Zydus Lifesciences Launches India’s First Trivalent Flu Vaccine for the 2025-26 Season
In a big step for public health, Zydus Lifesciences has introduced India’s first trivalent influenza vaccine, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. This new vaccine aims to protect people from the seasonal flu more effectively this year.
Why is this important?
Flu viruses change quickly each year, which is why vaccines need regular updates. For the upcoming 2025-2026 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, the WHO recommends using a trivalent flu vaccine, which targets three key influenza strains.
What does the new vaccine do?
The Vaxiflu-Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TIV) is approved for everyone aged 6 months and older. It provides protection against three main flu strains:
– A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
– A/Croatia/10136RV/2023 (H3N2)-like virus
– B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus
Globally, flu vaccines are available as either quadrivalent (covering four strains) or trivalent (covering three strains).
Previously, India used a quadrivalent flu vaccine that protected against additional strains like the Yamagata B virus. However, since no Yamagata virus has been circulating globally or in India since March 2020, experts say including it in the vaccine is no longer necessary.
India’s move aligns with many other countries, including the US, which have switched to the trivalent vaccine for this flu season. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in India also recommends using the trivalent vaccine for the upcoming season.
Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences, emphasized the importance of vaccines: “Vaccines are essential for maintaining good health, especially with so many infectious diseases around. We follow global guidelines to ensure people have timely access to vaccines, which are a key part of preventive healthcare.”
He added, “We believe this new vaccine will help reduce flu cases and prevent serious health complications, especially in high-risk groups like children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses.”
Why is flu a concern?
Seasonal influenza causes millions of severe illnesses worldwide every year—about 3 to 5 million—and results in hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. The flu primarily spreads through coughing, sneezing, and close contact, making it highly contagious.
Vulnerable populations, such as infants, seniors, and those with long-term health problems, are at higher risk of serious complications from the flu.
In summary, the launch of India’s first trivalent flu vaccine by Zydus Lifesciences marks a significant step in fighting seasonal influenza. It helps protect millions of people from the flu’s serious effects and supports India’s efforts to keep citizens safe during flu season.
