(AGENPARL) – Fri 20 February 2026 No images? Click here https://hq_who_departmentofcommunications.cmail20.com/t/d-e-gdhhjtk-iitylyihjr-x/
Friday, 20 February 2026 | Issue 341
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© WHO / Arete / Maxime Fossat
Friday, 27 February
Composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2026-2027 northern hemisphere influenza season
On 27 February 2026, WHO will announce the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2026-2027 northern hemisphere influenza season. The recommendations are used by the national vaccine regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce and license influenza vaccines.
Recommended updates to vaccines for pandemic preparedness will also be announced.
The announcement will follow a 4-day consultation with an advisory group of experts [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/02/23/default-calendar/who-consultation-on-the-composition-of-influenza-virus-vaccines-for-use-in-the-2026-2027-northern-hemisphere-influenza-season] in Istanbul, Türkiye. This meeting is held twice annually, once for the southern, and once for the northern hemisphere.
An information session [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/02/27/default-calendar/who-information-meeting-on-the-composition-of-influenza-virus-vaccines-for-use-in-the-2026-2027-northern-hemisphere-influenza-season] for stakeholders will be held after the meeting, and will be streamed on WHO’s YouTube channel at 12.00 TRT/10.00 CET/09.00 GMT on 27 February.
A virtual press conference will follow; a media advisory with further details will be sent later.
Breaking barriers: advancing health equity for persons with disabilities in HIV care and treatment [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/02/26/default-calendar/breaking-barriers–advancing-health-equity-for-persons-with-disabilities-in-hiv-care-and-treatment] (webinar), 26 February How advanced technologies are transforming development, evaluation and manufacturing of medical countermeasures for epidemics and pandemics [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/02/26/default-calendar/frontiers-in-mcm-r-d], 26 and 27 February
Look ahead (the following week):
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment on the use of omics-based technologies in microbiological risk assessment [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/03/02/default-calendar/joint-fao-who-expert-meeting-on-microbiological-risk-assessment-on-the-use-of-omics-based-technologies-in-microbiological-risk-assessment], 2 to 6 March World Hearing Day [https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2026], 3 MarchTarget product profiles for new antibacterial agents, 3 March
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