Abstract text

A problem with stockpiling influenza vaccines is their short shelf life. Storage volume is another problem. The invention prepares and stockpiles bulk vaccine, and the bulk is stored under frozen conditions. Compared to final vaccine, the higher antigen concentration and absence of packaging materials (boxes, vials, etc.) in the bulk means that the storage space requirements are hugely reduced. A process for preparing an influenza vaccine bulk thus comprises the steps of: (a) preparing bulk vaccine antigen from a source of influenza virus; and (b) storing the bulk vaccine prepared in step (a) under frozen conditions.