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.

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    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.

    In 2019, IVS Task Force vaccine manufacturers distributed 531 million seasonal influenza vaccines worldwide.

    1930s

    vaccinations against influenza started

    13 countries

    in which the IVS taskforce companies have vaccine manufacturing sites

    4-5 months

    is the average time it takes to make a seasonal influenza vaccine

    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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    GISAID

    GISAID promotes rapid sharing of flu virus data and that of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 to help researchers understand how viruses evolve and spread.

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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.

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    #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.

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