“New Universal Flu Vaccine Trials: Promising Results from NIAID’s Vaccine Research Center”

Solopos.com, SOLO-So far, people have relied on an annual flu shot to stay protected from the virus, but things could change after scientists test a new strain of flu vaccine. Check out the reviews on healthy info this time.

Last week, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced clinical trials of an experimental universal influenza vaccine developed by researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center (VRC).

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The facility has already started enrolling volunteers for the Phase 1 trial at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. This was reported by Medical Daily, quoted on Wednesday (24/5/2023).

According to the NIH, the trial will require up to 50 healthy people ages 18 to 49 who are randomly assigned to different groups, each receiving a specific dose of the experimental vaccine. Data from participants will then be evaluated to determine the optimal vaccine dose.

The new vaccine is a far cry from the usual flu shots released each year in the fall. It is designed to protect recipients from a wide variety of strains, ensuring better and longer-lasting immunity from the flu.

“A universal influenza vaccine would be a major public health achievement and could eliminate the need for the development of an annual seasonal influenza vaccine, as well as the need for patients to get a flu shot every year,” said NIAID Acting Director Hugh Auchincloss, MD. Between on Wednesday (24/5/2023).

“In addition, several types of influenza viruses have significant pandemic potential. A universal flu vaccine can serve as an important line of defense against the spread of future flu pandemics,” he added.

In comparison, the annual flu shot targets four strains selected in anticipation of the next flu season. Meanwhile, this experimental vaccine is able to target a wider range of strains because it uses the same mRNA technology used in manufacturing the Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, according to Cleveland.com.

While the annual flu shot is made using chicken eggs that are injected with various types of viruses. The process involves selecting a part of the virus that varies widely between strains and changes from year to year.

Now new vaccines focus on a subset of viruses that are common across all strains, which explains why it is considered a “universal” shot.

A similar new vaccine for the flu being developed by researchers at VRC is already showing promising results in early clinical trials. If the new clinical trials are successful, scientists can move closer to their goal of producing a more effective flu vaccine that won’t need to be updated every year.