Cell culture influenza vaccine: an Australian perspective.

The Australia Influenza Vaccine Committee makes independent decisions concerning the influenza vaccine formulation for Australia. Large-scale cell culture using MDCK cells would improve response time for vaccine production in the face of a new pandemic. There must be a consensus with respect to the use of MDCK or other cells before the next pandemic. It is unrealistic to expect any national regulatory authority to determine what safety requirements should be met before approving a cell substrate for vaccine production during an influenza pandemic. Regulatory issues seen as obstacles to the approval of MDCK cells as an accepted cell substrate for influenza vaccine production are identified.