New Science Behind The Flu

With each flu season that comes and goes there are new vaccines created. In addition to these new vaccines there are new findings that explore possible ways to enhance the benefits of the flu vaccine as well as determine factors that cause more harm than good for patients that receive the vaccine. For instance, research has shown that nasal flu spray has not combat the flu virus and as a result researchers have advised doctors to refrain from giving patients the option of the nasal spray which is popular among children. Children will need to still get the vaccine injected since it is recommended that anyone 6 months and older receive the shot by the end of October. One difference that may be the cause of the nasal spray being less effective than before is the actual viruses it is designed to target. In previous years the nasal spray was only designed to target three different viruses, but in recent years it can target four.

 Another issues that comes about when receiving the vaccine is whether or not it will actually be effective each flu season. If a patient receives a vaccine that is design to target a specific strain of the flu repeatedly year after year, the vaccine will become less effective because the antibodies that are produced due to vaccine will decline. However, if the vaccine targets a different virus each year the body will generate an abundance of antibodies ready to attack the virus. Although it is recommended that one receives a flu vaccination to combat the flu virus it should be enough for people to practice good hand washing and mouth covering. The vaccine only protects patients from the most common strain of the virus. The strains of the flu do not change over the course of a couple of years , however, if one does not receive the correct vaccine to protect themselves from a particular strain one year they would still be safe from the other strains ,but susceptible to that one other strain.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-guide-to-the-changing-science-of-flu-shots/

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm