Influenza (Seasonal and Pandemic)

Together with the global health community the biopharmaceutical industry is committed to improving seasonal influenza vaccine coverage, and working towards influenza pandemic preparedness for the future.

Our vision is to improve public health through the advancement of global pandemic influenza preparedness and seasonal influenza vaccine capacity and uptake.

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses which circulate in all parts of the world. In a typical year, there are an estimated 1 billion cases of flu and up to 650,000 flu-related deaths globally. Flu is most serious for older people, pregnant women, young children, and people with underlying health conditions.

An influenza pandemic is an epidemic of a new influenza virus that spreads across a large region (either multiple continents or worldwide) and infects a large proportion of the population. There have been six major influenza epidemics in the last 140 years, with the 1918 flu pandemic being the most severe; this is estimated to have been responsible for the deaths of 50–100 million people.

To address the challenges of both seasonal and pandemic influenza, the IFPMA Influenza Vaccine Supply International Task Force (IFPMA IVS) was established in February 2002 to bring together research-based vaccine manufacturers from around the world, who are conducting the R&D, development and production necessary to provide safe, effective, high-quality human vaccines and antivirals against seasonal, pre-pandemic and pandemic influenza.

Vaccines are best way to protect the most vulnerable against influenza, with antivirals being available to treat those infected with the virus.