Researches at Princeton University believe they have found the "universal" flu vaccine. This vaccine would make the influenza less severe in turn making it more difficult for it to spread. According to researches cross-protective vaccines could even improve the effectiveness of already existing vaccines. In studying and creating this vaccine the researchers ask questions such as: what is the most recent influenza and up and coming information we have, how will the new vaccine play out, and what will the impacts of the vaccine be.
Unlike the annual flu vaccine developed, which is mainly focused on targeting the evolving factors of the virus, the universal vaccine will target more constant proteins with less evolutionary flair. In evaluating the universal flu vaccine researchers will base the effectiveness on two stimulated flu outbreaks: a pandemic and epidemic. In theory the purpose of the universal vaccine is not to prevent the flu but to lessen the symptoms as well as reduce spreading. If there are fewer cases of the flu, less people will become immune to the current strain. Therefore, the chances of a new strain being created would be removed.
This is a very interesting approach to take on the influenza virus, and also gives researchers much more time to study the current strain of the flu virus. The universal vaccine would also extend the use of the vaccine created, rather than having it only be effective for one season. Although this is a very appealing idea I'm not quite sure how the public would react. I believe many individuals are in favor of preventative methods and personal benefit.
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