fbpx How many B antigens should a good influenza vaccine have? | Science in the net

How many B antigens should a good influenza vaccine have?

di redazione
Pubblicato il 27/12/2013Read time: 2 mins
Global Health
Vaccine

The vaccine against seasonal influenza is called trivalent, because it contains viruses representing three influenza strains: one A/H1N1, one A/H3N2, and one B. the single B-lineage antigen included is the one that is predicted to circulate in the related season. However, this means that some mismatch between the B antigen in the vaccine and the B antigen actually circulating may occur, this being a problem since cross-protection by immunization against the other lineage is expected to be low.

In order to minimize such mismatch, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested using quadrivalent vaccines that include both influenza B virus antigenic lineages, called Victoria and Yamagata. A study published on Vaccine estimated the benefit that a quadrivalent vaccine could bring compared to a trivalent one, concluding that the additional protection provided by including a second lineage of influenza B could result in a modest reduction in influenza-associated outcomes.

Another study, published on the New England Journal of Medicine, evaluated the efficacy of a candidate inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine in children 3 to 8 years of age. Their results provided evidence that the quadrivalent vaccine tested prevents influenza associated with the A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B Victoria strains individually. The low number of B Yamagata confirmed infections did not allow to properly estimate the efficacy of the vaccine against this strain but the immune response was high enough to suggest a similar efficacy against other strains.


Scienza in rete è un giornale senza pubblicità e aperto a tutti per garantire l’indipendenza dell’informazione e il diritto universale alla cittadinanza scientifica. Contribuisci a dar voce alla ricerca sostenendo Scienza in rete. In questo modo, potrai entrare a far parte della nostra comunità e condividere il nostro percorso. Clicca sul pulsante e scegli liberamente quanto donare! Anche una piccola somma è importante. Se vuoi fare una donazione ricorrente, ci consenti di programmare meglio il nostro lavoro e resti comunque libero di interromperla quando credi.


  • 17827 reads

prossimo articolo

My Portrait of Anthony Fauci

di Guido Poli
Pubblicato il 05/08/2026

Anthony Fauci, at 85, has been called to testify before the Senate committee investigating the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, in what feels like a settling of scores by the very party that, at the time, was recommending chloroquine as a defence. The eminent physician is once again at the centre of controversy, not least for choosing to invoke the Fifth Amendment rather than answer questions. Guido Poli, immunologist at the San Raffaele Hospital and president of Patto Trasversale per la Scienza, who worked with him for many years, recalls in this article Tony Fauci's battles in the history of American and international public health, from AIDS to the pandemic. The image is taken from the footage (public domain) of A. Fauci's hearing on 29 July 2026 before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Global Health

In recent days, Anthony (“Tony”) Fauci has once again become a prominent figure in the international media, and to some extent in Italy as well. As the physician-scientist who has played one of the leading roles in U.S. public health over the past several decades, he became known throughout the world during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having had the privilege and good fortune to work with him from 1986 to 1993, I would like to offer my personal account of the scientist and the man.