Chills, fever, headaches, sore throat and serious muscle aches these are all symptoms of the infectious flu disease which plagues thousands of us during the year. Every year we see commercials and advertisements to go out and get the flu vaccine however still many fail to attain the vaccine for one reason or another. Incidence of the disease ranges from year to year and with the exception of the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009-2010 the disease has mostly claimed the lives of those of the elderly population. While the form of the vaccine that has been administered over the past several decades has been effective in reducing incidence of the disease in those who receive it, the egg embryo base of the vaccine along with certain antibiotics used in the vaccine has placed limitations on the population who gets the vaccine. In attempt to help expand the population base that can receive the vaccine, Baxter International Pharmaceutical Company got set on a mission to create a new vaccine.
Baxter Pharmaceuticals’ basis for the new vaccine was to use the natural vaccine rather than a genetically altered version. In omitting the use of the egg embryo base and certain antibiotics a “purer” vaccine could be created. The company trials of the vaccine have shown that the vaccine is well tolerated and effective against the influenza strains included in the vaccine and has so far had a decreased incidence of common flu complicated like bacterial pneumonia. The creation of this new vaccine will have great advantages in helping to fight the seasonal flu that affects so many each year.
Especially after the Swine flu pandemic that cost the lives of so many people during the 2009-2010 flu season, we have definitely learned that a simple case of the flu could end up with much more serious consequences. This vaccine will definitely help advance the fight against the common flu by spreading protection to an even greater number of people especially the more vulnerable elderly population. Use of the vaccine is actually already being implemented around the world in places like Austria and the Czech Republic and is in the process of being approved in other countries as well. I think that the vaccine will be a great addition to U.S. and worldwide market especially after the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices vote for “universal” flu vaccination and ultimately help bring us closer to an end for the influenza.
References
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/216673.php
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