Don't freak out, but your flu shot might be made of bugs
1/17/2013Grossed out when a bug flies into your mouth? How about when insect matter is injected directly into your body? The FDA has approved a new flu vaccine that's created by programming insect cells to make flu virus proteins. Purify these molecules, package them as the Flublok vaccine and voila! On the plus side, you're not introducing any icky live flu virus, eggs, preservatives or antibiotics into your system. This bug-based vaccine production isn't new (it's been used for other diseases), but with influenza spreading fast, the amazing ability of these cells to create lots of proteins fast could come in handy in the event of a pandemic. [Source]
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How would you feel about getting a bug-based shot?
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