The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) calls for innovative technologies to advance H5N1 vaccines that could be administered in only one visit.
The Single Shield Prize, part of Project NextGen, is a $41 million competition to advance single-administration vaccines for pandemic preparedness.
Reducing the number of doses needed to achieve immunity can have a positive public health impact and improve overall vaccination rates, which is essential for controlling disease spread during pandemics. Currently, all approved vaccines for H5N1 pandemic influenza require two or more administrations to achieve strong and durable immunity. The Single Shield Prize will aim to accelerate the development of robust, durable, and broadly protective single-administration H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccines.