1. Frequent Genetic Mismatch between Vaccine Strains and Circulating Seasonal Influenza Viruses, Hong Kong, China, 1996-2012.
- Author
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Chan, Martin C. W., Wang, Maggie H., Zigui Chen, Hui, David S. C., Kwok, Angela K., Yeung, Apple C. M., Liu, Kun M., Yun Kit Yeoh, Lee, Nelson, Chan, Paul K. S., Chen, Zigui, and Yeoh, Yun Kit
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RESPIRATORY infections , *INFLUENZA vaccines , *INFLUENZA B virus , *INFLUENZA A virus, H3N2 subtype , *EPIDEMICS , *INFLUENZA prevention , *INFLUENZA epidemiology , *COMPARATIVE studies , *BIOLOGICAL evolution , *GENETICS , *HISTORY , *INFLUENZA , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *MOLECULAR epidemiology , *PROTEINS , *RESEARCH , *RNA , *SEASONS , *EVALUATION research , *RETROSPECTIVE studies , *INFLUENZAVIRUS A , *INFLUENZAVIRUS B - Abstract
The World Health Organization selects influenza vaccine compositions biannually to cater to peaks in temperate regions. In tropical and subtropical regions, where influenza seasonality varies and epidemics can occur year-round, the choice of vaccine remains uncertain. Our 17-year molecular epidemiologic survey showed that most influenza A(H3N2) (9/11) and B (6/7) vaccine strains had circulated in East Asia >1 year before inclusion into vaccines. Northern Hemisphere vaccine strains and circulating strains in East Asia were closely matched in 7 (20.6%) of 34 seasons for H3N2 and 5 (14.7%) of 34 seasons for B. Southern Hemisphere vaccines also had a low probability of matching (H3N2, 14.7%; B, 11.1%). Strain drift among seasons was common (H3N2, 41.2%; B, 35.3%), and biannual vaccination strategy (Northern Hemisphere vaccines in November followed by Southern Hemisphere vaccines in May) did not improve matching. East Asia is an important contributor to influenza surveillance but often has mismatch between vaccine and contemporarily circulating strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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