Vaccine developed in Nebraska could signal end to annual flu shot

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Nebraska Examiner

Effort could reduce the impact and spread of swine flu, bird flu and flu in humans
By: Cindy Gonzalez - May 12, 2025 6:00 pm

LINCOLN — A new vaccine strategy developed and tested by a team from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln could signal an end to the annual flu shot routine.

The possible breakthrough is laid out in newly published research in Nature Communications. The study, “Epitope-Optimized Vaccine Elicits Cross-Species Immunity Against Influenza A Virus,” describes a vaccine that protects against H1N1 swine flu and can also protect against influenza in birds and humans.

“This research sets the stage for developing universal influenza vaccines so people won’t have to go to the doctor and get a flu shot every year,” said Eric Weaver, director of the Nebraska Center for Virology who led the Nebraska research team. “This vaccine will protect you against the different strains that are out there.”

Named after computer software

According to a UNL news release, swine vaccinated with immunogens designed in Weaver’s lab showed no signs of illness after being exposed to a commonly circulating flu strain. They developed antibodies against multiple viruses from several decades and several species and maintained their immune response throughout the six-month study.


Eric Weaver, director of the Nebraska Center for Virology, consults with Zahidul Islam, who recently joined the Weaver laboratory as a graduate student. Weaver led a study whose newly published findings reveal a breakthrough on flu vaccines for swine, birds and humans. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Read more: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/05/12/vaccine-developed-in-nebraska-could-signal-end-to-annual-flu-shot/

[infullview]

1. If it works it will never see it rolled out

Some big pharma company will will purchase the rights to it and lock it up so they can continue to sell the flue shots year after year.

[3Hotdogs]

3. Just like my father use'ta say that Esso bought the patent on the 90 mpg carburetor.

[Martin68]

8. How the fuck would a carburetor boost efficiency to 90 mpg? Computers replaced carburetors and maximized efficiency

years ago.

[Miguelito Loveless]

9. It was an urban legend that

popped up in the 70s during the oil crisis.

[Disaffected]

14. Long before that in fact.

I recall it as a kid in the 1950s and IIRC it was prevalent even before that.

[Miguelito Loveless]

15. The villain changed

depending on the rumor and current events.

Originally it was the car makers who suppressed the device. During the 70s it was the oil companies.

[Disaffected]

16. That's not my recollection.

Why would a car maker want to suppress the device? A car maker whose vehicles got 90 mpg would have a huge edge over those who don't.

[Miguelito Loveless]

17. That's what I thought at the time I first heard

it was car makers. Didn't make sense. Then I heard the oil companies and automakers were in collusion to suppress the device, which would only make sense if the oil companies were paying the auto makers to suppress it (they have that kind of money, so at least it is plausible).

Here is the original legend from Snopes, which dates it back to 1948:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/nobodys-fuel/

[Disaffected]

18. An interesting history alright.

And I suppose one's recollection of that history would depend on part in which part of the world one lives (different variations of the myth floating around in m/l random fashion?).

[Miguelito Loveless]

19. Indeed.

I heard the myth (aimed at oil companies) while in school in the 70s. I read about it later in Jan Brunvand's books on Urban Legends, the paper forerunner to Snopes, after a fashion.

[reACTIONary]

13. It'd a critique of post number 1

[MadameButterfly]

6. RFK will block its roll out,

right? Or at least if it's made available there will be no government subsidies. Well health insurance companies see a benefit in covering it?

[Aristus]

10. Vaccines have never been big money-makers for the pharma companies.

You're thinking of things like Vicodin, Viagra, and Valium.

[maxsolomon]

12. 1st reaction, worst reaction.

More likely that it will be banned by GOP Legislatures for having DNA in it.

[NNadir]

2. One abbreviation necessary: RFK. The age of American...

...predominance in science, biological or otherwise is over.

[dreamland]

4. I hope Zahidul Islam can move to China or Europe

...with his notes. All his hard work in this University lab will never see light of day with this current administration. They'll keep it under wraps as he's a foreign graduate using University research grants to produce a vaccine. He's everything this administration wants to tear down, even his name is an offense. Society will only benefit from his work if he can be supported by another country.

[Beachnutt]

5. Or do like the inventor of polio vaccine did

just make it and distribute it for free to who ever wants it.
Or wait until there is a democrat majority congress and President and then release it.
Rethugs will shut it down or monopolize it for profit.

[Martin68]

7. Gotta get it past RFK first.

[Meowmee]

11. It sounds great 😁

I think you need more than 6 months to assure it will give life long immunity etc. I am also not clear on how it will give immunity to future strains. If it works will it ever see the light of day? Not with psycho rfk in charge anyway.

It would be great if they can come up with one for covid as well.