title: Considerations of strategies to provide influenza vaccine year round.
abstract: There is potential for influenza vaccine programmes to make a substantial impact on severe disease in low-resource settings, however questions around vaccine composition and programmatic issues will require special attention. Some countries may benefit from immunization programmes that provide year-round supply of vaccine; however the best way to ensure adequate vaccine supply has yet to be determined. In this report, we discuss vaccine composition, availability, and programmatic issues that must be considered when developing year-round influenza immunization programmes. We then explore how these considerations have influenced immunization practices in the Latin American region as a case study. We identify three different approaches to achieve year-round supply: (1) alternating between Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere formulations, (2) extending the expiration date to permit extended use of a single hemisphere formulation, and (3) local vaccine manufacture with production timelines that align with local epidemiology. Each approach has its challenges and opportunities. The growing data suggesting high influenza disease burden in low resource countries underscores the compelling public health need to determine the best strategies for vaccine delivery.
authors: Initiative for Vaccine Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: lambachp@who.int.
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Lambach
authors: Immunization Unit, Pan American Health Organization, 525 Twenty Third St., NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors: Alba Maria Ropero
authors: AM
authors: Alvarez
authors: Global Influenza Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Siddhivinayak
authors: S
authors: Hirve
authors: Initiative for Vaccine Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Justin R
authors: JR
authors: Ortiz
authors: Initiative for Vaccine Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Hombach
authors: Department of Social Sciences, Subdepartment Communication, Philosophy, and Technology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: Verweij
authors: Essential Medicines Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Hendriks
authors: Essential Medicines Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Laszlo
authors: L
authors: Palkonyay
authors: Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Pfleiderer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Delivery; Formulation; Influenza; Logistics; Maternal; Supply; Tropics; Year round