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| Universal flu jab works in people | Universal flu jab works in people |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A single jab that could give lifelong protection against all types of flu has produced promising results in human trials. | A single jab that could give lifelong protection against all types of flu has produced promising results in human trials. |
| The vaccine, made by Acambis, should protect against all strains of influenza A - the cause of pandemics. | The vaccine, made by Acambis, should protect against all strains of influenza A - the cause of pandemics. |
| Currently, winter flu jabs have to be regularly redesigned because the flu virus keeps changing. | Currently, winter flu jabs have to be regularly redesigned because the flu virus keeps changing. |
| The new vaccine would overcome this and could be stockpiled in advance of a bird flu outbreak, say experts. | The new vaccine would overcome this and could be stockpiled in advance of a bird flu outbreak, say experts. |
| Promising results | Promising results |
| Each year winter flu kills around 4,000 people in the UK. | Each year winter flu kills around 4,000 people in the UK. |
| Globally, between 500,000 and one million people die each year from influenza. | Globally, between 500,000 and one million people die each year from influenza. |
| But a pandemic of the human form of bird flu, which experts believe is inevitable, could kill as many as 50m people worldwide. | But a pandemic of the human form of bird flu, which experts believe is inevitable, could kill as many as 50m people worldwide. |
| The US trials show that the jab is safe and it works fast to make the body immune against flu. | The US trials show that the jab is safe and it works fast to make the body immune against flu. |
| It could be stockpiled in advance of a pandemic Dr Michael Watson of Acambis | It could be stockpiled in advance of a pandemic Dr Michael Watson of Acambis |
| Nine out of 10 of those who had two doses of the jab ACAM-FLU-A developed antibodies against flu virus. | Nine out of 10 of those who had two doses of the jab ACAM-FLU-A developed antibodies against flu virus. |
| Scientists at Acambis are now working to perfect the formulation before doing larger human trials. | Scientists at Acambis are now working to perfect the formulation before doing larger human trials. |
| Dr Michael Watson of Acambis said: "As a universal vaccine, ACAM-FLU-A can potentially overcome many of the drawbacks of existing influenza vaccines. | Dr Michael Watson of Acambis said: "As a universal vaccine, ACAM-FLU-A can potentially overcome many of the drawbacks of existing influenza vaccines. |
| "It can be manufactured at any time of the year, and could be stockpiled in advance of a pandemic or potentially used routinely to ensure population protection against future pandemics." | "It can be manufactured at any time of the year, and could be stockpiled in advance of a pandemic or potentially used routinely to ensure population protection against future pandemics." |
| Unique action | Unique action |
| Current flu vaccines work by giving immunity to two proteins called haemagglutinin and neuraminidase, which are found on the surface of flu viruses. | Current flu vaccines work by giving immunity to two proteins called haemagglutinin and neuraminidase, which are found on the surface of flu viruses. |
| However, these proteins keep mutating which means doctors have to keep making new vaccines to keep up. | However, these proteins keep mutating which means doctors have to keep making new vaccines to keep up. |
| The Acambis vaccine homes in on a different protein, called M2, which is found on the surface of all A-strains of flu and does not appear to mutate so readily. | |
| Professor Ian Jones, a University of Reading virologist, said the jab could end the scramble to produce a new winter jab each year. | Professor Ian Jones, a University of Reading virologist, said the jab could end the scramble to produce a new winter jab each year. |
| But he said it would still be some years before it was widely available for patients. | But he said it would still be some years before it was widely available for patients. |
| "Larger trials and tests on a wider range of viruses will be needed before the full potential for pandemic protection can be assured," he said. | "Larger trials and tests on a wider range of viruses will be needed before the full potential for pandemic protection can be assured," he said. |