Flu Vaccine Anyone?

It's that time of year again and everyone I know, including myself this time, has had some strain or another of the flu. Since I seldom come down with anything more than a common cold, and don't work near seniors or children, I don't usually give much consideration to the flu vaccine. In fact, a few years back when I used to coach figure skating and was in daily contact with children, I'm pretty sure I was "vaccinated" in a much more effective way than any flu shot could accomplish. Two-hundred mittoned hands wanting to hold mine, after being conveniently used as tissues for two-hundred runny noses, is a pretty powerful dose!

Now, however, I don't have the convenience of my own personal immune-boosting entourage, and I'm forced to consider the vaccine. Everyone I know, whether they get it or not, wonders if it's doing any good. We're all aware of the shortcomings of the vaccine, and how it is designed based on our best guess of what will be the most virulent strains in the coming year. In recent years we've also been concerned about possible shortages in vaccine because of the length of time required to produce it from chicken eggs. However, there is a new technology on the verge of being publically released in the next year or so, that might improve on the process and allow more precise predictions. This is a cell culture-based (Vero cell) system that produces a higher yield in less time with fewer contaminants than the traditional method. Vero cells have been used to produce vaccines for other diseases such as smallpox and polio.

In 2003, two companies lead the pack in Vero cell vaccine research: Baxter and Chiron Corp. (now Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics) Baxter announced preliminary data for their Phase I/II trial, in October 2006, reporting that the vaccine was a success and they expect to have Phase III trial reports by the end of 2007. Cell culture-based vaccines by Novartis are also reportedly in clinical trials in the USA and elsewhere.