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Published online 7 January 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.410
News: Briefing
Is a universal flu vaccine on its way?
Late last week, a UK-based company reported promising safety data for a 'universal' flu vaccine. Heidi Ledford looks at how such vaccines work, and what challenges must still be overcome.
What is a 'universal' flu vaccine?
Influenza viruses are a capricious lot, and each year brings new viruses to star in the flu-season show. This leaves health officials in an annual race to predict which viruses will land in the spotlight — a prediction that has to be made far enough in advance to allow vaccine producers to churn out hundreds of millions of doses for the world's population.
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