The hunt for a universal flu vaccine
By Jonah Sacha
Oregon Health & Sciences University
Geese are migrating south, and this year’s flu vaccine
is at pharmacies. Have you ever wondered why we need a
new flu vaccine every year? Or why there isn’t a single-
shot, life-long flu vaccine?
Unlike polio and most other viruses, influenza isn’t one
uniform virus. Instead, influenza is a swarm of closely
related, yet distinct viruses that change their genetic
material every year as they move through ducks and pigs
before infecting humans. For this reason, scientists across
the globe closely monitor influenza virus infections. This
information helps researchers make an educated guess
about which flu strains are likely to infect people, and use
those strains to make the annual flu vaccine.
Some years this process is accurate and vaccine
protection is high, but in other years, unanticipated flu
strains arise and the vaccine does not fully protect us.
This uncertainty is the driving force behind the push to
develop a universal flu vaccine that would protect against
all strains of influenza, regardless of what specific virus
arises in a given year.
A one-shot, universal flu vaccine would have an imme-
diate and powerful effect. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention estimates influenza results in more than
400,000 hospitalizations and 42,000 deaths every year
in the U.S. Sadly, these deaths are often among the most
vulnerable in our population, namely the elderly, children
and those with pre-existing medical conditions. These
numbers make influenza a clear and present danger to
our society.
I know firsthand how serious influenza infections can
be. In the summer of 2014, my then 5-year-old son con-
tracted swine flu and wound up in the emergency room.
Although he recovered, this experience personally moti-
vated me to join the effort to develop a better influenza
vaccine. Thanks to a Grand Challenges grant from the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Flu Lab, I and
my OHSU colleagues have the opportunity to develop and
test a radical new approach toward a universal influenza
vaccine.
Every successful vaccine developed to date functions by
directing your immune system to remember and target
viruses with antibodies, small proteins that stick to the
See Vaccine / Page 18
“New
Directions
for Positive
Changes”
" New
Directions
for Positive
Changes"
2100 Main Street, Baker City 541-523-7400
Specializing in helping people with
Alcohol,
Drug people
and Gambling
Addictions,
“Specializing
in helping
with Alcohol,
Drug
Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities
and Gambling Addictions, Mental Health,
and Prevention Services
Developmental Disabilities and Prevention”
In addition to providing services at our
Serving
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the and
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even emergency rooms.
New
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and and
New Directions
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Behavioral
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- 2200 4th
4th Street,
Street,
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Wellness – 2200
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Baker
City
541-523-3646
541
523-3646
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523-3646
• • Individual,
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or Group
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• • Assertive
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Early Assessment and Support Alliance
• (EASA)
12-25, experiencing
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their
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their first
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psychosis episode
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in Possession
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for individuals
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• • Supported
Supported Employment - - for
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Residential Treatment Programs:
Residential Treatment Programs :
Baker House - A 90-day adult residential
Baker House
– A 90-day
residential
co-occuring
treatment
and adult
detox
program co-
for
those
who treatment
have been
unable
obtain sobriety
occurring
and
detox to program
for those
on
an have
outpatient
basis. to Accepts
statewide
who
been unable
obtain sobriety
on an
referrals.
facilities
for men referrals.
and
outpatient Separate
basis. Accepts
statewide
women.
Separate facilities for men and women.
2100
Main
Street,
Baker
City
2100
Main
Street,
Baker
City
541-523-8366
541 523-8366
– Services
for individuals
experiencing
Services
for individuals
experiencing
intellectual
developmental
disabilities
intellectual
and and
developmental
disabilities
(DD) (DD)
and and
for their
providers,
including:
for their
providers,
including:
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Determination
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Recovery Village - Provides adult residential
Recovery Village
– Provides
adult who
residential
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co-occuring
treatment
to women
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occurring
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their • Licensing
of Foster Care Homes
their
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up to
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children
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up to six months. • Protective
six
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Accepts statewide
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• Licensing
of Foster Care Homes
Accepts statewide referrals.
•
Protective
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Total Health
Powder River Alternative Incarceration
3975
Midway
Drive,
Baker City at the St.
Total
Health
Program
-
This
nationally
recognized
alcohol
Powder River Alternative Incarceration
Alphonsus
Hospital Drive,
541-523-9070
3975 Midway
Baker City, at the
& drug treatment program is located inside
Program
– This nationally recognized treatment
of the Powder River Correctional Facility. This
Alphonsus
Hospital.
541 for:
523-9070
Offering
outpatient
services
program is
inside of as the
Powder
program
is located
acknowledged
one
of the River
best
Offering
outpatient services for:
•
Mental
Health
Correctional
Facility. This
program
is acknowledged
“in
prison” programs
in the
country.
• Drug • & Mental
Alcohol Health
Treatment
as one of the best “in prison” programs in the
• Prevention
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& Alcohol Treatment
Intake for all Residential Programs:
country.
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541-523-9016
• Prevention
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• Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Intake for all Residential Programs:
• Chronic Pain Management
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Medicare and Private
Insurance Accepted
(541) 406-4999
• Office Based Buprenorphine services
Medicare and Private insurance
accepted
541-523-3646, press 1
After
Hours Crisis
Cri sis Services
– call:
24
Hour
Center:
541-519-7126
16
Developmental
Disabilities
Developmental
Disabilities (DD)
(DD) Program
Services
www.newdirectionsnw.org
2020 Northeast Oregon Health & Wellness Guide