NAMOur WorkProgramsAdvancing Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Preparedness and Response: A Global Initiative

Advancing Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Preparedness and Response

While the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, novel influenza viruses continue to be a constant pandemic threat. These viruses, which could appear at any time, can lead to circumstances and ramifications similar to or worse than the current experiences resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Both domestic and global efforts, such as the U.S. National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy 2020-2030 and the WHO Global Influenza Strategy 2019-2030, have called for the development of more effective influenza vaccines complemented by modern, adaptable manufacturing technologies that can scale production and meet demand during a pandemic.

The global response to COVID-19 has pushed the boundaries on what is possible for rapid pandemic response in several areas, including vaccine research, development, manufacturing, equitable distribution, allocation, and administration. These unprecedented actions could inform and advance future pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine preparedness efforts.

Objective

The National Academy of Medicine has established an International Committee (IC) in coordination with the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Global Affairs (OGA) to inform and facilitate its efforts to advance global influenza pandemic preparedness. This International Committee will provide the OGA an iterative, interactive, multi-disciplinary, expert-informed process for assessing the global impact that capabilities, technologies, processes, and policies developed for COVID-19 could have on pandemic and seasonal influenza global preparedness and response, especially regarding vaccine development.

The NAM International Committee will convene domestic and international experts from across sectors (e.g., government, academia, industry, civil society, international public health organizations) and a variety of disciplines (e.g., global public health; infectious disease prevention; influenza vaccine research, development, and manufacturing; pandemic preparedness and response; virology, and immunology).

The IC will take a comprehensive approach to explore the current state of the art and provide recommendations to improve the global design, composition, clinical trials, production, scale-up, regulatory approval, distribution of influenza vaccines, and post-approval surveillance for adverse events. These recommendations will be developed by four concurrent National Academies consensus study committees and released as four consensus reports.

The global response to COVID-19 has pushed the boundaries on what is possible for rapid pandemic response in several areas, including vaccine research, development, manufacturing, equitable distribution, allocation, and administration. These unprecedented actions could inform and advance future pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine preparedness efforts.

Consensus Studies

Click below for study information, including committee rosters and registration options for public events.

Featured Event

International Workshop on COVID-19 Lessons to Inform Pandemic Influenza Response

This public workshop convened international experts, thought leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss emerging evidence that could inform and advance pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine preparedness efforts and subsequent response.

International Committee

Martin Friede, PhD
Co-Chair | Unit Lead, World Health Organization
Prashant Yadav, PhD, MBA
Co-Chair | Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development
Ripley Ballou, MD
Principle Investigator, ADVANCE Program, IAVI
Norman W. Baylor, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer, Biologics Consulting
Thomas Beat Cueni, MS
Director-General, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations
Keiji Fukuda, MD, MPH
Director and Clinical Professor, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
Patricia Jannet Garcia, MD, PhD, MPH
Professor, School of Public Health and Administration, Cayetano Heredia University
Anuradha Gupta, MBA
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
Richard Hatchett, MD
Chief Executive Officer, CEPI
Daniel B. Jernigan, MD, MPH
Director, Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Captain, USPHS (RET)
Etleva Kadilli, MSc
Director, Supply Division, UNICEF
Lawrence Kerr, PhD
Director, Pandemics and Emerging Threats. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Heidi J. Larson, PhD
Director, Vaccine Confidence Project, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Peter Sands, MPA
Executive Director, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria
John Simpson, MBBS, MFPHM
Head, Emergency Response Department; Deputy Director, Health Protection Directorate, Public Health England
Kanta Subbarao, MBBS, MPH
Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Melbourne
Beverly Ann Taylor, BSc, PhD
Head of Influenza Scientific Affairs, WHO; IFPMA Lead, Seqirus Vaccines

NAM Staff

Morgan Kanarek
Chief of Staff National Academy of Medicine
Johanna Gusman
Program Officer
Julie Pavlin
Senior Board Director