Development of next generation hemagglutinin-based broadly protective influenza virus vaccines

Influenza viruses are a severe threat to human health and current vaccines do not provide sufficient protection. The highly variable nature of influenza viruses has made the production of efficacious vaccines a challenge. In recent years, a multitude of novel, broadly reactive influenza virus vaccination approaches have been described. What has long seemed impossible could now become reality in the near future - a new generation of influenza virus vaccines that provides long-lasting and broad protection against seasonal as well as potentially pandemic influenza virus strains. This review will discuss new hemagglutinin-based vaccines and their current stage of development.