I know I tend to skip the flu shot (I'm not a fan of vaccinations unless I (or my kids) REALLY need them) and I suppose that leaves me with little room to complain if I succumb to the flu. Which I do. Every year. Even if I get the flu shot. I always manage to get one of the flu strains that are not one of those in the flu shot. After all, there are many, many strains of flu and only a few are in that vaccination. The three strains used in the vaccinations often change every year, and the decision on which strains are used are based on flu data taken from around the globe. Then an educated guess is used to pick the three.
This winter has been hard, where I live. It's bitterly cold and very snowy and everyone is inside, fighting the misery known as cabin fever, and spreading germs like wildfire. Thus I have succumbed about three times already, once to a flu bug and twice to a few days of feeling weak, with muscle aches, headaches, nausea and generally yucky-ness.
So it was with some relief I read that a universal flu shot is being created that will protect most of us from most strains of flu. It's not currently available and will not be for several years but the results of tests (sorry, mice, that really does upset me that you have to go through the testing) are very positive - even showing flu strains that mutate to be a very weak opponent to the new flu vaccination.
This research is being done in Japan. There is also a similar study being conducted in England.
Tell Us
Do you get a flu shot every year? Would you be more likely to get a universal flu shot, rather than one that focuses on the three most common strains of the year before?