JAY, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced his support for the Flu Vaccine Act, legislation to conduct or support comprehensive research for the creation of a universal influenza vaccine that could be administered once or twice and provide a lifetime of protection. The legislation is calling for a total investment of $1 billion – $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within NIH spent an estimated $64 million for universal flu vaccine research in fiscal year 2017. The United States has already seen 63 pediatric deaths and high levels of illness and hospitalizations related to the flu this season. One-in-10 Americans who died the week ending on January 20th died from the flu or pneumonia. The flu costs the nation $10.4 billion in direct medical costs annually and $87 billion in total economic burden, yet our current investment is significantly lacking. The current flu vaccine is only 60 percent effective at best, with the most recent CDC estimate putting the effectiveness of this year’s vaccine at approximately 25 percent.

“Flu season is as much a part of winter in Maine as skiing or snowmobiling. For some, that means you’re knocked off your feet for a couple of days, but for others – particularly children and older people – the flu can be deadly,” said Senator King. “Although we think that anything as common as flu is not dangerous, it certainly can be, and that’s why it’s so important that our scientists prioritize research into a universal vaccine. Our bill will help give our scientific community the support they need to research and ultimately develop a universal flu vaccine that can help our communities avoid deadly flu strains like the one we’ve seen this year.”

“As an infectious diseases physician, I have seen and heard some of the devastating results of this winter’s severe influenza season, underscoring the urgent need for a universal vaccine that will provide protection against influenza regardless of each season’s primary strains,” said Dr. Paul Auwaerter, President, Infectious Diseases Society of America. “It is important that we invest the resources necessary to develop this life-saving tool, and Senator Markey’s bill will be extremely helpful.”

Senators co-sponsoring the Flu Vaccine Act include Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). A copy of the bill can be found HERE.

Additionally, Senator King joined his colleagues in sending a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking for more information on how the department is preparing for and responding to the flu virus. Specifically, the Senators request additional detail on the department’s work to predict more accurately the right viral strain for upcoming flu seasons, produce vaccines more rapidly and effectively, prepare hospitals and providers for the risks of a severe flu season, and protect all Americans against the virus through developing a universal flu vaccine.

Senators signing the letter to HHS include Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). A copy of the letter to HHS can be found HERE.