New flu vaccine that could end yearly jabs in human trials

The London News.Net
Saturday 6th September, 2008 (ANI)

London, Sept 6 : A 'universal' flu vaccine is being tested on humans that could end the need for yearly injections.

Vaccines, which are currently available, work only on certain strains of flu, which means a new vaccine must be formulated each year.

Therefore, scientists at Oxford University are carrying out human trials of a new vaccination that targets a different part of the virus to existing methods.

If successful it would represent a breakthrough in tackling a flu pandemic by allowing stockpiles to be prepared much further in advance, reports Telegraph.

Flu researchers currently face a constant battle to keep up with the regular mutations in the virus.

The new jab will be given to a small number of volunteers to test the dosage before larger trials take place. It will be several years before it comes on the market.

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