London Life

DNA vaccine may combat flu

It comes at a time when one senior doctor has voiced concerns over our ability to cope with an outbreak.  Using the latest in DNA technology, the new vaccine could be administered in supermarkets and it could save thousands of lives.

DNA based flu vaccine is being developed by London scientists. It can also work to combat bird flu. Trials will happen at Guys hospital in December. For more details logon to the link on the right.

While the World Health Authority says that a flu pandemic is "imminent" and "inevitable" concerns have been raised about how we would cope.

Leading doctors working on a DNA vaccine which would be quicker to produce, not need to be refrigerated and could be administered by a non medically trained person in a supermarket.

Dr John Beadle from PowderMed said: "The Gene Gun is a needle free injection device that propels the DNA vaccine directly into the skin. This differs from traditional vaccines which are derived from eggs and injected by needle."

"The advantage of a DNA-based vaccine is that the vaccines can be manufactured very quickly, in large quantities, and could help save lives."

The new vaccine could take two years to produce.