Recent advances in universal influenza vaccine platforms: paving the way for universal H5N1 vaccines and pandemic readiness

Abstract

The H5N1 influenza threat is a significant issue to the overall health of the population in the world, and it demands new approaches in vaccine development and implementation. The critical path forward is the development of universal vaccine platforms, which provide long-term cross-protection against various H5N1 strains. This type of vaccines, based on conserved regions of viruses, is necessary to provide long term immunity against antigenic variation. The future of vaccines should be based on the ability to generate both cellular and humoral immunity and provide the greatest level of protection against a variety of viral variants. It is also crucial that agile manufacturing capacities are established, which can swiftly expand the production of vaccines to satisfy the demand in the world in the case of an influenza outbreak. The technology of mRNA vaccines, viral vectors, or microneedle patches can be adapted to novel strains rapidly and responds effectively to the situation when rapid and effective responses are required. Also, fair global distribution policies can be crucial to make it possible to make vaccines available to the population of low- and middle-income countries. The international response needs to focus on equity, whereby inequality in access to vaccines is minimized. This has been the ultimate solution of combining universal vaccines, cross-protection, agile production, and equity over the world to reduce the threat of H5N1 pandemic. By developing these measures, the world community can be more ready to the upcoming outbreak of influenza, and access to a vaccine can be timely, extensive, and efficient.