FDA Notification: Influenza Vaccine Safety Labeling Change

FDA CBER Biologics Safety Communications

Published January 9th, 2026

Detected March 12th, 2026

Summary

The FDA has notified ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) of a required safety labeling change for its FLULAVAL influenza vaccine. Postmarketing studies indicate an increased risk of febrile seizures in young children following vaccination, necessitating updates to the product's prescribing information.

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What changed

The FDA has issued a notification to ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) regarding a mandatory safety labeling change for the FLULAVAL influenza vaccine. This action is based on new safety information derived from postmarketing observational studies, which identified an increased risk of febrile seizures in children aged 6 months through 4 years within the first day following vaccination with standard dose trivalent (2024-2025 Formula) and quadrivalent (2023-2024 Formula) influenza vaccines. The FDA is exercising its authority under Section 505(o)(4) of the FDCA to require these labeling updates.

This notification requires the manufacturer to update the "HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION" and "WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS" sections of the FLULAVAL labeling to reflect the identified risk of febrile seizures. The updated labeling should specifically mention the increased risk observed in children under 5 years of age. Compliance with this labeling change is expected to be immediate, as it is a direct notification from the FDA based on new safety data. Failure to update labeling as required could lead to further enforcement actions by the FDA.

What to do next

Update FLULAVAL labeling to include warnings about the increased risk of febrile seizures in children 6 months to <5 years of age.
Incorporate the new safety information into the "HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION" and "WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS" sections.
Ensure updated labeling is distributed and made available as per FDA requirements.

Source document (simplified)

U.S. Food & Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20993 w w w.fda.gov Our STN: BL 125163/751 NOTIFICATION SAFETY LABELING CHANGE January 9, 2026 ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec Attention: William Hoffner GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals 14200 Shady Grove Road VR1500 Dear Mr. Hoffner: Please refer to your Biologics License Application (BLA) submitted under section 351(a) of the Public Health Service Act for Influenza Vaccine (FLULAVAL). Section 505(o)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) authorizes FDA to require holders of approved drug and licensed biological product applications to make safety related labeling changes based upon new safety information that becomes available after approval of the drug or biological product. Since FLULAVAL was approved on October 5, 2006, we have become aware of the following: In two postmarketing observational studies conducted in the Biologics Effectiveness and Safety System (BEST) an increased risk of febrile seizures was observed during the first day following vaccination with standard dose trivalent (2024- 2025 Formula) and quadrivalent (2023-2024 Formula) influenza vaccines in children 6 months through 4 years of age. The risk of febrile seizures following vaccination with any influenza vaccine was assessed during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 respiratory influenza seasons using three commercial insurance claims data sources in self- controlled case series (SCCS) analyses. The risk of febrile seizures within a risk window of 0 to 1 day postvaccination was compared to the risk within a control window of 8 to 63 days postvaccination. The SCCS analyses from the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons identified a significantly increased risks of febrile seizures in the first day following influenza vaccination. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) for febrile seizure following quadrivalent vaccine (2023-2024) in one data partner was 1.97 [95% CI: 1.09, 3.54] with an estimated attributable risk of 21.2 excess febrile seizure episodes per million standard dose quadrivalent vaccinations. In the same data partner, the IRR following trivalent vaccine (2024-2025) was 2.94 [95% CI: 1.72, 5.01] with an Lloyd PC, Acharya G, Zhao H, et al. Safety monitoring of health outcomes following influenza vaccination during the 2023–2024 season among U.S. Commercially-insured individuals aged 6 months through 64 years: Self- controlled case series analyses. Vaccine. Sep 17 2025;63:127614. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127614.

Page 2 – STN BL 125163/751 – William Hoffner attributable risk of 44.2 excess febrile seizure episodes per million standard dose trivalent vaccinations. We consider this information to be “new safety information” as defined in section 505-1(b)(3) of the FDCA. In accordance with section 505(o)(4) of the FDCA, we are notifying you that based on the new safety information described above, we believe that the new safety information should be included in the labeling for influenza vaccines with an approved indication extending to less than 5 years of age as follows: HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION RECENT MAJOR CHANGES Warnings and Precautions, Febrile seizures (5.x) Month/Year WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS In two separate postmarketing observational studies, an increased risk of febrile seizures was observed during the first day following vaccination with standard dose trivalent (2024-2025) and quadrivalent (2023-2024) influenza vaccines in children 6 months through 4 years of age. (5.x, 6.2) FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS 5.x. Febrile Seizures In two postmarketing observational studies, an increased risk of seizures was observed in the first day following vaccination among children 6 months to <5 years of age [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Under section 6.2 6.2 Febrile Seizures. Postmarketing Observational Study of the Risk of Febrile Seizure following Vaccination with trivalent/quadrivalent influenza vaccines. The association between influenza vaccine and febrile seizures was evaluated in children ages 6 months through 4 years during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 respiratory seasons using three commercial health insurance claims data sources. A self-controlled case series (SCCS) analyses compared the risk of febrile seizures within a risk window of 0 to 1 day postvaccination to a control window of 8 to 63 days postvaccination. The 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 season SCCS analyses found significantly increased risks of febrile seizures in the first day following influenza

Page 3 – STN BL 125163/751 – William Hoffner standard dose quadrivalent and trivalent vaccinations, respectively. The estimated attributable risk from one data partner was 21.2 per million excess febrile seizure episodes or a 97% increase in relative risk (IRR: 1.97 [95% CI: 1.09, 3.54]) after the standard dose quadrivalent vaccine and a 44.2 per million excess febrile seizure episodes or a 194% increase in relative risk (IRR: 2.94 [95% CI: 1.72, 5.01]) following the standard dose trivalent vaccine. The results of this type of observational study suggest a causal relationship between standard dose influenza quadrivalent and trivalent vaccines and febrile seizures in children 6 months through 4 years of age. Under section 505(o)(4), if you fail to submit a response within 30 calendar days, you would be in violation of the FDCA that may deem your product to be misbranded under section 502(z) and may subject you to enforcement action, including civil monetary penalties under section 303(f)(4)(A) and an order to make whatever labeling changes FDA deems appropriate to address the new safety information. Please submit your safety labeling submission to STN 125163. Prominently identify the submission with the following wording in bold capital letters at the top of the first page of the submission, as appropriate: SAFETY LABELING CHANGES UNDER 505(o)(4) - PRIOR APPROVAL SUPPLEMENT OR SAFETY LABELING CHANGES UNDER 505(o)(4) – CHANGES BEING EFFECTED OR SAFETY LABELING CHANGES UNDER 505(o)(4) – REBUTTAL (CHANGE NOT WARRANTED).” Prominently identify subsequent submissions related to the safety labeling changes supplement with the following wording in bold capital letters at the top of the first page of the submission: SAFETY LABELING CHANGES UNDER 505(o)(4) - AMENDMENT

Page 4 – STN BL 125163/751 – William Hoffner If you have any questions, please contact the Regulatory Project Manager, LCDR Sylvia Park, PharmD, by email (Sylvia.Park@fda.hhs.gov). Sincerely, Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH Director Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research