Market incentives for pandemic influenza vaccines
Name
829674442-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
4.4 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
5850e8108ceb76636b0557a3177fd1bb
Author(s)
Preis, Julia Kay
Advisor(s)
Fiona E Murray and Aaron S. Kesselheim.
Date Issued
2012
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
It has been estimated that 100 million plus individuals could perish if a virulent influenza pandemic were to occur. In wake of the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic and in an era of economic austerity, however, industry lacks clear incentives to invest in vaccines for other high-risk strains. The cyclic nature of pandemics also means we can expect another influenza pandemic within the next 20 years. In this environment, design of incentive mechanisms for funding development of vaccines against strains with known pandemic potential, but for whom vaccine technology is currently lacking, would be welcomed. This research explores which novel incentive mechanisms could induce investment in and development of processes for production of vaccines for these high risk strains. Interviews with vaccine developers and funding agencies and analysis of the pipeline of influenza vaccines in development were conducted. This thesis finds that there is a dearth of vaccines against influenza strains of known pandemic potential, such as H2, H7 and H9; that current pandemic preparedness efforts are not focused on these strains; that funding for pandemic preparedness efforts in H2, H7 and H9 would help incentivize development of vaccines against these strains; and that support for seasonal influenza, regulatory changes, alignment of public and private sector goals, and increased vaccine acceptance are also required to incentivize the development of vaccines against strains of known pandemic potential such as H2, H7 and H9. Furthermore, this thesis recommends that policy makers increase funding for pandemic preparedness so that programs may be initiated or expanded to include additional high risk influenza strains; that US and EU regulatory regimes for pandemic influenza vaccines be harmonized; and that governments promote public awareness of the importance of influenza vaccination.
Description
Thesis (S.M. in Health Sciences and Technology)--Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 60-61).
Subjects
Harvard--MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology.
MIT Department
Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
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