Human trials for universal flu vaccine may start as COVID, flu cases begin to rise – KATU

Human trials for universal flu vaccine may start as COVID, flu cases begin to rise

by LEE STOLL | KOMO Staff

FILE - A patient receives a flu shot. (KOMO News file photo)

WASHINGTON (KOMO)

If you're traveling for the holidays, be aware. Respiratory illness cases are going up in parts of the country.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 15 states, including California and South Carolina, are seeing high or very high levels of respiratory illnesses.

RSV hospitalizations are elevated among children under four and are increasing in adults over the age of 65.

There is an RSV vaccine the CDC is recommending for adults over the age of 60 and for pregnant women. We could be close to a universal flu vaccine that would protect against all strains of the virus.

"We've now done all our preclinical testing and we are in the manufacturing stage of our vaccines to do a human trial in 2024 and in 2025," said Ted Ross, global director of vaccine development at the Cleveland Clinic.

As of Dec. 5th, the number of people heading to the emergency room for COVID-19 is up 7% week to week. It's up 20% for the flu. Visits for RSV are flat.

The CDC is tracking a rising COVID subvariant called JN.1, which is estimated to be making up more than 20% of current cases nationwide.

There is no evidence JN.1 is more severe than previous variants and tests, vaccines and treatments are still expected to be effective.

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Human trials for universal flu vaccine may start as COVID, flu cases begin to rise - KATU

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