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The influenza virus is in a continuous state of mutation. Each year different strains become prominent. If the educated guesses of the disease control folks are accurate, they can produce a vaccine that will be aligned with the proteins on all of the most common strains for a given year. Occasionally they get it wrong and the vaccine is only effective against a fraction of the most common strains. Because the strains are different from year to year, the previous year's vaccination is not very likely to provide immunity for the currently most common strains.

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Why does the flu vaccine developed each year not always work?

The flu vaccine is not a new vaccine that is developed from scratch every year. The flu virus mutates rapidly into different strains, meaning that a vaccination from a previous year will not protect you for another year's strain. The vaccine is modified to take account of this - it is not developed from scratch every time.


Vaccines against the flu are different every year why is this?

The flu virus constantly mutates, leading to new strains every year. Vaccine manufacturers update the vaccine annually to include the most prevalent strains, providing the best protection. This process helps ensure that the vaccine is effective against the specific flu viruses circulating each year.


Why Every year a new influenza vaccine is developed What is the most likely reason that doctors do not use the same vaccine each year?

Typically the flu vaccine is trying to predict the possible states of the flu coming for that season. The flu virus mutates so rapidly that they are always trying to predict what's coming next. That's why you can also still get the flu even if you get a flu shot. STUDY ISLAND ANSWER:The virus which causes influenza adapts each year to the last vaccine in order to survive and reproduce.


Do you have to wait a full year between flu immunizations?

yes, if it is for the same vaccine, but not if it is for a new vaccine against a different flu


What does the H1N1 vaccine cover?

Originally in 2009 the vaccine for the pandemic swine flu was a monovalent vaccine, which means it was made to only prevent that one type of flu. Then for the 2010-2011 flu season, a trivalent vaccine was made for the regular flu just like every year. Trivalent means it is made to cover/prevent three different kinds of influenza virus infections. For the most recent flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, the "regular" flu shot contained the vaccine for swine flu and two others. So, the monovalent H1N1 vaccine covered only one type of flu: the pandemic swine flu. But the trivalent seasonal flu vaccines cover three types of flu (one of which, for the 2010 - 2011 flu season, is Swine flu H1N1/09).


How would flu medications work if you got the flu?

Flu medication relieves some of the symptoms of the flu, such as runny nose, coughing, fever, aches and pains, and congestion. There is no cure for the flu, but you can get a vaccine every year to help you avoid getting the virus.


How long to wait between flu vaccine and shingles vaccine?

interval- flu vaccine and the shingles vaccine


Why isn't there a one time vaccination for the flu shot?

The flu virus mutates enough each year that immunity to last year's strain doesn't mean you will be immune to this year's strain.That's why, each year, they manufacture flu vaccine based on what they think that year's strain will look like. Sometimes they're wrong, and that year's vaccine isn't effective against that year's flu, but this is fairly uncommon.The H1N1 vaccine is tailored specifically to the swine flu outbreak this year, and has been proven to be effective against it.


Do you need Swine Flu jab every year?

No, only one time should provide immunity for life. However, in the US for the 2010-2011 flu season, the vaccine for swine flu H1N1/09 is included in the "regular" flu vaccinations. If you had it last year, it won't hurt to have it again.


Can flu vaccine be given at the same time as the varicella vaccine?

Yes, you can get flu vaccine and varicella vaccine at the same time.


Avian flu vaccine?

Q-pan is the approved vaccine for Avian Flu or H5N1.


Are you protected if expired flu vaccine was used?

Probably not. Each year the ingredients in the flu vaccine are different, because each year different strains of the influenza virus are going around. They have to make up a new vaccine each year, to be sure it contains all the right strains that will provide immunity for the kinds of flu that are circulating at that time. Since the vaccine for the seasonal flu for this year in the Northern Hemisphere has just been manufactured and released very recently, it would not seem possible for it to be already expired. If you use a vaccine from a prior year (the more likely scenario if the expiration date on the bottle has already passed), then you will not be fully protected against the strains of virus that will be causing flu this year and may be taking something that could be harmful in addition to providing no protection. You should talk to those at the source of the vaccine to find out why the vaccine would be expired.