VSDB recently developed methods to stabilize the vaccine to eliminate the cold chain (learn more from this published article ). developing live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV): CDC Influenza Division’s Virology, Surveillance, and Diagnosis Branch (VSDB) develops LAIV vaccines that are shared via World Health Organization (WHO) for distribution globally.the first recombinant influenza vaccines, which can be manufactured more quickly than either egg-based or cell-based vaccines, and require neither an egg-grown vaccine virus nor eggs in production and,.quadrivalent (four component) flu vaccines, which protect against both lineages of influenza B viruses thus offering expanded protection against the latest influenza viruses.CDC performs two-way antigenic testing of cell CVVs, which is required for them to serve as a vaccine virus.CDC has established good laboratory practice (GLP) laboratories and procedures to isolate candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs) in qualified manufacturing cell lines that serve as seeds for cell-based vaccine manufacturing.A U.S.-approved cell culture-based flu vaccine, which can be made more quickly than traditional egg-based vaccines and does not require eggs for production (learn more from this published article ).an intradermal vaccine that requires less antigen for an equivalent immune response, therefore stretching vaccine supply.a flu vaccine made with adjuvant (an ingredient added to vaccine that helps create a stronger immune response in the patient’s body), was approved for people 65 years of age and older.a high dose vaccine that is designed specifically for people 65 and older to create a stronger antibody response.Top of Page What advances have been made with flu vaccines in recent years? NIH is the nation’s medical research agency, a role which includes conducting clinical trials for vaccines. FDA is the federal regulatory agency responsible for assuring the safety, effectiveness, quality, and security of drugs, vaccines and other biological products and medical devices. CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are partners in this broad inter-agency government effort. BARDA is charged with the development and procurement of medical and non-pharmaceutical countermeasures for pandemic flu preparedness and response, including flu vaccines. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Much of the work to improve flu vaccine technology over the past decade has taken place as part of efforts associated with flu pandemic preparedness planning which is led by the U.S. In addition, CDC monitors and reports on the effectiveness of existing flu vaccines. CDC is working to produce better CVVs to make flu vaccines that provide the best possible immune response following vaccination. A candidate vaccine virus (CVV) is an influenza (flu) virus that has been prepared by CDC (or another public health partner) that can be used by vaccine manufacturers to produce a flu vaccine. For example, CDC’s Influenza division is using next generation sequencing and genomic technologies to develop better flu candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs). The agency also supports the development of new and better vaccines. CDC also plays a leading role in conducting year-round global virologic surveillance, supporting the selection and in some cases production of viruses used in flu vaccines. One of CDC’s primary roles in this effort is to provide recommendations for the best public health use of existing flu vaccines. What are the roles of CDC and the other federal agencies working on flu vaccine improvements?Īs the nation’s leading public health agency, CDC is part of a broad inter-agency government effort to improve flu vaccines. The EO established a National Influenza Vaccine Task Force, which CDC is a member of, and calls for the modernization of flu vaccines and vaccine manufacturing along with increased national flu vaccination. To further support improvement of flu vaccines, the White House issued Executive Order (EO) 13887: Modernizing Influenza Vaccines in the United States to Promote National Security and Public Health on September 19, 2019. What is being done to improve influenza (flu) vaccines?įor more than a decade, collaborative efforts in the United States across the federal government and the private sector have led to improved flu vaccine technologies that have expanded vaccine supply and/or improved vaccine effectiveness.

Flu vaccine production