![Scientists say that universal flu vaccine may be available within the next five years, according to new research.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLEAN-GettyImagesUniversalFluVaccineComing_Getty-Images_featuredImage_Fri-Jul-19-2024.jpg?w=1920)
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE YOU GET ONE FLU SHOT AND YOU’RE PROTECTED FROM EVERY FORM OF THE VIRUS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
SCIENTISTS SAY IT MAY HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
INFLUENZA IS CONSTANTLY MUTATING.
THAT’S WHY A NEW VACCINE IS NEEDED EACH YEAR.
BUT RESEARCHERS SAY THEY’VE TARGETED A PART OF THE VIRUS THAT DOES NOT MUTATE.
CURRENT FLU SHOTS TARGET PROTEINS PROTRUDING FROM THE SURFACE OF THE VIRUS KNOWN AS “SPIKE PROTEINS.”
RESEARCHERS SAY THIS VACCINE IS DESIGNED TO TARGET THE CORE OF THE VIRUS, WHICH UNLIKE “SPIKE PROTEINS” DOES NOT EVOLVE OVER TIME.
SCIENTISTS SAY EARLY TESTS ON MONKEYS ELICITED “A ROBUST IMMUNE RESPONSE.”
11 MONKEYS WERE INFECTED WITH BIRD FLU– WHICH HAS BEEN SPREADING IN DAIRY CATTLE ACROSS THE U-S.
SIX OF THEM RECEIVED AN INOCULATION AGAINST THE 19-18 SPANISH FLU AND SURVIVED EXPOSURE TO H51N1.
BUT THE FIVE UNVACCINATED MONKEYS DIED FROM THE BIRD FLU.
THE TEAM ALSO SAYS THE STUDY RAISES HOPE FOR DEVELOPING A VACCINE AGAINST H5N1 IN PEOPLE— AND THE TECHNOLOGY COULD BE USED TO DELIVER LONG-LASTING IMMUNITY TO COVID-19.
RESEARCHERS SAY THE VACCINE TECH WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED TO FIGHT H-I-V.
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