The novel vaccine that is being formulated by scientists, promises protection against all strains of flu virus. It is expected to be efficient to fight 24 strains of influenza A virus, that is the cause of outbreaks of both bird flu and winter flu.
Two injections of this vaccine is expected to bestow life long immunity. The only other current option is a vaccine that has to be repeatedly administered every year.The injection is yet to be tried on humans. The first clinical tests will be tried out by scientists from biotech firm Acambis in Britain and Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology in Belgium in the coming months. This vaccine is supposedly easier to manufacture ensuring that vast quantities of the vaccine can be stocked up for prevention of global outbreaks of flu.
Since the strains of influenza virus ,keep on changing frequently, it has been impossible to develop a single vaccine to suit every strain.
The new universal vaccine used in the injections is developed in eggs of hen. This vaccine is aimed on a protein called M2 that hasn’t shown many variations in the last century.
Source-Medindia
MST
