A single ‘superjab’ offering lifetime immunisation against flu has been developed by scientists.

According to developers, SEEK, once-in-a-lifetime Flu-v fights could start to be used on patients in three to five years, against all strains of the virus, including the deadly avian, swine and seasonal variants.

Gregory Stoloff, SEEK, said: “Our aim is for the flu vaccine to become more like the mumps and measles vaccine – where you need it once and you get protection for a long time.”

The NHS spends £100 million on vaccinations every year, but the changing virus means that vaccines have to be updated, so the new jab could cut this cost down considerably.

But upon vaccination with Flu-v, the immune system is said to detect and fight a part of the virus that is present in all strains.

Results of clinical trials have found that healthy volunteers who were vaccinated with Flu-v had less of the virus in their blood.

Professor John Oxford, of trial constructors Retroscreen Virology, said: “It clearly has a biological effect worthy of further investigation, particularly with respect to the broadness of the response.”

Last winter, 600 people in Britain were killed by flu.

The DH has said that it is too early to comment on Flu-v.

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The initial testing of the vaccine, known as MVA-B, has found that 90% of volunteers developed an immune response against the virus, with 85% maintaining immunity for at least a year following the vaccination.

Professor Mariano Esteban, of the Spanish Superior Scientific Research Council (CSIC) in Madrid, said: “MVA-B vaccine has proven to be as powerful as any other vaccine currently being studied, or even more.”

The fundamental elements of the medication are based on a vaccine used to treat smallpox, with the addition of four HIV genes. The shot focused on the human immune system’s ability to ‘learn’ how to react over time against viruses and infections.

Jason Warriner, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “This trial is a step in the right direction, but until we find a vaccine that controls the virus as well as anti-retroviral treatment does, we’re not there yet.”

The Government’s choice of using GSK’s Cervarix to vaccinate against cervical cancer is less cost-effective than Merck’s Gardasil, a new study has found.

Authors of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) study stated that, if equally priced, Merck’s Gardasil was more cost-effective, despite the fact that Cervarix may provide better protection against cervical cancer, but said that “considerable uncertainty” remains about the differential benefits of the two vaccines.

In 2008, the UK Government chose Cervarix for its Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, believed to be the cheapest option.

But since then, new evidence has emerged to differentiate the two vaccines.

The HPA has now found that Cervarix would need to be between £19 to £35 cheaper to match Gardasil’s price.

Also, Cervarix has proved to give better protection against cervical cancer caused by HPV types other than 16 and 18. Gardasil has also shown protection against vulvar, vaginal and anal cancer.

A spokesman for the HPA said: “The Department of Health will use the results of this study as part of its decision-making process when reviewing its current vaccine choice.”

The selection of the vaccine will be re-evaluated when the current tender for the vaccination programme expires before the end of 2011.

“Deciding which vaccine to use for national immunisation programmes is a complex task. Many factors, including the cost of the vaccine, must be taken in to account,” added the HPA spokesman.

Both vaccines protect against HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for over 70% of cervical cancer cases, as well as other types of cancer. Gardasil also vaccinates against types 6 and 11, which cause the majority of genital warts as well as a rare disease called respiratory papillomatosis.

Human papillomavirus is a common sexually transmitted infection seen most often in young women. There are more than 100 types of HPVs; some cause genital warts, but others cause cancers including cervical cancer.

HPV testing is currently being integrated into England's cervical cancer screening programme, and will be fully incorporated within the year.

Cervarix was found to protect against five of the most common cancer-causing viruses in July 2009.

An emergency stockpile of 2 million flu vaccines has been set up in preparation for the UK flu season.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, said that the extra supplies will “smooth things out”, in contrast to the shortages reported in certain areas of the country last year, with older jabs being used to fill the gap.

This winter’s stock consists of 16.7 million vaccines compared to 14.7 million last year.

Once again, there will be no promotion of the jabs in England, but Scotland and Northern Ireland will raise awareness through advertising. Professor Davies said that she relies on charities, health workers and pharmacies to spread the word.

Professor David Salisbury, the Government’s Director of Immunisation, warned that it would be taking a risk to miss the vaccination this year: “You need it just as much as last year.”

He warned there was no evidence that last year's vaccination would still offer protection and criticised healthcare workers for avoiding the shot, saying they were “selfish” for neglecting the importance of their patients’ health and of those around them.

Professor Salisbury claimed that healthcare staff are being encouraged to get the shot, but also said that hospitals need to make it easier for workers to get vaccinated.

Last year, 35% of healthcare employees were vaccinated with the flu shot, an increase of 26% from the year before.

The jab will protect against swine flu (H1N1) as well as the H3N2 and Flu B strains. These are the same three viruses that were covered by the vaccine last year.

Read more of the story on the BBC website.