NIAID Strategic Plan for a Universal Influenza Vaccine

The Pathway to a Universal Influenza Vaccine

In 2018, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) unveiled its strategic plan for developing a universal influenza vaccine. The plan was outlined in an article published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases and described a vaccine that can provide durable protection for all age groups against multiple influenza strains, including those that might cause a pandemic. The strategic plan builds upon a workshop NIAID convened in June 2017 that gathered scientists from academia, industry, and government who developed criteria for defining a universal influenza vaccine, identified knowledge gaps, and delineated research strategies for addressing those gaps.  The findings of that workshop were published in the journal Immunity and outlined four key criteria for a universal vaccine.

A Universal Influenza Vaccine Should Meet These 4 Criteria:

  • Be at least 75% effective

    The vaccine should be at least 75% effective against symptomatic influenza virus infection

  • Protect against group I and II influenza A viruses

    The vaccine should focus on influenza A viruses, with influenza B as a secondary target

  • Have durable protection that lasts at least 1 year

    The vaccine should have protection that lasts for at least 1 year and preferably through multiple seasons

  • Be suitable for all age groups

    The vaccine should protect all age groups, including the young and the old

The Vision for the Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) program

In the strategic plan, the authors state that a coordinated effort of guided discovery, facilitated product development and managed progress through iterative clinical testing will be critical to achieving the goal of a universal influenza vaccine. The strategic plan envisioned the creation of a consortium of scientists to meet designated goals for a universal influenza vaccine, and to also expand the Institute’s research resources by establishing long-term human cohorts, supporting improved animal models of influenza infection and expanding capacity for conducting human challenge studies. The Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) program is the realization of that vision.

Read More

Journal of Infectious Diseases

A Universal Influenza Vaccine: The Strategic Plan for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Immunity

Meeting Report: The Pathway to a Universal Influenza Vaccine

NIH News Release

NIAID unveils strategic plan for developing a universal influenza vaccine