Review on Pandemic Influenza: Overview of Vaccines

Abstract

Pandemic influenza has become a top priority for all public health authorities. Scientists agree that an influenza pandemic is likely, but it’s unclear when, where, or what would cause it. Recently, the focus has been on human instances of avian influenza caused by the H5N1 virus. An effective vaccination is necessary to significantly lessen the impact of an influenza pandemic. New production technology is needed to enable vaccine production during avian influenza outbreaks, as current technology is inadequate. Antiviral medications are crucial for decreasing illness spread, but they are limited and resistant. This article provides an update on the development of pandemic vaccines and antivirals. Finally, we suggest areas of concentration in pandemic vaccine preparation. Developing medicines with broad-spectrum antiviral properties is a long-term goal in drug discovery. Blocking co-opted host factors has been proven to prevent virus replication. However, the development of host-targeting medications has faced skepticism due to toxicity concerns and inadequate translation in vivo. New screening assays and prediction techniques have revived the concept of a medication that effectively treats viral infections by inhibiting specific host processes. We explore potential targets and therapeutic techniques, with a focus on natural compounds as prospective starting points for antiviral research.