Universal flu vaccine trial kicks off

Scientists just began enrolling participants for a Phase 1 trial testing a new experimental universal flu vaccine. Seasonal flu vaccines usually protect against specific strains of influenza virus, but the new vaccine — developed by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — is designed to protect against a broad range of viruses. The trial will enroll at least 53 healthy adults through the end of this year. The participants will be separated by age, and some participants will receive a single shot while others will receive multiple shots of the vaccine. This way, scientists can see if immune responses to the vaccine change based on age and previous exposure to a virus. The agency hopes to begin reporting results starting in early 2020.