New research from Oregon Health & Science University shows promise for an approach to developing a universal flu vaccine: a so-called “one-and-done” vaccine that provides lifelong immunity against the evolving virus.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, tested a vaccine against the virus believed to be the most likely source of the next pandemic.
The researchers reported that the vaccine elicited a strong immune response in nonhuman primates infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. However, the vaccine was not designed for the modern H5N1 virus.
Instead, primates were vaccinated against the 1918 flu virus that killed millions worldwide.
Six out of 11 non-human primates vaccinated against the 1918 flu virus were able to resist H5N1, one of the deadliest viruses in the modern world, researchers reported. In contrast, six unvaccinated primates infected with the H5N1 virus died of the disease.
According to the scientists, this vaccine “definitely” could be useful in the fight against other mutated viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
