Strategies for broad global access to pandemic influenza vaccines

The global need for a pandemic influenza vaccine is large. High-income countries have stated their intent to provide universal access for pandemic influenza vaccine to their populations. Assuming that a two-dose schedule would be needed, providing universal coverage globally would represent approximately 6.5 billion two-dose courses or 13 billion doses. In the best case scenario, should an outbreak of pandemic influenza occur in the near term, using H5N1 as a proxy for the pandemic virus, the total available doses for the global population within six months of an out break would be only 1.2 billion courses or 2.4 billion doses. In addition, current stockpiles of pandemic influenza vaccine are limited. However, promising developments are occurring with respect to global capacity, technological innovation, and global conviction that offer potential solutions to the problem of pandemic influenza vaccine supply for the world's population.