{"id":4420,"date":"2025-12-15T21:53:51","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T21:53:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pacificpublichealth.ca\/?p=4420"},"modified":"2025-12-15T22:03:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T22:03:54","slug":"this-influenza-season-will-feel-a-little-different","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pacificpublichealth.ca\/whats-new\/this-influenza-season-will-feel-a-little-different\/","title":{"rendered":"This Influenza Season Will Feel a Little Different"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s been a lot of talk in the news about this year\u2019s influenza season. Collaborating with our partners in public health, we are here to share the most accurate information to keep your families and loved ones safe. One of our incredible partners is BCCDC\u2019s Dr Danuta Skowronski<\/a>, recognized for her notable contributions to the public health responses around several major health events such as SARS, avian influenza, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, COVID-19 and enterovirus D68, and for providing regular expert guidance around seasonal influenza.<\/p>\n\n

While influenza seasons are notoriously difficult to predict, Dr Skowronski has given us all the latest information about the 25\/26 influenza season<\/strong>. This includes a new variant of influenza A(H3N2) called subclade K and what we can do to keep our communities safe, and in the know.<\/p>\n\n

Looking to the South for Clues about the Flu Season<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Although many factors are involved when trying to understand how the Northern Hemisphere\u2019s influenza season may play out, researchers consider which viruses have emerged during the Southern Hemisphere\u2019s preceding season. This year during the Southern Hemisphere\u2019s 2025 influenza season, the subclade K variant arose, and is projected to dominate during the Northern Hemisphere\u2019s 25\/26 season. For the 25\/26 season in Northern America, the World Health Organization (WHO) had already chosen the vaccine, and this choice does not reflect the more recent subclade K variant, making the vaccine \u2018mismatched.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n\n

What does this mean? <\/strong>If vaccines are mismatched, they may not be as effective. Additionally, H3N2 epidemics are normally associated with worse influenza seasons, and vaccine effectiveness is typically lower for H3N2. Mismatched vaccines still provide some protection, especially from severe cases of influenza that require hospitalization. But, if the vaccine is less effective, subclade K may result in more severe events overall.<\/p>\n\n

It is important to note that the influenza vaccine targets three influenza strains, including A(H1N1), influenza B, and influenza A(H3N2). Ultimately, despite the H3N2 mismatch, it is still important for people to receive their influenza vaccine, because it does still offer some protection. This is especially important for people at high risk, like older adults, or people with chronic medical conditions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Surveillance is Key<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The USA normally provides Canada with strong indicators about what the North American influenza season will look like, but the US Centers for Disease Control paused its standard weekly respiratory illness\u00a0reporting as we entered the 25\/26 season (although reporting has resumed now in the US<\/a>). Dr Skowronski and her team continually monitored developments throughout the summer and early fall, enabling them to be among the first to alert about subclade K<\/a>. The team also tracked data from the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan where the influenza season got off to an early and intense start \u2014 especially affecting children \u2014 with the H3N2 subclade K comprising <\/strong>90% of flu samples.<\/strong><\/a> As of December 5, surveillance indicators show the seasonal influenza epidemic has also begun in Canada<\/a> and BC<\/a>, with a sharp rise in influenza activity over the past few weeks.<\/p>\n\n

The Importance of Vaccine Effectiveness Monitoring<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The influenza vaccine is still expected to provide cross-protection against mismatched variants. <\/strong>Knowing how much protection, however, requires real time measurement. Dr Skowronski\u2019s Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network (SPSN)<\/a> for Influenza Virus and Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) Monitoring (an initiative the Foundation is proud to support)<\/a> is crucial to determine how much protection influenza vaccines provide each year.\u00a0\u200eThis enhanced molecular and epidemiological surveillance<\/a> is used to address gaps in knowledge on vaccine-virus relatedness and will provide valid and timely VE findings, to inform further communications and public health guidance. Ultimately, this information will arm public health leaders to mitigate the impact of influenza this season<\/strong>, and will help improve understanding about influenza vaccines and programs in the future.<\/p>\n\n

Staying Healthy during this Influenza Season<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The vaccine remains the most important way to protect yourself, your friends, and family from influenza.<\/p>\n\n

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\n\t\t\t“Even in seasons when vaccine effectiveness is lower, the vaccine still provides some protection and is the best thing you can do to reduce your risk of severe illness.”<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\t

\n\t\t– <\/strong>Joshua Petrie, PhD, MPH, associate research scientist at Wisconsin’s Marshfield Clinic Research Institute\t<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

In addition, you can reduce the risk of getting and spreading the flu by:<\/a><\/p>\n\n