Influenza vaccine response during the start of a pandemic: report of a WHO informal consultation held in Geneve, Switzerland, 29 June - 1 July 2015

Overview

Producing an influenza pandemic vaccine is very complex. It depends on the successful interaction between many different organizations in both the public and private sectors, and is performed under severe time constraints. Moreover, data on the epidemiology of the pandemic viruses and the local circulating seasonal viruses is critical but may be incomplete. The main focus of the WHO consultation was to better understand the complexities of the early stages of pandemic vaccine development during the start of a pandemic, to express any concerns about procedures that are either inefficient or may easily be compromised, and, to recommend strategies for improvements.