The 2024-2025 flu vaccine will protect against three influenza viruses, which is unusual since previous vaccines worked against four viruses. But it seems one variant has gone into hiding and may be extinct.
The B/Yamagata viruses appear to no longer be actively circulating and haven't been detected since about 2021, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Some sources say this could be because global masking and social distancing basically eliminated the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, public health authorities have not yet confirmed that the B/Yamagata is definitely extinct, nor do they know why it does not appear to be active.
So for 2024-2025, the annual flu vaccine will protect against influenza A(H1N1) pdm09, influenza A(H3N2), and influenza B/Victoria.
Flu vaccines are updated every year because the viruses constantly evolve. Flu season runs October to May, with the most activity between December and February.
Get vaccinated as soon as possible!
