Flu Vaccine From Engineered Caterpillars On the Way
It can take up to six months to culture influenza vaccine in chicken eggs. FluBlok to the rescue! This article is from ABC News
Stronger, Faster Flu Vaccine Offers Hope
‘FluBlok’ Could Help Stop a Pandemic, and Might Not Even Require a Shot
By CATHY BECKER and OLIVIA STERNSJan. 30, 2008—
After limited progress against the dreaded winter flu over the past 60 years, researchers have announced two potentially major vaccination breakthroughs.
Researchers say they have developed a new, more potent flu vaccine that could be produced up to five months more quickly than the current version.
In the case of an influenza pandemic, the new vaccine could potentially be deployed within just a month, improving the chances of stopping any outbreak cold.
Scientists say they also have developed a new way to give the flu vaccination by dissolvable tablet, instead of the cringe-inducing, old-fashioned shot.
‘FluBlok’ Offers New Hope
Dr. Marie Savard, a doctor of internal medicine, joined “Good Morning America” today to discuss the new flu vaccine, “FluBlok.”
For 60 years, flu vaccine has been produced through a painstaking and time-consuming process involving hen eggs. The eggs must be eight to 10 days old, and the virus takes five to six months to develop in the egg. Once developed, the virus is analyzed and becomes the basis for that year’s flu vaccine. The problem, experts say, is that in the time it takes to produce the vaccine, the flu virus may have mutated, making the vaccine less effective.
Now doctors are hoping that a new protein grown in caterpillars will offer a stronger, faster and more efficient alternative.
“The good news is there is this genetically engineered protein. You develop the protein in a caterpillar, (with) caterpillar cells and you can make tremendous amounts, it’s available in a month’s period of time,” explains Dr. Savard. That’s up to five months faster than the current method.
“Maybe by fall we’ll have a vaccine that will be quickly available. And maybe give better immune response, especially for the elderly that’s the key,” says Dr. Savard.
Genetically Engineered and Safe?
Many people shudder at the thought of putting anything that’s genetically engineered inside their body. Dr. Savard points out, however, that Americans already use many genetically modified products.
“Insulin since 1982, the Human Growth Hormone and Hepatitis B, which of course all of our kids are getting,” she says, listing some of the modified products already in use.
“We know that by controlling that protein in the caterpillar, you can actually have fewer side effects than an attenuated virus,” Dr. Savard says.
As for the flu vaccine’s safety? “We have models for genetically engineered proteins that are safe, effective and a better alternative to the virus process we use now,” says Dr. Savard, adding that continued monitoring is nonetheless necessary.
Adaptable
Every year, new strands of the flu inspire new fear and diminish faith that the current vaccine will work. Fortunately, scientists say that with a little tweaking, they can now adjust the vaccine to better take on resistant flu strands.
“As long as there’s advanced notice, that can take weeks or longer, they can adjust that protein. Every year we need to get a new vaccine because there’s minor changes on the surface of the virus,” says Dr. Savard.
Even though we’re halfway through winter, Dr. Savard warns that a flu outbreak remains possible through May. Since the vaccine takes two weeks to work, she urges people to go out and get it.
At least this doctor acknowledges problems with side effects of the current vaccine, though she does not mention its colossal failure this year. Anyone recommending people get this flu vaccine with its pathetic lack of efficacy deserves no credibility, though its failure was not widely known last month. Contrary to her bland reassurances, genetic engineering is anything but safe. Studies showing dangers of genetically engineered crops are routinely swept under the carpet. This article does not bother to mention the agricultural nightmare created by such crops, which now account for most of the soybeans and much of the corn grown in USA. There is no way to predict the long-term effects of vaccines produced by any method, much less this reckless experiment. This is a way to open the door to engineering animals, eventually humans.
Genetic engineering may be useful for producing certain industrial chemicals, but these novel organisms should be confined to the laboratory. I would not knowingly ingest anything produced by this technology, the staple of many science fiction horror stories. Just because science can do something does not mean it should be done. Nuclear power and genetic engineering are prime examples of science running wild, paying no attention to the precautionary principle and profoundly threatening biodiversity and the integrity of DNA, the stuff of life itself.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:43 am
MY NAME IS DONNA Mc KINNEY. I AM ALERGIC TO ALL FLU SHOTS BECAUSE I AM ALERGIC TO EGGS. THIS LOOKS PROMISING! I AM PARALYZED. WILL I BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS PILL WHEN YOU HAVE IT IN NY STATE? I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN MY HOME FOR SO LONG ONLY GOINNG OUT FOR DOCTORS AND TESTS AND BLOOD WORK. I AM TERRIFIED EVERYTIME I GO OUT IN PUBLIC BECAUSE I AM AFRAID I WILL CATCH THE SEASONAL FLU OR NI FLU. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY. THANK YOU.
January 15th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Ms. McKinney, are you serious? Why are you so terrified of the flu? You ought to know, no vaccine is even claimed to be 100% effective, and the flu vaccines are a crap shoot, at best. This innovation might be more effective, but personally, I would not recommend it to anyone. However, if you really want to try it, you could try to contact Protein Sciences, which is based in Connecticut. FDA narrowly voted not to approve FluBlok last November, saying the company had not proven it is safe.
January 16th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Aletha,
Thank you for your response to my question. I was not and am not kidding about being terrified of catching one of the flu’s. Because I have stayed inside my home I have protected myself for several years, as I am paralyzed with a superpubic catheter, on 4 liters of oxygen 24hrs a day, with several health issues including asthma & COPD. So as you can see I would have been one of the people to be given the flu shots but wasn’t able to due to being alergic to eggs. Thank you for your advice, since the FDA voted not to approve FluBlok, I guess my options are still closed. Sincerely,
Donna Mc Kinney.