Transcript:

Do flu shots make you nervous? Many people have hesitated to get their flu shots because they either have an egg allergy, or they are afraid that the virus in the vaccine might trigger a case of influenza. While the first worry does have some basis, the second worry is usually overblown. But now for people over 18 years of age, there is a new option. The FDA recently approved a new influenza vaccine called “Flublok”. The new technology used for the vaccine does not use eggs or influenza virus. Instead, specific proteins found on the surface of influenza viruses are manufactured in the laboratory. Since these proteins are made artificially and do not come from a flu virus, there is absolutely NO risk of getting influenza from them. I suppose it’s always possible that we will find some drawbacks associated with this new technology. But nothing has shown itself yet other than higher cost.