China approves first domestically developed subunit flu vaccine for all ages

China has approved a homegrown subunit flu vaccine for use in individuals aged six months and above, according to the vaccine maker.

Ab&B Biotech, based in East China's Jiangsu province, said the trivalent flu vaccine recently received market authorization from China's National Medical Products Administration. This makes it the first vaccine of its kind in China eligible for administration across the entire population.

Flu vaccines in China primarily fall into three categories based on their technological platforms. The subunit vaccine uses a more refined purification process compared to conventional split-virion vaccines. It is estimated that the raw material required for about five doses of split-virion vaccine can yield one dose of the subunit vaccine.

Pan Hongxing, a researcher at the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the subunit vaccine features a purer composition and offers a higher safety profile compared to other vaccine types. He added that the approval of this subunit vaccine provides more options for flu prevention and control both in China and globally.