Influenza Articles
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Read our latest stories on the people and scientific innovations making a difference in patients’ lives.
Science & Innovation
What Does mRNA Mean for the Flu Vaccine?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, messenger RNA, or mRNA, has been in the spotlight for the critical role it’s playing in the first-ever approved mRNA vaccine.1 But in fact, Pfizer and BioNTech had entered into a worldwide collaboration agreement in 2018 to work on an mRNA vaccine for a different virus. “Pfizer's first partnership with BioNTech was to look at ways to develop a more effective flu vaccine,” says John McLaughlin, who is Vice President, COVID-19/Flu Vaccines & Antivirals Lead with...
Living & Wellbeing
The Differences Between COVID-19 and the Flu
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the onset of a fever, cough, sore throat, or sniffle may have led to frantic online searches for “Is this COVID-19 or the flu?”Even as the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 has ended,1 it’s still a good idea to understand the similarities and differences between COVID-19 and influenza (the flu) and how to help protect yourself from getting sick. The information may be especially valuable because as spikes in COVID-19 cases occur, including the...
Science & Innovation
How Vaccines Work: Immune Response and the Body's Reaction
Vaccines can train your body to prevent sicknesses before they even start. They do this by introducing something called an antigen into the body, which imitates an infection and primes the immune system to respond.1 That way, if you encounter certain disease-carrying organisms, known as pathogens,2 in the future, your body already has a plan of attack.“After a vaccination—and once the antigen is recognized as foreign by surrounding cells—it sets a cascade of events in motion that may help...
Living & Wellbeing
From Basic Health to Herd Immunity: What is the Purpose of Vaccines?
In our increasingly interconnected world, where illness can spread quickly from person to person, and even country to country, vaccines can offer protection. In fact, the World Health Organization refers to immunization as “one of modern medicine’s greatest success stories” for its ability to prevent and control infectious diseases, such as polio, influenza, and measles.1Vincenza Snow, MD, who is Pfizer’s Internal and External Policy Group Lead for Vaccines and Anti-Virals, agrees with that...
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