Vaccine development is a complex and lengthy process, involving multiple stages. From understanding the pathogenicity and variants of the disease-caused organism to clinical trails in humans, multiplexing accelerates the development process. For the first time in decades, Americans will have a wide range of vaccine options this flu season. Since the 1940s, health-conscious citizens have pretty much had only one way of getting immunized, a shot containing three strains of the influenza virus. In recent years, a nasal spray and higher-dose vaccines were added.
There are several ways to get immunized against influenza, so there's a vaccine for practically everyone.There has been some drumroll that vaccines aren't performing quite as well as we want, so we better get in there to improve coverage," says Dr.Greg Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which distributes the vaccines made by pharmaceutical companies, says it's not likely that every doctor, hospital or retail health care center will carry all seven varieties, but with a little research, you can probably find out where your vaccine of choice is given.
- Standard three-strain shot
- Four-strain shot
- Nasal spray
- Egg-free vaccine
- High-dose vaccine
- Needle-free
The flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu this season. If you get the flu vaccine, you are 60% less likely to need treatment for the flu by a healthcare provider. Getting the vaccine has been shown to offer substantial other benefits including reducing illness, antibiotic use, time lost from work, hospitalizations, and deaths. Health care providers are encouraged to prepare for the 2013-2014 season and order the vaccine in advance. The flu vaccine will protect you for one flu season. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. Seasonal flu vaccines have a very good safety track record. Although there are possible side-effects to vaccination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration closely monitor the safety of seasonal flu vaccines.