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VIDEO: ‘Excited about developments in influenza vaccine’

NEW YORK — C. Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the pediatric infectious disease fellowship program at Vanderbilt University, discussed ongoing work to develop a universal influenza vaccine during the Annual Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium.

“We’re really excited about the developments in influenza vaccine right now,” Creech said.

Creech, who is also the director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program, said a universal influenza vaccine may be available within the next 10 years.

“What would a universal flu vaccine look like?” he asked. “Well, it might be one that we would only give every 3 to 5 years. It would be one that would cover all the circulating strains of flu and maybe even those strains that are potentially going to emerge in China and other parts of the world that could affect us here.”

Creech also discussed the challenges of distinguishing viral and bacterial causes of pneumonia in children, and the need for better diagnostics.

Disclosure: Creech receives royalties from UpToDate and consulting fees from GlaxoSmithKline, Horizon Pharma, Pfizer and Premier Healthcare.