Every year the influenza vaccine is recommended to be taken to prevent diseases that can lead to death. Every year medical practitioners will also predict which strain among the 20 known so far will be the dominant strain that needs to be resisted. Therefore giving the right vaccine every year is challenging.
Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have successfully developed a universal vaccine candidate that is effective against all 20 strains of influenza A and influenza B. Antibody responses were detected in mice and ferrets in laboratory tests. This universal influenza vaccine was developed through mRNA technology which is now widely known after it was used to develop the Covid-19 vaccine.
Antibodies were still detected in laboratory animals four months after receiving the injection, giving hope that it could be effective throughout the influenza season, which usually occurs in the winter. At this time testing continues because success in animals does not necessarily mean that it is also effective when administered to humans.
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