A study conducted by the Trudeau Institute finally demystifies how the nasal flu vaccine FluMist elicits protection. "Influenza infection normally induces a massive inflammatory response in the lungs that leads to significant illness and increases the susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections," explained lead author Dr. Laura Haynes. Her team found that FluMist caused an early, non-specific immune response in animal models that preps the body for an influx of virus-specific immune cells. Those immune cells help clear the virus. Haynes' team also found the immune response elicited by the nasal spray protected against both matching and non-matching influenza strains, meaning that FluMist could be used against new strains of the disease. Release