Can I get seasonal influenza from the investigational vaccines being studied at the VRC?
No. You cannot get the flu from the vaccines being studied at the VRC. The investigational vaccine has synthetic (man-made) genes that allow your body’s cells to make proteins similar to those in influenza virus. After your body makes the proteins they are only present for a short time before being broken down. There is no influenza virus in the investigational vaccines. It is not possible for them to cause any type of infection or spread infection to others. You also cannot get the flu from the licensed influenza vaccine being studied at the VRC. We will not expose you to influenza virus at any time.
