Universal flu shot could be available within years after ‘exciting’ breakthrough

The “precise” breakthrough could also be applied to other mutating viruses, such as Covid, that could cause global pandemics in the future.

The development is described as a ‘gamechanger’ (file image)(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

One flu shot for all strains of the virus could be available within five years after ‘exciting’ breakthrough.

US scientists used a new vaccine platform to target the inside of the potentially deadly pathogen. And they say the same method could be used against other mutating viruses, such as Covid, that could cause future pandemics.

The theory has been validated using the particularly deadly 1918 influenza virus – or “Spanish flu” – which killed up to 50 million people worldwide. A universal flu vaccine would be effective against all human-adapted strains of influenza, and would not need to be adjusted from year to year to keep up with changes in the virus.

A so-called “one and done” shot that provides lifelong immunity against an evolving virus has never been successfully developed. But now new research, led by scientists at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), has discovered a “promising” approach to creating one.

The study involved testing an OHSU-developed vaccine platform against the virus most likely to cause the next pandemic. Researchers said the vaccine generated a “robust” immune response in nonhuman primates exposed to the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

The vaccine was not based on the modern-day H5N1 virus, but instead the primates were vaccinated against the deadly 1918 flu virus. Senior author Professor Jonah Sacha from OHSU said: “It’s exciting because in most cases this kind of basic science research advances science very gradually; in 20 years it could be something.

“This could become a vaccine in five years or less,” he said. He said six of 11 primates vaccinated against the virus that circulated a century ago survived exposure to one of the deadliest viruses in the world today, H5N1. However, a control group of six unvaccinated primates exposed to the H5N1 virus succumbed to the disease.

Prof Sacha believes the platform could “absolutely” be useful against other mutating viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. He said: “It’s a very feasible approach. For viruses with pandemic potential, it’s crucial to have something like this. We’re planning to test influenza, but we don’t know what’s going to happen next.”