HealthAugust 23, 2026
trivalent
trai-VAY-lent
Definition
A vaccine formulation designed to protect against three different strains or types of a virus, typically two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin prefix 'tri-' meaning 'three' and 'valent' from 'valentia' meaning 'strength' or 'power', referring to its chemical or biological capacity to bind or combine with three distinct elements.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe current seasonal flu vaccines that incorporate H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B components to provide broad protection. This highlights why vaccines must be updated to match the specific viruses circulating in a given year.
H1N1 cases rise in India as doctors stress annual flu vaccination
Read the full article ↗Daijiworld