Inactivated Influenza Vaccines Prepared in Cell Culture National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, Herts., U.K., September 26-27, 1997

Influenza vaccines have been produced in embryonated hens' eggs for over 50 years, but recently there has been considerable effort to develop cell culture systems for vaccine production. This publication reports on a two-day meeting held at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control. Scientists from many countries involved in the surveillance of influenza viruses and in the manufacture and control of influenza vaccines present their latest findings regarding this new vaccine development. The feasibility and practical advantages of producing a cell-culturederived vaccine are clearly demonstrated, as are the promising results from the initial clinical trials. The main focus of these studies is to make recommendations for future action which should form the basis for collaborative studies and further activities by WHO and regulatory agencies to ensure that cell-culture-derived influenza vaccines are at least equivalent to conventional egg derived vaccines in terms of safety and effectiveness.