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The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? - Workshop Summary
should be one of the elements assessed as they move through clinical trials and into use.
Key Issues
Cross-protection against multiple influenza A subtypes can be induced in animals by prior infection or vaccination. Multiple viral antigens and multiple immune effector mechanisms can participate.
Mucosal vaccination induces different immune responses than systemic vaccination and is more effective at inducing broad cross-protection to multiple influenza A subtypes in animals.
Broad cross-protection in humans is of unclear potency and duration, but epidemiological data suggest that it may have an impact.
A variety of vaccines may induce broad cross-protection if administered appropriately.
Imperfect vaccine protection is worth having, especially for a virus causing an acute (not latent) infection. It could provide a first line of pandemic defense, to be augmented by subtype- or strain-specific vaccines when available.
“Known Influenza Virus Antigenic Peptides Listed by Restricting Major Histocompatibility Complex Molecules,” Suzanne L Epstein, Jonathan W Yewdell, Jack R Bennink.
