China CDC issues guidelines on influenza vaccination in China (2022-23)

chinacdc.cn | Updated: 2022-08-29
Compiled by experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the guidelines for influenza vaccination in China (2022-23) mainly include the characteristics of influenza aetiology, epidemiology and seasonality, the health and economic burden caused by influenza among different demographics, information about influenza vaccines, and vaccination recommendations for 2022 to 2023.
 
Considering the current situation of COVID-19, the following key and high-risk groups are recommended for early vaccination: 
 
1.Medical personnel who work in clinical treatment, public health and quarantine facilities. 
2.Participants in and supporting personnel of large-scale activities;
3.Vulnerable groups and employees in high-risk places such as elderly care institutions, long-term care facilities and welfare homes;
4.Key groups including those working in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and prisons, as well as inmates; 
5.Other high-risk groups for influenza including the elderly (aged 60 and above), children aged 6 months to 5 years old, patients with chronic diseases, pregnant women, and family members and caregivers of infants (aged 0-6 months).
People (aged 18 and above) can be vaccinated with an inactivated influenza vaccine alongside their COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines can be administered at the same time on both arms; 
 
For people under 18 years old, it is recommended to have an interval of more than 14 days between receiving their influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination.
 
Vaccination doses
For inactivated influenza vaccines:
 
Children aged 6 months to 8 years old who are receiving the influenza vaccine for the first time should be vaccinated twice, with an interval of no less than 4 weeks; 
Children who have received at least one dose of the influenza vaccine in 2021 - 2022 period or before are recommended to receive one dose; 
Adults and children aged 9 and above only need to get one dose. 
 
For live attenuated influenza vaccines:
You only need to get one dose of the influenza vaccine, regardless of your vaccination record.
 
The guidelines are an updated version of the guidelines for influenza vaccination in China (2021-22). The revised part mainly includes the following:
1. New research evidence, especially those from China, including the burden caused by influenza, vaccine efficacy and vaccine safety monitoring; 
2. The relevant policies and measures on influenza prevention and control issued by China in the past year; 
3. The types of influenza vaccines approved for marketing and issuance in China for the 2022 - 2023 period; 
4. TFV and QIV components; 
5. Influenza vaccination recommendations for the 2022 - 2023 period.