A vaccine that could end the need for annual winter flu
injections by offering lifelong protection against all strains
of the virus has been developed by scientists. The new universal
flu vaccine, which researchers say will only need to be
administered once, has been found to be effective against a
number of different types of influenza virus, including the
deadly avian flu and pandemic swine flu strains. Flu viruses are
highly changeable so elderly people and pregnant women, who are
particularly vulnerable to the illness, are currently given new
vaccinations each year to ensure they are protected. Small-scale
clinical trials on the new vaccine – known as Flu-v – have shown
that it can significantly reduce infection and also cut the
severity of symptoms. Results of the trials will be presented at
an international conference this week by SEEK, the London-based
drug development company behind the vaccine. Scientists who have
been working on it are planning to conduct a large-scale
clinical trial and hope to hav