If I understand it correctly, researchers made a vaccine that targets the proteins common to all flu viruses instead of the part that changes every year. They tested it on 52 people and found it safe and effective.
A Widge, et al. An Influenza Hemagglutinin Stem Nanoparticle 1 Vaccine Induces Cross
Group 1 Neutralizing Antibodies in Healthy Adults. Science Translational Medicine https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.ade4790
S Andrews, et al. An Influenza H1 Hemagglutinin Stem-Only Immunogen Elicits a Broadly Cross-Reactive B Cell Response in Humans. Science Translational Medicine https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.ade4976
Universal Influenza Candidate Vaccine Performs Well in Phase 1 Trial NIAID Now https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/vrc-uni-flu-vax
Scientists at NIAID's Vaccine Research Center (VRC) report in two new studies that an experimental influenza vaccine, designed to elicit immunity against a broad range of influenza viruses, performed well in a small trial of volunteers. In fact, the vaccine has advanced to a second trial led by scientists at Duke University through NIAID's Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs).
In a phase 1 clinical trial of 52 volunteers, the vaccine developed by the VRC – known as H1ssF (influenza H1 hemagglutinin stabilized stem ferritin nanoparticle vaccine) – was safe, well-tolerated, and induced broad antibody responses that target the hemagglutinin stem. The two new studies assessing the nanoparticle vaccine published April 19 in Science Translational Medicine.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 25, @02:58PM (3 children)
Work at home, no little kids around, so I've been skipping the flu vaccines each fall, just seemed like very little chance of catching it. But this one-and-done vaccine, if it's proven in full trials, is one that I'd get.
Now, if they could do the same thing for the Covid variants, that would be really nice.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Immerman on Tuesday April 25, @04:20PM (2 children)
Hear, hear. On both counts.
I've never gotten a flu shot simply because there are costs and (very low) risks associated with vaccination that just aren't worth it for what amounts to a nasty cold. Not when I don't spend much time around other people anyway, and have the option to bug out if some asshole comes to work obviously sick. Which works great for avoiding pretty much everything except Covid, which is at its most contagious before symptoms develop.
This though - I'd go for this. Especially since I seem to catch every damned thing ever since getting Covid, when it used to be rare that I'd get anything worse than an overnight fever that I'd only be aware of because my girlfriend mentioned it.
I seem to recall recently hearing about someone working on a more universal Covid vaccine as well. I guess it's one of those things that wasn't even possible to consider until we'd seen enough variants to understand what parts remain stable.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by pTamok on Tuesday April 25, @06:42PM (1 child)
The death rate for influenza infection is about an order of magnitude higher for the 70+ cohort than the 15-49 cohort. You might want to re-evaluate as you age.
That said, most people who think that 'flu' is equivalent to a bad cold have not had flu. I've heard the difference described as: If you have a bad cold, you feel like you are dying. If you have 'flu' you wish you were dead. I had flu when I was a child, and I really don't want to repeat the experience.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Tuesday April 25, @07:19PM
Yeah, proper influenza is *nasty*. Almost as miserable as scarlet fever (which I had multiple times as a child). And I probably will consider at least occasional vaccinations as I age more. Might even consider it this year, with as beat up as my immune system seems to be post-Covid.
But by the same token - people suffering from flu are *obvious*, and easy to avoid in non-public-facing positions. Coupled with basic hygiene practices after being in public spaces, I haven't caught it since being stuck in a room with sick classmates as a child.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by BananaPhone on Tuesday April 25, @03:02PM (6 children)
Months ago I saw an article about the military creating a vaccine against ALL (most?) Corona viruses.
Such as:
-common cold
-Influenza
-Covid
Is this the same one or competition?
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 25, @03:44PM (2 children)
Good question. If only there was some way to find an answer... 💩
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 25, @04:00PM (1 child)
If it's top secret, just tune in to a friendly Discord gaming session...
(Score: 3, Touché) by DannyB on Tuesday April 25, @06:44PM
We would not want such a useful vaccine falling into unfriendly hands.
How often should I have my memory checked? I used to know but...
(Score: 5, Informative) by Immerman on Tuesday April 25, @04:08PM (2 children)
Umm, I wouldn't trust information from that source. Of those, only Covid is a cornonavirus
Influenza is a orthomyxovirus, while the "common cold" is a generic name for a huge number of unrelated viruses, a few of which might be corona viruses, but most of the actually common ones are rhinoviruses.
(Score: 5, Funny) by DannyB on Tuesday April 25, @06:46PM
But, what if this vaccine contains much better microchips?
How often should I have my memory checked? I used to know but...
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Tuesday April 25, @08:05PM
Some versions of the common cold are also caused by corona viruses. "Common cold" is a syndrome, not a single disease. There are multiple possible causal factors, even occasionally including an allergy.
But as an argument not to trust that source, you've got a good point.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by GreatOutdoors on Tuesday April 25, @04:53PM (1 child)
Today a ton of drugs are tested on groups of 100-200 people and the FDA calls it good (Section 6 on the label of every vaccine I believe), then they go on to harm 10s of thousands before they get sued and pulled from the market because the small subset of people tested were hand picked and any bad outcomes were filtered out as statistics. How about we test this gradually on a larger subset of people and gather the data over time before pulling the trigger on everyone?
We used to perform good quality studies before releasing drugs, and we need to go back to it.
Yes, I did make a logical argument there. You should post a logical response.
(Score: 1) by pTamok on Wednesday April 26, @08:53AM
Got any citations for those allegations?
Proof that stands up to scrutiny?