Report of the second meeting on the development of influenza vaccines that induce broad-spectrum and long-lasting immune responses, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 6-7 December 2005.

New influenza vaccines that induce broad-spectrum and long-lasting immune responses and provide protection against divergent influenza viruses could overcome problems with the current vaccination strategy, based on annual intervention, better suit the needs of developing countries and contribute to epidemic and potential pandemic control. The World Health Organization held a consultation to review the current status of research in the area of influenza vaccines and to establish a research agenda for the development of such influenza vaccine. The main conclusions and recommendations from this consultation are presented below.