A new vaccine that will allegedly protect against several strains of influenza A viruses has been developed in Nebraska. This is one shot for the avian influenza (bird flu), swine flu, and the seasonal flu, all wrapped up in one injection.
This new vaccine strategy was developed and tested by a team from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and could signal an end to the annual flu shot routine. Instead, you can get three vaccines in one shot.
“This research sets the stage for developing universal influenza vaccines so people won’t have to go to the doctor and get a flu shot every year,” said Eric Weaver, director of the Nebraska Center for Virology, who led the Nebraska research team. “This vaccine will protect you against the different strains that are out there.”
This vaccine will supposedly be effective in both birds and human beings, according to a report by The Nebraska Examiner.
This H1 subtype is the largest and most genetically diverse subtype in pigs,” Weaver said. “It’s also among the viruses that jumped from swine to humans to cause the 2009 swine flu pandemic. It’s a big target and one of the harder targets to hit.”
The UNL team additionally noted that influenza A infects as much as 15% of the human population and causes thousands of deaths annually. Today’s vaccines often lack long-lasting protection because of the genetic diversity and rapid mutation of proteins that help form the virus.
Since Flu Shots Were Introduced, Deaths & Infections Remain About The Same
One of the biggest logistical challenges to controlling influenza A viruses, according to UNL, is that they infects multiple species, including birds, swine, horses and dogs, along with humans. “Swine often act as a mixing vessel because they are susceptible to human and bird flu variants, contributing to the evolution of novel forms of the disease that can be transmitted back to humans,” the statement said.
The European Union recently warned that pigs can elevate the risk of a bird flu mutation that could infect and be transmissible among human beings.
EU Warns of Bird Flu Mutation Risk In Pigs
