By Susan E.W. Spencer
UMass Chan Medical School Communications
October 19, 2022
UMass Chan Medical School researcher Jennifer Wang, MD, is starring section information successful a survey investigating a caller flu vaccine based connected modified RNA, oregon modRNA.
As flu play ramps up, UMass Chan Medical School researcher Jennifer Wang, MD, prof of medicine, is starring section information successful a survey to trial a caller benignant of flu vaccine based connected modified RNA, oregon modRNA. The Phase III randomized, observer-blinded, objective proceedings is designed to measure the efficacy, safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of Pfizer’s quadrivalent modRNA influenza vaccine compared with the modular inactivated influenza vaccine successful steadfast adults 18 years and older.
The modRNA vaccine uses the aforesaid level arsenic mRNA vaccines that were developed for COVID-19, Dr. Wang explained. “In the modular vaccine, the proteins are successful the vaccine. In the modified RNA vaccine, the code—the RNA—is injected and past your assemblage makes the protein, and that’s the antigen target.”
Standard quadrivalent flu vaccines person been disposable for years, but Wang said portion they person made a large quality successful preventing superior illness, they’ve lone been astir 40 percent effectual successful preventing corruption astir years. The accelerated advancement of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines showed determination mightiness beryllium promising caller approaches.
“Standard flu vaccines person made an impact, but we’ve known for years that we could bash better, and this is an opportunity. I deliberation this is simply a truly large propulsion forward,” she said.
The survey astatine UMass Chan is enrolling participants now, aligned with the run to get employees astatine the Medical School and objective strategy vaccinated. Some participants who enroll successful the survey volition get the modRNA flu vaccine and the others volition person the modular vaccine.
“Our tract is progressive with the halfway of the study,” said Wang. “Whereas immoderate sites volition person further humor draws to look astatine immunologic responses successful antithetic aspects.”
Some different sites volition rotation retired their trials successful aboriginal months to measure however the vaccines execute arsenic flu play progresses.
Wang said that the anticipation of a “twindemic” of influenza and COVID-19 is precise existent this twelvemonth due to the fact that radical person had little vulnerability to flu implicit the past respective years. By now, people’s immune systems person waned against influenza and if they get infected without vaccine protection, they could get precise sick.
Influenza annually causes 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 to 52,000 deaths successful the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To larn much astir participating successful this study, telephone 508-856-2606 oregon email mailto:IDcovidclinicalresearch@umassmed.edu
Wang addressed questions astir this year’s flu play and the caller bivalent COVID-19 boosters successful this caller variation of Voices of UMass Chan podcast.
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