In June 28-29, 2017 the NIAID convened a workshop in Rockville, Maryland titled “Pathway to a Universal Influenza Vaccine“, which was attended by 150 scientists from academia, industry, and government from around the world to develop criteria for defining a universal influenza vaccine, one “that would cover most or all seasonal strains of influenza, and also provide protection during a pandemic”
The workshop findings, jointly authored with Dr Anthony Fauci weere published in the journal Immunity on October 17, 2017, outlining four key criteria that a universal vaccine should meet. [1, 2]
From this publication the NIAID’s strategic plan for developing a universal influenza vaccine emerged in February 28, 2018, followed by the creation of the Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) center in 2019.