Russia updates flu vaccine composition for 2026–2027 season, health ministry says
In short
All Russian flu vaccines included in the National Immunization Calendar have been updated in antigen composition to match World Health Organization recommendations for the Northern Hemisphere for the 2026–2027 season, RBC reported. The Health Ministry said the composition was fully updated, and Russian manufacturers are meeting demand for flu vaccines, according to RIA Novosti. No figures for output or doses were given in the documents.
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All Russian flu vaccines included in the National Immunization Calendar have been updated in antigen composition for the 2026–2027 season, RBC reported, citing World Health Organization recommendations for the Northern Hemisphere. The Health Ministry said the composition of the vaccines was fully updated, according to RIA Novosti. [ 1 , 2 ]
A separate RIA Novosti item said Russian manufacturers are meeting the demand for flu vaccines. The documents did not give production volumes, the timing of deliveries or the specific strains in the updated composition. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The update sets what will be offered in Russia's state immunization programme for the coming season, so the composition change matters to anyone vaccinated under the National Immunization Calendar. The documents give no volume, price or distribution details, and the significance for readers outside Russia is limited to the seasonal vaccine strain selection, which follows WHO guidance.
Key facts
- All Russian flu vaccines in the National Immunization Calendar were updated in antigen composition for the 2026–2027 season, RBC reported. [ 1 ]
- The composition was updated in line with WHO recommendations for the Northern Hemisphere for 2026–2027, according to RBC. [ 1 ]
- The Health Ministry said the composition of the flu vaccines was fully updated, RIA Novosti reported. [ 2 ]
- Russian manufacturers are meeting the demand for flu vaccines, RIA Novosti reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The antigen composition of Russian flu vaccines in the National Immunization Calendar was updated for the 2026–2027 season. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The update follows WHO recommendations for the Northern Hemisphere, as cited by RBC, and the Health Ministry said the composition was fully updated. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Russian producers are meeting demand for flu vaccines, according to the state news agency RIA Novosti. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- How many doses will be produced or supplied, and when the updated vaccines will be available. No document gives production volumes, supply figures or distribution timing.
- Which specific strains or antigens the 2026–2027 composition contains. The documents refer only to an antigen composition update in line with WHO recommendations, without listing components.
- Details of the Health Ministry's statement beyond the headline. Two RIA Novosti documents carry only titles and no article or summary text, so no quotes, names or figures from them can be cited.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RBC reports all Russian flu vaccines in the National Immunization Calendar have been updated in antigen composition per WHO recommendations for the 2026–2027 Northern Hemisphere season. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports the Health Ministry saying the vaccine composition was fully updated. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that Russian manufacturers are meeting demand for flu vaccines. [ 3 ]