Flu study gives vital early protection to bubs this winter

Young babies could have potentially life-saving protection against the flu from just two months of age thanks to the latest collaborative research underway at Perth’s Telethon Kids Institute and Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The FluBub Study will investigate whether giving the flu vaccine much earlier than the six months currently recommended by the National Immunisation Program will protect babies at the greatest risk of a severe influenza infection when they are most vulnerable.

Professor Chris Blyth, Director of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at Telethon Kids Institute, says early protection will be especially important this winter as the arrival of new influenza strains and lack of immunity creates the ‘perfect storm’ for a potentially deadly flu season.

“With international borders now open, travelers are likely to bring in variants of influenza we haven’t seen in over two years, and our community will be much more susceptible due to low vaccine uptake and limited natural immunity,” says Professor Blyth.

“The younger you are, the higher the risk of suffering deadly complications from influenza such as pneumonia or inflammation of the heart, brain, or muscle tissues, so it is absolutely vital that we protect newborn babies from flu as early as possible.

“Participating in the FluBub Study will not only allow families to give their new babies protection from just six – eight weeks of age ahead of the upcoming flu season, but also help provide key information to truly unlock the secrets of flu immunity.

Lead researcher in South Australia, Professor Helen Marshall, Medical Director of the Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, says the first exposure to the virus is always the most severe, striking when the immune system is still developing strength.

“Unfortunately, the devastating reality is there is only so much medical practitioners can do to save the life of a child when the life-threatening complications of influenza have taken hold, and our ultimate goal is to prevent infection from occurring in the first place.

“Data from this study will play an essential role in helping us understand how the immune system responds to its first exposure to flu proteins, either through a vaccine or the infection, which will provide us with the knowledge and capability to design stronger, longer-lasting influenza vaccines,” says Professor Marshall.

Researchers are looking for 240 mums and babies to take part in the FluBub Study, with bubs aged under eight weeks eligible to participate.

Eligible participants in Perth can sign up by emailing flububstudy@telethonkids.org.au

Interested families in Adelaide can speak to the FluBub Study team by calling 81 616 328 or emailing virtu@adelaide.edu.au