Advances in Vaccine Development: Toward a Universal Influenza Vaccine

Abstract

Influenza remains a significant global health concern, causing seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics with substantial morbidity and mortality. The effectiveness of current influenza vaccines is limited by the antigenic variability of the virus, necessitating annual updates to match circulating strains. A universal influenza vaccine, capable of providing broad and long-lasting protection against diverse influenza strains, represents a critical goal in public health. Recent advances in vaccine research have brought us closer to this objective by targeting conserved epitopes across multiple influenza strains. This review discusses the latest developments in universal influenza vaccine candidates, including novel antigen design strategies, innovative adjuvant formulations, and advanced delivery systems. Furthermore, we explore the preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of these next-generation influenza vaccines. While significant challenges remain, such as achieving optimal cross-protection and overcoming regulatory hurdles, the progress in universal influenza vaccine development holds promise for revolutionizing influenza prevention and control strategies.