How to Make a Flu Vaccine

Vaccinations save thousands of lives, and researchers continually implement procedures to perfect viral eradication. Creating a flu vaccination follows the same process as others on the market. The flu vaccine is made every year, unlike other treatments that last several years. The flu virus mutates often, requiring scientists to create new ones every flu season.

Instructions

• 1

  Study the microbe and determine its mode of action. Before a vaccination is cultured, studies are conducted on the microbe, culturing it and determining its weaknesses. For bacteria, antibiotic resistance and susceptibility are tested.

• 2

  Conduct clinical trials. Clinical trials enlist volunteers for the new vaccination before it's released to the open public. If no significant data is shown to induce an immune response, the vaccination is not released and the process returns to step one.

• 3

  Grow the virus in egg yolk. Egg yolk is full of protein and nutrients, which is perfect for growing microbes. The microbe is grown in this medium and purified for the next step.

• 4

  Weaken the virus. Weakened viruses are alive, but they grow poorly in the body. They still induce an immune response, which attributes to the patient's immunity.

• 5

  Inactivate the virus. Inactivated viruses are destroyed through chemicals such as formaldehyde. Even with a dead virus, antibodies still detect the particles and induce an immune response.

• 6

  Package and distribute the vaccine. The vaccination is packaged for use in hospitals, clinics and organizations such as the military.