The flu vaccine is set to get a makeover : pbs

referring to pbs

The flu vaccine is set to get a makeover

The flu vaccine is set to get a makeover

For the past eight years, flu shots around the world have contained a virus that was retrieved from a sick person in California in the spring of 2009, in the earliest days of the H1N1 — or swine flu — pandemic.This week, the World Health Organization recommended that flu vaccine manufacturers swap out the component that is based on that virus with an updated version.It is uncommon for a flu virus to remain in the vaccine for such an extended period as the current one.


as well indiatimes

universal flu vaccine: Scientists design a universal flu vaccine

universal flu vaccine: Scientists design a universal flu vaccine

A new generation of universal flu vaccines has been designed, to protect against the future global pandemics that could potentially kill millions of people.The vaccine, designed by an international team of scientists, has the potential to give protection for up to 88 per cent of known flu strains worldwide in a single shot, spelling the end of the winter flu season, the researchers said."The components of this universal flu vaccine would be short flu virus fragments -- called epitopes -- that are already known to be recognised by the immune system.Our collaboration has found a way to select epitopes reaching full population coverage," said Pedro Reche of Complutense University, Madrid, Spain"Every year researchers choose a strain of flu as the vaccine, hoping that it will protect against next year's strains.


furthermore hindustantimes

World's first universal flu vaccine developed

World's first universal flu vaccine developed

Scientists have developed two new generation of universal flu vaccines to protect against potential influenza pandemics that could kill millions.Unlike current vaccines that protect against certain strains, the new vaccine gives protection for up to 88% of known flu strains worldwide in a single shot.A second US-specific vaccine covers 95% of known US influenza strains.