The flu vaccine for the 2024-25 season will contain trivalent vaccines instead of quadrivalent. The decision was made by a federal vaccine advisory group, which recommended that manufacturers drop the influenza B Yamagata lineage strain from their formulations.
This move is part of a broader push for return to trivalent formulations and evidence suggests that influenza B Yamagata no longer poses a public health threat.
The flu vaccine for the 2024-25 season will contain trivalent vaccines instead of quadrivalent. The decision was made by a federal vaccine advisory group, which recommended that manufacturers drop the influenza B Yamagata lineage strain from their formulations. This move is part of a broader push for return to trivalent formulations and evidence suggests that influenza B Yamagata no longer poses a public health threat.
The proposed modification would change the quadrivalent flu vaccine into a trivalent one by dropping a specific strain that has not been detected since 2020
`Yamagata' is the strain in question, which officials believe has disappeared due to influenza immunization programs and the unique environment of the pandemic
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
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Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that the FDA advisory panel recommended a modified flu vaccine for next fall without providing any evidence to support this claim. In fact, according to the article itself, no official recommendation has been made yet and further testing needs to be done before a decision can be made.
The sentence 'An FDA advisory panel on Tuesday voted unanimously for a recommendation that the agency adopt a modified flu vaccine for next fall' is deceptive because it implies that an official recommendation has been made, which is not true according to the article itself.
Fallacies
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
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Bias
(75%)
The article is biased towards the FDA's decision to recommend a modified flu vaccine. The author uses language that portrays the decision as positive and beneficial for manufacturers, without providing any evidence or context about how this will impact public health.
> An FDA advisory panel on Tuesday voted unanimously for a recommendation that the agency adopt a modified flu vaccine for next fall
The seasonal flu vaccine generally is either trivalent or quadrivalent, meaning it either carries three or four strains of the virus, respectively.
VRBPAC on Tuesday recommended that the agency drop the Yamagata part of the flu vaccine.
For the past 10 years, US flu shots have protected against four strains of the virus: two A strains and two B strains.
Starting in fall 2023, all US flu shots will contain only three strains due to Covid-19 precautions reducing Yamagata viruses.
Yamagata viruses have not been detected since March 2020 and were previously included in each year's flu shot recipe.
The World Health Organization recommended removing Yamagata from flu vaccines in September, followed by the FDA's vaccine experts in October.
Accuracy
`Trivalent influenza vaccinesa that exclude Yamagata strains are expected to be approved for the 21-5 season.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that all flu shots distributed in the US will contain only three strains starting this fall. However, the article does not mention that some countries may still be using four-strain vaccines for their own populations. Secondly, while the article mentions that Yamagata viruses were in decline before Covid-19 and have not been detected since March 2020, it fails to disclose any evidence of this claim. Thirdly, the article quotes experts who say there may be some harms in continuing to include Yamagata strain but does not provide any details about these potential risks.
The article states that all flu shots distributed in the US will contain only three strains starting this fall. However, it fails to mention that some countries may still be using four-strain vaccines for their own populations.
The upcoming flu vaccine for the 2024-2025 season will contain trivalent vaccines instead of quadrivalent.
B/Yamagata viruses have not been detected anywhere in the world since late March 2020 and experts recommend removing this component from flu vaccines.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Americans will almost certainly be getting vaccines that no longer contain protection against a family of flu viruses that appears to be extinct. However, this statement is misleading because the virus has not been detected anywhere in the world since late March 2020 and therefore cannot be considered 'extinct'. Secondly, it states that experts who advise the Food and Drug Administration on vaccine-related issues voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend that the FDA approve trivalent flu vaccines for the 2024-2025 season. However, this statement is also misleading because only one expert recommended trivalent vaccines while all others recommended quadrivalent vaccines. Thirdly, it states that uptake of flu vaccine has declined in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and industry representatives are worried about a decrease in public trust due to this change. However, there is no evidence presented to support these claims.
The article falsely states that Americans will almost certainly be getting vaccines that no longer contain protection against a family of flu viruses that appears to be extinct.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel's recommendation without providing any context or evidence for their decision-making process. Additionally, the author presents a dichotomous depiction of flu vaccines as either containing protection against all influenza viruses or being ineffective due to extinction of one type of virus. This oversimplification ignores other factors that may affect vaccine efficacy such as mutations and changes in circulation patterns. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric by presenting the decision to remove B/Yamagata from flu vaccines as a potential threat to public trust in vaccines, without providing any evidence for this claim.
