H5N1 Pandemic Influenza and Universal Flu Vaccines

H5N1 has infected 70 humans in the US - but it's still learning how to transmit efficiently between humans. Every new infection gives the virus more opportunities to mutate, reminding us that vaccination may be our most cost-effective defense against pandemic threats. Notably, universal flu vaccines targeting stable internal viral structures rather than constantly changing surface proteins could transform our approach to pandemic prevention

One of key concepts in this week’s episode is R0 (R-naught) - the basic reproduction number that determines how quickly a virus spreads. This number is critical in understanding pandemic threat levels:

"COVID-19 had an R-naught of between 1.4 to 2.4... Measles is the most infectious virus that we know with an R-naught of between 12 and 18, meaning each infected person can infect on average 12 to 18 other people, leading to logarithmic outbreaks." This explains why we're seeing Texas's measles outbreak rapidly spread now to 222 people across 12 states - and why vaccination rates are so crucial.

We need both technological innovation and community trust in vaccination to protect against emerging threats - explaining why vaccines aren't just personal protection but "a shield we build together."

Listen in to this week’s Industry Insights podcast for the timely discussion on pandemic preparedness, vaccine development, and our collective responsibility to make science-based decisions.