World-first trial for universal flu vaccine to be launched in UK

A groundbreaking new trial of a universal vaccine for influenza is set to be launched in the UK, with recruitment for the study currently gearing up.

Supported by the National Institute for Health Research and delivered by the University of Oxford, the study will assess the potential benefits of a vaccine that offers a different mode of action to protect against the flu virus.

Whereas current vaccines target the ever-evolving surface proteins on the outside of flu cells, this new treatment targets the core proteins that remain virtually unchanged in all influenza A viruses.

As such, it could offer significantly better coverage than the vaccines used today, which are only effective in 30 to 40 percent of over-65s, due to the immune system weakening with age.

More than 10,000 people aged 65 and over will be asked to take part in this new trial across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, with a recruitment target of 500 set.

Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said: "Every year, flu in older adults causes serious illness and sometimes death. We want to improve the situation, but in order to do that we need volunteers to help us test a new vaccine."

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