The 2015 global production capacity of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine

Kenneth A Mclean,Shoshanna​ Goldin,Claudia Nannei,Erin Sparrow,Guido Torelli

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.08.019

Kenneth A Mclean, Shoshanna Goldin + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.08.019

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Journal: Vaccine	Publication Date: Aug 13, 2016
Citations: 67	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Edinburgh, World Health Organization

Abstract

A global shortage and inequitable access to influenza vaccines has been cause for concern for developing countries who face dire consequences in the event of a pandemic. The Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines (GAP) was launched in 2006 to increase global capacity for influenza vaccine production to address these concerns. It is widely recognized that well-developed infrastructure to produce seasonal influenza vaccines leads to increased capacity to produce pandemic influenza vaccines. This article summarizes the results of a survey administered to 44 manufacturers to assess their production capacity for seasonal influenza and pandemic influenza vaccine production. When the GAP was launched in 2006, global production capacity for seasonal and pandemic vaccines was estimated to be 500million and 1.5billion doses respectively. Since 2006 there has been a significant increase in capacity, with the 2013 survey estimating global capacity at 1.5billion seasonal and 6.2billion pandemic doses. Results of the current survey showed that global seasonal influenza vaccine production capacity has decreased since 2013 from 1.504billion doses to 1.467billion doses. However, notwithstanding the overall global decrease in seasonal vaccine capacity there were notable positive changes in the distribution of production capacity with increases noted in South East Asia (SEAR) and the Western Pacific (WPR) regions, albeit on a small scale. Despite a decrease in seasonal capacity, there has been a global increase of pandemic influenza vaccine production capacity from 6.2 billion doses in 2013 to 6.4 billion doses in 2015. This growth can be attributed to a shift towards more quadrivalent vaccine production and also to increased use of adjuvants. Pandemic influenza vaccine production capacity is at its highest recorded levels however challenges remain in maintaining this capacity and in ensuring access in the event of a pandemic to underserved regions.

Highlights

Best estimates indicate that seasonal influenza affects 5–10% of the global population each year, resulting in between 250 and 500 thousand deaths [1]
Global pandemic influenza preparedness is dependent on seasonal influenza vaccine production capacity: in the event of an influenza pandemic, vaccine would be produced in facilities that normally produce seasonal influenza vaccine and the capacity of these facilities defines the global capacity to produce pandemic vaccines
In the case of tetravalent seasonal influenza vaccines the potential maximum pandemic influenza vaccine production capacity was obtained by multiplying the seasonal capacity by four

Summary

Introduction

Best estimates indicate that seasonal influenza affects 5–10% of the global population each year, resulting in between 250 and 500 thousand deaths [1]. In the event of an influenza pandemic, the world will require the rapid production and distribution of billions of doses of vaccine in order to meet expected demand and protect the global population [3]. Global pandemic influenza preparedness is dependent on seasonal influenza vaccine production capacity: in the event of an influenza pandemic, vaccine would be produced in facilities that normally produce seasonal influenza vaccine and the capacity of these facilities defines the global capacity to produce pandemic vaccines. Understanding the operational capacity, trends, and limitations for seasonal vaccine production offers a lens through which the global community can assess its pandemic influenza preparedness

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