Why won't the annual flu vaccine protect people against pandemic influenza?

Answer

Influenza vaccines provide the best protection against viruses closely related to the vaccine strains. Current annual influenza vaccines include influenza A subtype H3N2 and H1N1 viruses. A vaccine made from these viruses would not provide protection from other influenza A viruses (such as H5N1) that are not closely related to them.

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Last Updated: 03/21/2008