What's Happening in Hamilton, ON…

In a recent edition of the Journal of Virology, researchers at Hamilton’s McMaster University reported that they have found a way to outsmart the flu virus, and that this knowledge will be able to be applied to a new and improved vaccine.

An update to the current vaccination system would put an end to having to get yearly boosters, and also help to prevent future pandemics from occurring.

According to Mathew Miller, who is an assistant professor in the university’s department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, the improved vaccine contains a new class of antibodies that directly targets the only part of the influenza virus that mutates, making it effective no matter what strain it might be.

While the length of the protection isn’t yet known, since it affects the only part of the virus that ever really changes, Prof. Miller notes that it’s a big improvement over the protection that’s currently available.

Animals studies were recently completed at McMaster, and the results of the research have been published in January’s edition of the journal of Virology. The next step will be to conduct human studies. It is expected that the new vaccine could be available in anywhere from five to seven years.

Once the vaccine is ready for a wide application to the general public, a flyer printing company can produce informational publications.