Now is the time to plan a visit to your medical provider for an annual flu shot. I recommend this vaccine for everyone unless they are allergic to it. The flu strains in the vaccine are formulated each year to conform most closely to the flu viruses circulating in people around the globe. A potential benefit of yearly flu immunization is that it might provide a little cross-protection against other subtypes. In other words, immunologic memory developed against one specific flu strain might, in some circumstances, confer a recall response directed against another strain. Whether this might help protect against the “bird†(avian) flu and whether avian flu will actually become a problem for the general population is pure speculation at this juncture. Efforts are far along to develop specific vaccines against the bird flu strains should they cross or jump into large numbers of people. Production of anti-influenza drugs has been stepped up but stockpiles are insufficient to handle widespread outbreaks.
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