A flu vaccine that offers protection for years could be just a few years away, Kenneth Davis, MD, president and CEO of Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, told CNBC.
According to Dr. Davis' interview, Mount Sinai scientists and other researchers are working to develop a "universal flu vaccine" that targets the part of the flu virus that doesn't change each year. Thus, it would be effective for years instead of having a new vaccine developed annually targeted at what researchers believe will be that season's dominant flu strain.
"What we have a vaccine for is producing antibodies that are somewhat different than what this flu is," he said of this season's flu vaccine, which is less effective than in years past. "The ideal vaccine is directed at the stable part of the flu that doesn't change from year to year."
Dr. Davis said such a vaccine could be "a couple of years" away.
In part because this season's vaccine is not a match for one of this season's most dominant flu strains, the flu has been widespread throughout the nation and reached epidemic levels.