Vaccines and Antiviral Drugs in Pandemic Preparedness

摘要

While measures such as closing schools and socialdistancing may slow the effects of pandemic influenza, onlyvaccines and antiviral drugs are clearly efficacious in pre-venting infection or treating illness. Unless the pandemicstrain closely resembles one already recognized, vaccinewill not be available early. However, studies can be con-ducted beforehand to address questions concerning vac-cine dose, frequency of inoculation, and need foradjuvants. In contrast, antiviral drugs, particularly the neu-raminidase inhibitors, will be effective for treatment andavailable if stockpiling takes place. Special questions needto be answered if a highly lethal virus, such as influenza A(H5N1), produces the pandemic. Both vaccines and antivi-ral drugs will be required for a coordinated strategy