Progress in Influenza Vaccine Research

Dear Colleagues,

The impact of vaccines on the course of COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the importance of vaccine research in pandemic preparedness. The previous influenza pandemics in last century (in years 1918, 1957, 1968 and 2009) have established the pandemic potential of influenza virus. Moreover, the annual seasonal influenza outbreaks cause a high degree of morbidity and mortality and huge economic losses. Influenza vaccines are therefore important for the prevention of the disease and for reducing the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to influenza virus infection. Since influenza virus has a strong propensity to drift, each year influenza vaccines are developed against strain of influenza virus that is predicted to be dominant that year. However, compared to vaccines for other infectious diseases, current   influenza vaccines are still less effective. Some of the limitations of current influenza vaccine include lengthy manufacturing process, requirement of annual vaccination, chance of strain mismatch and lower efficacy in older adults. Moreover, current influenza vaccine will not be able to provide any protection in the case of influenza pandemic. Thus, there is a need for universal influenza vaccine that can induce broader and long lasting immune response to protect against all circulating and emerging influenza virus variants. To develop such a vaccine a deeper understanding of correlates of protection against influenza virus is required. In addition, improved vaccine production processes are also required to make enough vaccine doses quickly. We also need improved vaccines against avian and swine influenza virus to protect our livestock and to minimize chances of human exposure to these influenza viruses. Additionally, there is requirement for development of improved model systems for rapid testing and comparison of novel vaccines. In recent years influenza vaccine research has made a significant progress and a number of promising vaccines are in clinical trials. Hopefully, we will be better prepared when a new influenza pandemic arrives.

The special issue of Vaccines will cover all these aspects of influenza vaccine research. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Amit Gaba
Guest Editor

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• nfluenza vaccine
• universal vaccine
• animal models
• avian influenza
• swine influenza
• immunity.