Four vaccine manufacturers have been approved by the FDA to market their influenza vaccines in the U.S. this year; Chiron Vaccines, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, MedImmune Vaccines, and Sanofi Pasteur.
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.
The manufacturers have projected making a total of about 100 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2006–07 season, says the FDA.
