• Question: How do scientists know how to make a flu vaccine if viruses can be different every year?

    Asked by smithmoorebell to Ben, Clare, Ezzy, Mario, Sam on 15 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Clare Burrage

      Clare Burrage answered on 14 Mar 2012:

      At the beginning of each winter the scientists look at how the flu virus has mutated since last year, and make their best guess about which type is going to be the most comon this year. That’s what you get vaccinated against.

    • Photo: Elizabeth Pearson

      Elizabeth Pearson answered on 15 Mar 2012:

      Like Clare said. They make vaccines from the virus they hope to cure, so they wait for the current strain to appear and make a new vaccine from that.

    • Photo: Mario Campanelli

      Mario Campanelli answered on 15 Mar 2012:

      as soon as someone gets a new mutation of the flu virus, they prepare the vaccine with it!

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