Global pandemic influenza action plan to increase vaccine supply

The Global Action Plan identifies and prioritizes practical solutions for reducing the potential pandemic influenza vaccine supply gap; these are contained in eight strategies with activities for the short (tangible results in less than five years), medium (five to ten years) and long (more than ten years) terms. Activities need to be undertaken simultaneously. The three main approaches to closing the vaccine supply gap are identified in the Global Action Plan as: * an increase in seasonal influenza vaccine use to provide protection against seasonal influenza and at the same time use the increased demand to stimulate industry to produce more; * an increase in production capacity through measures such as improving vaccine production yields and building new plants; and * further research and development to: o design more potent and effective vaccines that would induce protection after one dose and/or broad spectrum and long-lasting immunity, and o produce vaccines more efficiently and quickly. Relying on market-driven forces alone, it is estimated that by 2008-2009 the production of pandemic influenza vaccine will not exceed 2.34 billion doses per year. At present, the production capacity for seasonal influenza vaccine stands at 350 million doses. Such quantities fall far short of the expected demand for vaccine during an influenza pandemic when there will likely be calls to vaccinate the entire 6.7 billion world population.