Statement of amendment to the annual flu letter for 2024 to 2025 – 12 June 2024
Updated 18 June 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-flu-immunisation-programme-plan-2024-to-2025/statement-of-amendment-to-the-annual-flu-letter-for-2024-to-2025-12-june-2024
The national flu immunisation programme 2024 to 2025 (“annual flu letter”) of the 12 March 2024 is hereby amended to reflect the following change:
1. Further to the communication from Sanofi that the recombinant quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVr) will not be available for this year’s flu vaccination programme, providers should order alternative vaccine for adults based on the 2024 to 2025 influenza vaccine recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). See table 1 below.
2. For older adults this includes use of the high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV-HD) which will be available in 2024 to 2025 in the UK market. Alternatively, further orders of other first line vaccines, the adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine (aQIV) for those aged 65 years and older and cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVc) for those under 65 years, should be made.
3.QIV-HD is licensed for those aged 60 years and over.
Table 1: Influenza vaccines to offer based on JCVI advice
| Aged 65 years and over | Aged 18 to 64 years in eligible groups |
|---|---|
|
Offer: Adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine (aQIV) High-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV-HD) The cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVc) can also be considered only when every attempt to use aQIV or QIV-HD has been exhausted – evidence of this may be requested by the commissioner before reimbursement is agreed. |
Aged 18 to 59 years Offer: Cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVc) Aged 60 to 64 years Offer: Cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVc) High-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV-HD) The egg-grown quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVe) can also be considered only when every attempt to use QIVc, or in the case of those aged 60 to 64 years also QIV-HD, has been exhausted – evidence of this may be requested by the commissioner before reimbursement is agreed. |
4. Please see the amended list of all influenza vaccines marketed in the UK for 2024 to 2025 for manufacturer contact details. Providers who have ordered QIVr are responsible for securing alternative supplies of vaccine and will be reimbursed by NHSE in the usual way.
5. As QIVr is only licensed for those aged 18 and over, there is no impact on the children’s vaccination programme.