U.K. Orders 100 Million Vaccines for the Next Influenza Pandemic

The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently announced signing an advance purchase agreement with CSL Seqirus, who will be on standby to produce over 100 million influenza pandemic vaccines if or when they are needed.

UKHSA and its predecessor organizations have had similar agreements, but this is the first time the manufacturing process will be based entirely in the U.K., giving better security of access if global demand ever outweighs supply.

These vaccines will be produced at CSL Seqirus's existing manufacturing plant in Liverpool if a pandemic is declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Pandemic influenza is not the same as seasonal influenza or avian influenza.

Seasonal influenza circulates every year and is passed between people. Avian influenza, meanwhile, cannot be passed from human to human.

Although influenza pandemics are highly unpredictable in duration and severity, historical events show they can occur anytime.

Four influenza pandemics have occurred over the past 100 years, arising in 1918, 1957, 1968, and 2009.

The 1918 pandemic was responsible for over 50 million deaths worldwide, reports the UKHSA.

Professor Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, commented in a press release on September 26, 2023, "We have seen from past pandemic events that access to effective vaccines is vital to help save lives and minimize disruption to our lives and livelihoods."

"This agreement represents a major step forward in our preparedness against future influenza pandemics."

CSL Seqirus is a global leader in pandemic influenza preparedness and annual flu shot production.

On July 17, 2023, CSL Seqirus announced it is positioned to supply over 55 million doses of QUADRIVALENT influenza vaccines (FLUCELVAX®,  FLUAD®,  AFLURIA®) to U.S. healthcare providers for the 2023-2024 flu season.

And has produced Audenz™, a monovalent, adjuvanted, cell-based inactivated subunit vaccine designed to protect people from disease caused by the influenza A virus H5N1 subtype in the event of avian influenza (bird flu) pandemics.