Researchers Seek To Make Flu Vaccine Work Better

By Dr Deepu

The Baltimore Sun (8/29, Cohn) reported on efforts to make the flu vaccine “work better.” Currently, influenza vaccines are “less effective than vaccines for other diseases.” For scientists at the NIH, “that means developing a universal vaccine.” Each year, the flu “vaccine must currently be matched months ahead of the flu season to circulating strains, which is something of a ‘guessing game,’ said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “ Dr. Fauci said, “Most of the time we guess correctly,” adding, “But not always.”