Influenza
Together with the global health community, the innovative pharmaceutical industry works to improve seasonal influenza vaccine coverage and wider flu pandemic preparedness for the future.
Overview
Seasonal, or inter-pandemic, flu is an acute respiratory infection caused by flu viruses that circulate in all parts of the world and are a year-round disease burden.
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.
Vaccines are the best way to protect the most vulnerable against flu, with antivirals being available to treat those who have been infected.
New flu vaccines are made twice a year, one for each hemisphere’s winter season. This is because the virus mutates rapidly, circulation patterns change, and vaccines stop being effective from one winter season to the other.
IVS Task Force
The IFPMA Influenza Vaccine Supply International Task Force (IFPMA IVS) was established in February 2002 to address the challenges of seasonal and pandemic flu.
IFPMA IVS brings together research-based vaccine manufacturers conducting R&D, development, and production to provide safe, effective, high-quality human vaccines and antivirals against seasonal, pre-pandemic, and pandemic flu.
To better measure global access to influenza vaccination, the Influenza Vaccine Supply (IVS) survey was established in 2008. Conducted every two years, it tracks the worldwide distribution of influenza vaccine doses and serves as a proxy for vaccination coverage, showing how rates have shifted over time both globally and across WHO regions.
The latest edition, published in October 2025, reveals a decline in distribution compared to previous years. In 2023, more than half of the world’s population (52%) accessed only 6.2% of all seasonal influenza vaccine doses.
Let's be 100% committed to flu vaccination
Vaccination can help stop seasonal influenza in its tracks – and help prevent at-risk people being hospitalised or suffering complications. Let’s act now, to make sure those who most need protection, get the vaccine. #TogetherAgainstFlu #TeamVaccines
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For people with underlying or chronic health conditions, vaccination against seasonal flu is even more important. So together, let’s be 100% committed to helping at-risk patients get vaccinated – and get protected. #TogetherAgainstFlu #TeamVaccines
For people with respiratory problems or underlying respiratory conditions, flu vaccination can help prevent severe complications. So, this winter, let’s act as one to help those at risk, get vaccinated – and get protected. #TogetherAgainstFlu #TeamVaccines
Pathogen sharing
Immediate, unrestricted access to pathogens and their genetic information is fundamental to global health security and the crucial first step to developing the vaccines, medicines, and tests the world needs.
Vaccines
The innovative pharmaceutical industry supports the discovery of new vaccines and their access to prevent and control diseases, improve the health of people everywhere, and make the world a safer place.
Influenza campaigns and initiatives
#TogetherAgainstFlu
Our #TogetherAgainstFlu digital campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of flu vaccinations for healthcare workers, older adults, and patients living with chronic conditions.
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#VaccinesForLife
Our #VaccinesForLife campaign focuses on highlighting the benefits of current and future vaccines for everyone over the course of their lives.
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Ready to Respond
Ready to Respond is a partnership of public, non-profit, and private organizations dedicated to increase LMICs readiness to respond to flu and emerging respiratory viral pandemics.
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The WHO and global influenza surveillance
Since 1952, global influenza surveillance has been conducted through WHO’s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS).
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The Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network
The Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) is a network of 100+ hospitals in 25+ countries performing active surveillance following the same core protocol.
Read more#Together Against Flu
Our #TogetherAgainstFlu digital campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of flu vaccinations for healthcare workers, older adults, and patients living with chronic conditions.
Related news and resources
See allInfluenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic
Planning and delivering vaccination programs to protect the most vulnerable people.
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Preparing society against future pandemics – Policy Perspectives from the Innovative Biopharmaceutical Industry
This position paper details two ambitious objectives of the pharmaceutical industry: Aim to develop effective and safe pandemic products within 100 days of a new pandemic declaration. To Collaborate with governments, multilateral organizations, regulators, and other companies and sectors to ensure equitable access to those products for people worldwide.
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The Exciting Journey from Flu Virus to Vaccine
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Other health security topics
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Falsified medicines
IFPMA and our members are playing our part in driving a long-term, sustainable, multi-pronged strategy to fight the extremely serious threat of falsified medicines to global public health.
Antimicrobial resistance
IFPMA helps lead the innovative pharmaceutical industry’s work on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We raise awareness of the unique challenges in combating AMR and of measures that could establish economic conditions favorable to long-term investment into antibiotic R&D.
Climate change
Innovative pharmaceutical companies are researching and developing new health technologies that help manage and mitigate effects on health from climate change, while minimizing the impact of their operations and products on the planet.