India Pharma Outlook Team | Tuesday, 02 September 2025
In accordance with WHO guidelines, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., a multinational healthcare organization that leads innovation, announced the introduction of its trivalent influenza (Flu) vaccine, VaxiFlu, for the first time in India.
Every year, seasonal influenza causes 3–5 million episodes of severe illness and 290,000–650,000 respiratory deaths, making it a major worldwide health concern. Vulnerable populations, like the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and infants, are disproportionately affected by the disease.
Because seasonal influenza viruses change so quickly, vaccine formulations must be updated every year under the direction of international surveillance programs like WHO's GISRS. Coverage is still unequal despite initiatives by agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO to improve surveillance and vaccine access. Reducing the worldwide burden of influenza requires increasing readiness and distributing vaccines fairly.
Speaking on the transition to the trivalent vaccine, Dr. Parvaiz Koul, - FRCP (pulmonary medicine) (Royal College of Physicians, London), FERS (Fellow of European Respiratory Society) “Influenza vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure against seasonal influenza and its complications. Globally, the influenza vaccine is available as quadrivalent and trivalent formulations.
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Given the global pattern of influenza virus circulation since March 2020, with no circulation of influenza B Yamagata virus, the global regulatory bodies like WHO, CDC, etc, have clearly recommended that B/Yamagata should no longer be a component of the vaccine formulation. Nearly 40 countries, including the US, have already adopted the trivalent vaccine safety.
Under such circumstances, the trivalent influenza vaccine is the most scientific formulation for use. Pertinent to add that influenza B/Yamagata has not been reported from India either and as such trivalent formulation is clearly the way forward. There is no point vaccinating against a virus which is no longer in circulation for the past 5 years.”
