Universal flu vaccine protects against influenza A and B
Folahan Feranmi
Abstract
Influenza is a significant public health problem, causing approximately 3–5 million severe cases and 290 000–650 000 deaths annually worldwide. Seasonal vaccination is currently the primary method of preventing severe influenza complications or mortality. The available influenza vaccines are strain specific and designed to target distinct haemagglutinin subtypes and lineages of influenza virus A and B. The propensity of influenza haemagglutinin to undergo genetic reassortment and develop new strains means that influenza vaccines must be continuously monitored and reformulated for each season.
Topics & Concepts
ReassortmentVirologySeasonal influenzaVaccinationHuman mortality from H5N1Influenza vaccineVirusStrain (injury)Public healthLive attenuated influenza vaccineBiologyMedicineCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)DiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)NursingPathologyAnatomyInfluenza Virus Research StudiesRespiratory viral infections researchinterferon and immune responses