccination rates. He highlighted the importance of education and customer readiness to restore vaccination rates.

CSL Seqirus's 2024/25 influenza vaccine portfolio, the only one approved for people aged six months and older, includes:

FLUCELVAX®, the first and only cell-based influenza vaccine for people six months and older.
FLUAD® (Adjuvanted), the first and only adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine for adults 65 and older, recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
AFLURIA®, an egg-based influenza vaccine for eligible people six months of age and older.
Declining vaccination rates significantly threaten public health infrastructure. Preliminary CDC estimates report increased influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths last season compared to previous seasons. Internal calculations indicate double-digit percentage declines in vaccination rates across all age groups over the past three flu seasons, with a notable 22% drop among children aged 6 months to 18 years and a 14% decrease in adults over 65.

Influenza's public health burden surpasses other respiratory illnesses. During the 2023/24 flu season, influenza accounted for almost half of hospitalizations due to infectious diseases, including influenza, COVID, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and over half of total deaths. This data reinforces the CDC's recommendation for annual influenza vaccination for all eligible people, especially those at increased risk of severe complications.

Dr. Gregg Sylvester, Chief Health Officer, CSL Seqirus, stressed the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to reduce influenza-related illnesses and severe outcomes as influenza vaccines are distributed nationwide.

Influenza is a common, contagious respiratory disease that can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, leading to hospitalization and death in some cases. Transmission can occur one day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. The CDC's preliminary estimates for the 2023/24 influenza season reported 390,000-810,000 influenza-related hospitalizations in the U.S.

The CDC recommends annual vaccination for people aged six months and older without contraindications. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop and provide protection against influenza viruses. Therefore, it is advised that vaccination occurs before influenza begins spreading in the community, ideally in September or October for most people requiring only one dose of the flu vaccine.

CSL Seqirus, part of CSL, is a global leader in public health protection and one of the largest influenza vaccine providers worldwide. They are committed to preventing infectious diseases and are a key player in pandemic preparedness. With advanced production facilities in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, and strong R&D capabilities, CSL Seqirus offers a broad portfolio of innovative vaccines in over 20 countries.