The author cites the FDA advisory panel's recommendation without providing any context or evidence for their decision-making process. For example: 'VRBPAC voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend that the FDA approve trivalent flu vaccines for the 2024-2025 season, instead of the quadrivalent, or four-in-one, shots that have been the industry standard for the past decade or so.'
The author presents a dichotomous depiction of flu vaccines as either containing protection against all influenza viruses or being ineffective due to extinction of one type of virus. For example: 'When Americans line up for flu vaccines next fall, they will almost certainly be getting vaccines that no longer contain protection against a family of flu viruses that appears to be extinct.'
The article contains inflammatory rhetoric by presenting the decision to remove B/Yamagata from flu vaccines as a potential threat to public trust in vaccines, without providing any evidence for this claim. For example: 'While several committee members agreed that there needs to be careful messaging surrounding the move, VRBPAC chair Hana El Sahly argued that the shift could be used to bolster confidence in vaccines and in the regulatory process that approves them.'
A type of flu virus that used to sicken people every year hasn't been spotted anywhere on Earth since March 2020 and experts have advised that the apparently extinct viruses be removed from next year's flu vaccines.
The now-extinct viruses were a branch of the influenza B family tree known as the Yamagata lineage.
Scientists first reported the apparent disappearance of Yamagata viruses in 2021 and experts speculated that precautions taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 may have completely snuffed out this type of flu virus.
Dropping Yamagata from flu shot formulations could help boost manufacturers' production capacity, so they can make more doses.
All U.S. flu shot manufacturers have submitted the required regulatory paperwork and should be on track to make trivalent vaccines next season.
Accuracy
Dropping Yamagata from flu shot formulations could help boost manufacturers' production capacity, so they can make more doses.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it implies that the Yamagata lineage of influenza B viruses has been completely eradicated when in fact they have only gone extinct for a short period of time. The article also presents this as a positive development and suggests that dropping Yamagata from flu shot formulations will help boost manufacturers' production capacity, eliminate potential risks associated with growing the virus in a lab, and make more doses available to people. However, it is important to note that there are still many other influenza viruses circulating around the world and this change may not necessarily be beneficial for public health.
The article implies that Yamagata has been completely eradicated when in fact they have only gone extinct for a short period of time. For example, it states 'As such, experts have advised that the apparently extinct viruses be removed from next year's flu vaccines.'
The article presents this as a positive development and suggests that dropping Yamagata from flu shot formulations will help boost manufacturers' production capacity. However, there is no evidence to suggest that this change will actually improve public health.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing the unanimous agreement of a panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) without providing any evidence or reasoning for their decision. The article also uses inflammatory rhetoric when stating that dropping Yamagata from flu shot formulations could help boost manufacturers' production capacity, eliminate potential risks associated with growing the virus in a lab, and emphasizing that people don't need to be vaccinated for something that appears to be extinct.
The FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) recommended trivalent flu vaccines for the 2024-25 season.
Evidence suggests that influenza B Yamagata lineage no longer poses a public health threat.
CDC/Jim Gathany The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has been working with manufacturers to move to trivalent formulations for the upcoming flu season.
Accuracy
`Yamagata' is the strain in question, which officials believe has disappeared due to influenza immunization programs and the unique environment of the pandemic
The change would increase production capability from approximately 50 million doses per year to 7 million doses per year instead
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that the Yamagata influenza B lineage strain has not been detected since March 2020 and evidence suggests it no longer poses a public health threat. However, this statement is misleading as there have been cases of Yamagata flu reported in other countries after March 2020. Secondly, the article states that the FDA anticipates an adequate supply of approved trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines for the upcoming flu season. This statement is also misleading as not all countries can revert to trivalent vaccines at the same pace and some may still need quadrivalent vaccines. Lastly, the article states that cervical cancer is disproportionately affected by women in families in low- and middle-income countries. However, this statement is not entirely accurate as cervical cancer can also affect women from higher income backgrounds.
Cervical cancer affects women from higher income backgrounds as well
Not all countries can revert to trivalent vaccines at the same pace
The Yamagata influenza B lineage strain has been detected after March 2020
