Disclosed are immunogenic conjugates having the general formula: M2e-Cys-S—CH2—C(O)—NH—CH2—CH2-C(O—)NH-Lys-Pr, were M2e is the influenza M2 ectodomain (M2e) peptide; Cys is a cysteine amino acid residue present in the M2e peptide; S the sulfur present in the cysteine amino acid residue; CH2-CO—NH—CH2-CH2-CO the linking group; NH the amine group present in a lysine residue of the carrier; Lys is a lysine amino acid residue and Pr the carrier protein. Also disclosed are isolated immunogens that include an immunogenic fragment of an influenza HA protein including the polybasic cleavage site, wherein the immunogenic fragment of the influenza HA protein has been modified to remove an N-terminal leader amino acid sequence and a C-terminal transmembrane domain. Also disclosed are methods producing an influenza vaccine specific for an identified influenza strain.