SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As winter nears, the Northern Hemisphere anticipates a surge in respiratory viruses commonly seen from November to March. To tackle this seasonal challenge, multinational pharma company Pfizer hosted a live virtual media event in its "Science Sessions" series.
In an email interview with Aletihad, Prof. Dr. Ralf Rene Reinert, Vice President of International Vaccines Medical and Scientific Affairs Lead, shared insights on "The Science Behind the Prevention of Respiratory Infectious Disease", drawing attention to vaccination strategies and seasonal respiratory illnesses.
Dr. Reinert addressed key respiratory infections to watch for this season and the adaptability of seasonal vaccines to changing strains.
"Three of the most common viruses for respiratory infection – COVID-19, RSV, and flu - demonstrate spikes in incidence between November and March/April, and this year will likely be no different," he said.
"Due to the rapid mutations and subsequent variants observed with influenza and COVID-19, seasonal strain selection is necessary for vaccines to remain relevant against circulating variants," he added.
In contrast, vaccines for pathogens like pneumococcal disease and RSV do not require seasonal strain updates, as their target pathogens either remain stable or are adequately covered by existing vaccines, he said.
To keep track of the evolving landscape of respiratory viruses, national surveillance projects are summarised by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In discussing the latest developments in respiratory infection transmission research and the efficacy of current vaccines across different age groups, Dr. Reinert said that "it is constantly evolving."
Addressing the challenges in developing vaccines for evolving viruses and improving vaccine uptake during peak seasons, Dr. Reinert said: "Updating vaccines to reflect the evolving strains is not a new concept, so there are surprisingly few challenges nowadays."
He noted that the key issue remains ensuring that data and recommendations keep pace with the virus while manufacturers work quickly to update vaccines.
"Pfizer operates one of the most sophisticated supply chains in the industry, so speed is rarely a challenge," he added.
Regarding the role of public health campaigns in prevention and new vaccine technologies in development, he stated: "Vaccines are one of the greatest public health advancements of all time," resulting in the control, eradication, or near-elimination of numerous infectious diseases.
He noted that vaccine hesitancy remains a significant challenge, identified by the WHO as one of the top ten critical public health issues worldwide.
"There are several strategies that can be implemented to prevent respiratory infection and spread," he said, highlighting the role of hygiene practices.
Dr. Reinert further acknowledged the role of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a significant advocate for equitable global vaccine access, highlighting their collaboration with Pfizer to develop a maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine aimed at reducing RSV-related mortality among infants in low- and middle-income countries.