Scientific Committee recommends priority groups to receive southern hemisphere influenza vaccine

The southerne hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccine contains the currently predominant influenza A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus strain. Based on the risk assessment, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) recommends the elderly to be the priority group to receive the SH SIV to protect them from the possible summer influenza season. Besides, the SCVPD recommends all persons living in residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) to receive the SH SIV for the prevention of influenza outbreaks.