One word describes the production of the new Flublok vaccine: horrifying

This is a movie I do NOT want to see…

Last week I mentioned Flublok. It’s a new flu vaccine. BRAND new. The FDA approved it in January.

Flublok contains a flu virus protein. The virus uses this protein to enter cells in your body. Then (the theory goes) your immune system ramps up and (supposedly) protects you from the flu.

Here’s the catch…

Scientists genetically engineered insect cells to produce the Flublok protein.

Okay! Let’s review… Genetically. Engineered. Insect cells. Injected. Into your cells.

That reads like the premise for a horror movie. A deeply disturbing, grisly horror movie.

Of course, like any new vaccine, Flublok has not been tested in a large population over an extended period. So I imagine FDA officials have their fingers crossed, hoping this doesn’t turn into a public health nightmare.

Or a blockbuster movie.

Sources:
“Comparing Flublok with Conventional Flu Vaccine – Worth the Risk?” Clara Auty, M.D., Yahoo, 1/27/13, voices.yahoo.com