Seasonal Shield for Influenza: The Science Behind the Flu Shot

Thomas, Cherry & Greta take a deep dive into all things influenza virus. They explore how the flu virus enters our cells, why the flu vaccine needs to be updated each year and current advances in flu treatment including the promise of a universal flu vaccine. Tune in to find out more!References:1. CDC. Cold Versus Flu. Influenza (Flu). 2024. Accessed April 20th 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/coldflu.html2. Bouvier NM, Palese P. The biology of influenza viruses. Vaccine. 2008;26 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):D49-53. doi:10.10163. CDC. Types of Influenza Viruses. Influenza (Flu). 2024. Accessed April 20th 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses-types.html4. Lowen AC, Mubareka S, Steel J, Palese P. Influenza Virus Transmission Is Dependent on Relative Humidity and Temperature. PLoS Pathog. 2007;3(10):e151. doi:10.13715. Boktor SW, Hafner JW. Influenza. Nih.gov. StatPearls Publishing. 2023. Accessed May 1st 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459363/#_ncbi_dlg_citbx_NBK4593636. Samant M, Khare P. Cytokine Response Against Major Human Viral Infections. Elsevier; 2024.7. Australian Government. Influenza (flu) vaccine. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 2020. Accessed April 22, 2025.https://www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/vaccines/influenza-flu-vaccine8. World Health Organization. History of influenza vaccination . World Health Organization; 2024. Accessed April 22, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/history-of-influenza-vaccination9. Trombetta CM, Kistner O, Montomoli E, Viviani S, Marchi S. Influenza Viruses and Vaccines: The Role of Vaccine Effectiveness Studies for Evaluation of the Benefits of Influenza Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel). 2022;10(5):714. doi:10.339010. CDC Seasonal Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Studies . CDC - Flu Vaccines Work. 2024. Accessed April 22, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/flu-vaccines-work/php/effectiveness-studies/index.html11. SIlva JC. Flu shot ingredients: What they contain and why. Medicalnewstoday. May 19, 2023. Accessed April 22, 2025.https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/32120712. Cleveland Clinic. Herd immunity: History, vaccines, Threshold & What It Means . Cleveland Clinic. 2022. March 16, 2022. Accessed April 22, 2025.https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22599-herd-immunity13. Gomez Lorenzo, Margarita M. et al. Immunobiology of Influenza Vaccines. CHEST. 2013;143(2):502-510. doi:10.137814. Kim, H., Webster, R.G., Webby, R.J. Influenza Virus: Dealing with a Drifting and Shifting Pathogen. Viral Immunology. 2018;31(2):174-183. doi:10.108915. Selecting Viruses for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed April 25, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-process/vaccine-selection.html16. Okoli,G.N., et al. Variable seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness across geographical regions, age groups and levels of vaccine antigenic similarity with circulating virus strains: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence from test-negative design studies after the 2009/10 influenza pandemic. Vaccine. 2021;39(8):1225-1240. doi:10.1016

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