Posted on Jan 26, 2023
Computer Model of Influenza Virus Shows Universal Vaccine Promise
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According to the World Health Organization, each year there are an estimated 1 billion cases of influenza, between 3-5 million severe cases and up to 650,000 influenza-related respiratory deaths globally. Seasonal flu vaccines must be reformulated each year to match the predominantly circulating strains. When the vaccine matches the predominant strain, it is very effective; however, when it does not match, it may offer little protection.
The main targets of the flu vaccine are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). While the HA protein helps the virus bind to the host cell, the NA protein acts like scissors to cut the HA away from the cell membrane allowing the virus to replicate.
The main targets of the flu vaccine are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). While the HA protein helps the virus bind to the host cell, the NA protein acts like scissors to cut the HA away from the cell membrane allowing the virus to replicate.
Computer Model of Influenza Virus Shows Universal Vaccine Promise
Posted from today.ucsd.edu
Medical
Health
Science
Computers
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Lt Col Charlie Brown I never get the flu shot. I'd rather my body fight the infection itself.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
People who are around kids all the time have pretty good immunity to stuff overall as long as they don't have compounding issues like emphysema or diabetes...
My brother in law takes both the A and B versions of the shot yearly and still gets the flu sometimes pretty seriously. My sister on the other hand gets her shot and rarely if ever comes down with the flu.
My brother in law takes both the A and B versions of the shot yearly and still gets the flu sometimes pretty seriously. My sister on the other hand gets her shot and rarely if ever comes down with the flu.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Me too! My mom has no vaccines but Coronavirus for three weeks. I have had no shots and no Coronavirus. I am a scientist, so I scrutinize everything.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
MSgt Dale Johnson - I'm an indifferent flu shot patient. I get it some years, sometimes I just don't get around to vaccination. I've never had the flu, even though my Wife has had it at least three times since we have been married (Larry knocks on wood). Somewhere I was told or read that O- blood types seem to have a resistance to flu and respiratory viruses. I get sinus infections, so I guess that is payback.
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Cpl Vic Burk
MSgt Dale Johnson - You didn't come across that way Brother. And I was just saying we make our own decisions. Some believe in the vaccines, others don't. My personal choice is to take the risk!
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Promising news.
Why is this important?
The flu vaccine is a 'quadrivalent' in that it targets four most common strains of the influenza virus. The only problem is that many times is that a new strain comes along that the vaccine is ineffective against.
Looked at entirely, it's has an average effectiveness rate of about 43%, but this has been all over the map because it's an educated guess as to what's going to happen during the flu season - it was as low as 10% back in the 2004-05 season and as high as 60% during the 2010-11 season*.
A universal vaccine targeting a common process in all strains would mean no more guesswork.
Estimates are that about 10% of the US population is infected by influenza each year (that's about 33 million folks) and tens of thousands die from it each year (globally -- between 300,000 and 500,000 die each year).
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* https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/past-seasons-estimates.html
Why is this important?
The flu vaccine is a 'quadrivalent' in that it targets four most common strains of the influenza virus. The only problem is that many times is that a new strain comes along that the vaccine is ineffective against.
Looked at entirely, it's has an average effectiveness rate of about 43%, but this has been all over the map because it's an educated guess as to what's going to happen during the flu season - it was as low as 10% back in the 2004-05 season and as high as 60% during the 2010-11 season*.
A universal vaccine targeting a common process in all strains would mean no more guesswork.
Estimates are that about 10% of the US population is infected by influenza each year (that's about 33 million folks) and tens of thousands die from it each year (globally -- between 300,000 and 500,000 die each year).
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* https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/past-seasons-estimates.html
Past Seasons’ Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) Estimates
Find seasonal flu VE estimates from past seasons.
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I got my last flu shot because I was forced to by the Guard. Nor doing it any more.
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