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COMMENTARY: From hope to reality: The promise of the Influenza Vaccines R&D Roadmap
Filed Under:
Influenza Vaccines
Kristine Moore, MD, MPH; Julie Ostrowsky, MSc; Alison Kraigsley, PhD; Angela Mehr, MPH; Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH; and the IVR Steering Group
| Jan 19, 2021
Note: The views expressed in this commentary reflect the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies or official positions of their organizations.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began roughly a year ago, public health officials have recorded more than 2 million deaths and almost 100 million infections from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with the actual number likely substantially higher. Healthcare systems have been overwhelmed with caring for those suffering serious consequences of infection, straining the capacity of even the most sophisticated hospitals around the globe. Healthcare workers have struggled with exhaustion, and many have died caring for the sick. Routine healthcare services have been disrupted, including disease prevention programs such as childhood immunizations, which will have consequences for the foreseeable future.
We have also witnessed an unprecedented decrease in global travel and severe disruption of the global economy, including job and wage losses, contraction in global trade, reduced labor supplies, reduced consumer spending, and a decline in consumer confidence.1 Social and economic recovery from the pandemic will likely take years and will require concerted efforts by governments—including increased government spending—throughout the world. Despite this grim picture, we can now see the light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. While social mitigation measures are critical to an overall disease control strategy, our primary way forward lies in the availability of safe and effective vaccines against this novel coronavirus.
While the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise, the situation with influenza is very different. We have been through this before—100 years ago, with the great influenza pandemic of 1918 to 1920. We know what an influenza pandemic can do and we know it will happen again—we just don’t know when. It could be next month or it could be 20 years from now; however, one thing is certain: We need to be prepared. We cannot let the experience of COVID-19 pass without acknowledging the critical importance of influenza pandemic preparedness for global health and economic security. In addition to the need for improved influenza pandemic preparedness, we also must address the fact that global deaths from seasonal influenza are as high as 650,000 per year, with a disproportionate number occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).2 ...
COMMENTARY: From hope to reality: The promise of the Influenza Vaccines R&D Roadmap
Filed Under:
Influenza Vaccines
Kristine Moore, MD, MPH; Julie Ostrowsky, MSc; Alison Kraigsley, PhD; Angela Mehr, MPH; Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH; and the IVR Steering Group
| Jan 19, 2021
Note: The views expressed in this commentary reflect the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies or official positions of their organizations.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began roughly a year ago, public health officials have recorded more than 2 million deaths and almost 100 million infections from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with the actual number likely substantially higher. Healthcare systems have been overwhelmed with caring for those suffering serious consequences of infection, straining the capacity of even the most sophisticated hospitals around the globe. Healthcare workers have struggled with exhaustion, and many have died caring for the sick. Routine healthcare services have been disrupted, including disease prevention programs such as childhood immunizations, which will have consequences for the foreseeable future.
We have also witnessed an unprecedented decrease in global travel and severe disruption of the global economy, including job and wage losses, contraction in global trade, reduced labor supplies, reduced consumer spending, and a decline in consumer confidence.1 Social and economic recovery from the pandemic will likely take years and will require concerted efforts by governments—including increased government spending—throughout the world. Despite this grim picture, we can now see the light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. While social mitigation measures are critical to an overall disease control strategy, our primary way forward lies in the availability of safe and effective vaccines against this novel coronavirus.
While the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise, the situation with influenza is very different. We have been through this before—100 years ago, with the great influenza pandemic of 1918 to 1920. We know what an influenza pandemic can do and we know it will happen again—we just don’t know when. It could be next month or it could be 20 years from now; however, one thing is certain: We need to be prepared. We cannot let the experience of COVID-19 pass without acknowledging the critical importance of influenza pandemic preparedness for global health and economic security. In addition to the need for improved influenza pandemic preparedness, we also must address the fact that global deaths from seasonal influenza are as high as 650,000 per year, with a disproportionate number occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).2 ...