[vetvetdoug]

I have had time to think about the current vaccines' shortcomings toward the Fujian strain. If one were to be vaccinated against the Panama strain and within a couple of weeks of the vaccination contract the Fujian strain, the severity of the Fujian influenza could be more severe than normal. Immunity would be tied up making antibody toward the Panama strain and would be slow and inefficient to make immunity toward the Fujian strain. This scenario could be right if: there is no cross immunity from the Panama strain to the Fujian strain or the body's inability to recognize an alternate strain until disease is full blown. Are these assumptions plausible?

[Judith Anne]

I know you weren't asking me, but I think that the body can defend itself and make antibodies against more than one virus at a time. If I remember correctly, the CDC was saying that there MAY be some assist against the Fujiian strain from the Panama vaccine. Of course, they could be wrong, too...

[kdono]

there is no cross immunity from the Panama strain to the Fujian strain

There is cross immunity between Panama and Fujian, which is why flu shots are still recommended. 75% of animals immunized with Panama had titers >40 against Fujian.