A single nasal spray vaccine could protect against all coughs, colds and flus, as well as bacterial lung infections, and may even ease allergies, say US researchers.
There may also be consequences to dialling up the immune system beyond its normal state – raising questions of immune disorders.
Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said the work was undeniably “exciting” but cautioned “we have to ensure that keeping the body on ‘high alert’ doesn’t lead to friendly fire, where a hyper-ready immune system accidentally triggers unwelcome side effects”.
Oh look, my first thought when reading the headline!
As someone with an auto immune disorder already, I share your concern. And fuck this noise. Having an over active immune system makes colds and flus worse.
How does an active immune system make colds worse? I would assume it makes them better since you’re less apt to get them.
Most of the unpleasant symptoms you experience from respiratory viruses are your body responding to the infection. If that response is extreme and unchecked not only will the symptoms be far worse but they can become life threatening.
My second thought is when viruses and other pathogens evolve to evade this, everyone not using it is fucked.
The thing is, flus and colds actually cause immune disorders. So many people have “mysterious” chronic illnesses because they had a “harmless” virus.
Man, I hate being a meat sack.
This is absolutely some monkey’s paw shit.
Someone back in 2019: I wish that science would end the common cold and influenza.
Monkey’s paw: Oh, he didn’t say ‘SARS’. Well then…
I thought this was “good news for everyone”.
