WHO Information Meeting on the Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines for the 2026 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season held in Sapporo

The World Health Organization (WHO) held the Information Meeting on the Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines for the 2026 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Sapporo Asty Hall.

At the meeting, the latest influenza virus data collected worldwide were shared, and candidate strains for inclusion in the next season’s vaccine were discussed based on epidemic forecasts. The outcomes of this meeting are directly connected to vaccine production and immunization programs in each country and play a vital role in global influenza prevention and control.

Professor Hideki Hasegawa, a specially appointed professor in the Division of Biological Response at IVReD, participated as the national representative from Japan. In addition, Professor Hirofumi Sawa, Director of IVReD, and Professor Emeritus Yasuhiko Suzuki, Deputy Director of IVReD, attended the meeting.