The Role of Next-Generation Influenza Vaccines in Advancing Health and Safety
Based on a World Health Organization Report – February 2026
According to a recent assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO), next-generation influenza vaccines that provide broader and longer-lasting protection than current seasonal vaccines could play a decisive role in reducing the global burden of influenza, strengthening health protection, and enhancing pandemic preparedness.
The assessment, conducted under the Full Value of Improved Influenza Vaccines Assessment (FVIVA) framework and published in the journal Vaccine, evaluates the health, economic, and policy impacts of next-generation influenza vaccines while identifying potential barriers to their global uptake. The findings provide a robust evidence base to support strategic decision-making, health investment, and HSE-oriented policy planning.
Global Burden of Influenza
Each year, approximately one billion cases of seasonal influenza occur worldwide. Of these, 3 to 5 million cases progress to severe illness, resulting in an estimated 290,000 to 650,000 deaths, primarily due to respiratory complications. These figures underscore the critical importance of systematic prevention and control measures within health, safety, and environmental (HSE) risk management frameworks.
Limitations of Current Vaccines
While existing influenza vaccines contribute to reducing disease burden, their effectiveness varies by season, vaccine type, and population group, and protection is typically limited to a single influenza season. Although 143 countries report having access to seasonal influenza vaccines, the majority of doses are utilized in upper-middle- and high-income countries, highlighting inequities in global vaccine distribution.
Strategic Benefits of Next-Generation Vaccines
FVIVA projections indicate that if improved, next-generation, or universal influenza vaccines become available and are widely adopted between 2025 and 2050, they could prevent up to 18 billion influenza cases and save as many as 6.2 million lives globally. The greatest benefits would be observed among high-risk populations, including older adults, young children, and pregnant women.
Dr. Philipp Lambach, WHO Technical Lead for the project, emphasized that the assessment “demonstrates the substantial benefits that improved influenza vaccines could deliver across diverse settings and provides a shared evidence base to guide future investment, policy development, and research prioritization.”
Economic Impact and Antimicrobial Resistance Reduction
The study further shows that next-generation influenza vaccines could remain cost-effective or even cost-saving in many countries. Increased influenza vaccination coverage is also associated with a reduction in unnecessary antibiotic use, thereby contributing to efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Current influenza vaccination practices are estimated to prevent the use of approximately 10 million antibiotic doses annually, while next-generation vaccines could avert up to 1.3 billion defined daily doses of antibiotics between 2025 and 2050.
HSE Considerations for Vaccine Adoption
The overall impact of next-generation influenza vaccines will depend on contextual factors such as national disease burden, health system capacity, vaccine pricing, and programmatic feasibility. In addition, safety, efficacy, duration of protection, temperature stability, and shelf life are key considerations influencing adoption decisions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, from an HSE and public health management perspective.
Alignment with Global Health Strategies
The FVIVA framework aligns with WHO’s Global Influenza Strategy 2019–2030 and the organization’s Preferred Product Characteristics for next-generation influenza vaccines, incorporating evolving scientific evidence and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2025, WHO released updated guidance to support the development of safer, more effective vaccines that provide broader and longer-lasting protection, reduce severe disease, and are suitable for use in resource-limited settings.
Global Development Landscape
As of February 2026, 46 next-generation influenza vaccines are in clinical development, utilizing a wide range of technological platforms, as reported in the Influenza Vaccines R&D Roadmap. This progress reflects a significant global effort toward enhancing health security, reducing biological risks, and strengthening preventive HSE measures.
translation by:DGS
