WASHINGTON — The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has established an international committee (IC) in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Global Affairs (OGA) to inform and facilitate efforts to advance global influenza pandemic preparedness. This international committee will provide the OGA with an iterative, interactive, multidisciplinary process for assessing the global impact that capabilities, technologies, processes, and policies developed for COVID-19 could have on pandemic and seasonal influenza global preparedness and response, especially regarding vaccine development.

While the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, novel influenza viruses continue to be a constant pandemic threat.  Both domestic and global efforts, such as the U.S. National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy 2020-2030 and the WHO Global Influenza Strategy 2019-2030, have called for the development of more effective influenza vaccines complemented by modern, adaptable manufacturing technologies that can scale production and meet demand during a pandemic.

“The unprecedented global response to COVID-19 has pushed the boundaries on what is possible for rapid pandemic response in areas such as vaccine research, development, manufacturing, equitable allocation, and administration,” said NAM President Victor J. Dzau.  “The National Academy of Medicine is pleased to lead this initiative to apply lessons learned in vaccine development and distribution as well as the effectiveness of public health measures like mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing, to help advance future pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine preparedness efforts.”

The IC is co-chaired by Martin Friede, unit lead, World Health Organization, and Prashant Yadav, senior fellow, Center for Global Development.  It will convene domestic and international experts across sectors and from a variety of disciplines such as global public health, infectious disease prevention, influenza vaccine research and development, and pandemic preparedness and response. 

As part of the NAM’s initiative, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will carry out four concurrent consensus studies requested by OGA.  These studies will release reports this fall.

• Public Health Interventions and Countermeasures – This committee will review non-vaccine public health interventions and countermeasures that can be vital to mitigating the spread and impact of a respiratory virus both before and after vaccines are available.  The first meeting has sessions on March 4 and 5.
• Vaccine Research and Development – This committee will examine the technological and scientific advances achieved during the global response to COVID-19 and other outbreaks in vaccine research, development, and manufacturing, including the use of platform technologies.  The first meeting will be March 8-10.
• Global Coordination, Partnerships, and Financing – This committee will analyze the current influenza global governance landscape and relevancy of COVID-19 innovations and provide actionable recommendations for strengthening global collaborations, regulations, and financing structures around influenza vaccination.  The first meeting will take place on March 9-11.
• Vaccine Distribution and Supply Chains – This committee will examine supply chain and distribution challenges related to vaccines and vaccinations during the COVID-19 response and explore their implications for pandemic and seasonal influenza.  The first meeting will be announced in the coming weeks.

The NAM will host a public workshop this spring to hear from experts and gather feedback to inform the consensus studies.

The NAM, established in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, is an independent organization of eminent professionals from diverse fields including health and medicine; the natural, social, and behavioral sciences; and beyond.  It serves alongside the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering as an adviser to the nation and the international community.  Through its domestic and global initiatives, the NAM works to address critical issues in health, medicine, and related policy and inspire positive action across sectors.  The NAM collaborates closely with its peer academies and other divisions within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Contact:
Dana Korsen, Media Relations Manager
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail news@nas.edu

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