Executive order aims to modernize nation’s vaccines

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense to propose a plan and budget to modernize the development of flu vaccines.

The plan must be submitted within 120 days. The goal is to improve preparedness for a future flu pandemic.

The departments will investigate ways to develop a universal flu vaccine and create a strategy for switching to faster methods for producing seasonal flu vaccines.

Flu vaccines have been approximately 45 percent effective over the past decade and only 20 percent effective some years.

“I am proud this executive order further solidifies our commitment to better prepare Americans across the country with influenza vaccines that could save their lives,” Rep. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN) said. “Specifically, I applaud the establishment of the National Influenza Vaccine Task Force who will be focused on implementing updates to our influenza vaccine enterprise so that it is highly responsible, flexible, scalable and more effective at preventing the spread of flu viruses.”

Brooks is a cosponsor of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 that was introduced by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA). The bill addresses public health emergency preparedness including infectious diseases.