• Question: How do scientists know how to make a flu vaccine if viruses can be different every year?

    Asked by Livi to Aaron, David, Elaine, Sarah, Zoe on 14 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Sarah Ashwood

      Sarah Ashwood answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      I’m not entirely sure – from what I know the people in charge of the flu vaccine know which strains of flu are going to be the most common that year – probably by some sort of complex statistical modelling and I’ll admit I don’t know how it works!
      The antigen that you get in the flu vaccine is directed to 3 or 4 of the most common viral strains for that year, so they can be sure that you are not going to contract the flu that is most common at that time.

    • Photo: David Foley

      David Foley answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      It’s essentially based on the last year’s most common forms of the virus. Although it will be different, your immune system will be primed for a very close “cousin” and therefore will still recognize it faster that if you were not vaccinated.

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