Are long-term influenza vaccines possible and how do we discover them?

• Authors: Joo Kyung Ester Kim, Georgia State University; Sang-Moo Kang, Georgia State University; Richard Compans, Emory University; Bao-Zhong Wang, Georgia State University
• Journal Title: EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DISCOVERY
• Volume: Volume 16, Number 3
• Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD | 2020-10-08, Pages 213-216
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/17460441.2021.1828859
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Immunology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Pharmacology & Pharmacy; ANTIBODIES

Abstract

Influenza continues to pose a severe public health risk. In the United States, the annual economic burden of influenza is estimated to be USD 87.1 billion, USD 56 billion of which are used to treat the elderly. Both influenza A and B viruses can cause epidemics by rapidly accumulating mutations. Occasionally, influenza A can cause pandemics. The outbreak of another influenza pandemic continues to be “not a question of if, but when” [1,2]. Current seasonal influenza vaccines effectively protect individuals against well-matched strains, but mismatches frequently occur [2–6]. Based on the reports from the U.S. Influenza vaccine efficacy (VE) Network, the overall influenza vaccine effectiveness was below 40% in four seasons between 2009 to 2019. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the average vaccine effectiveness (VE) was only about 40% over the past 14 years.