Optimal Strategies to Estimate the Relative Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccines

The contract focuses on the development and validation of a protocol aimed at estimating the relative effectiveness of second-generation influenza vaccines. This work includes preliminary preparations for evaluating mRNA or third-generation flu vaccines, contingent on successful outcomes from a related FY23 contract that involved protocol development and the recruitment of partner health systems. The project is led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is intended to optimize strategies for comparing different influenza vaccine technologies to improve public health outcomes. Key aspects of the contract include establishing robust methodologies to assess vaccine effectiveness accurately, with an emphasis on collaboration with health systems to facilitate data collection and analysis. The contract is a forecast opportunity posted in March 2026, with designated points of contact at the CDC available for further engagement, reflecting ongoing efforts to advance influenza vaccine research and preparedness for future vaccine innovations.