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As influenza viruses spread this flu season, getting an influenza vaccination is more important than ever, stated the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on December 7, 2020.
According to various reports, about 190 million vaccines were produced for the USA this flu season.
The CDC strongly encourages everyone to discuss their flu vaccine options with a healthcare provider.
 The CDC identified five reasons why you should get a flu shot:

Potential treatments for COVID-19 have been identified by researchers from the University of Edinburgh after the discovery of five genes associated with the most severe form of the disease.
These genes are involved in two molecular processes, antiviral immunity, and lung inflammation.
According to the new study published by the journal Nature on December 11, 2020, genetic evidence is second only to clinical trials as a way to tell which treatments will be effective in a disease.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the first emergency use authorization (EUA) for a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19) in individuals 16 years of age and older. 
This EUA enables the experimental Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (BNT162b2) to be distributed effectively in the USA.

Sanofi and GSK announce a delay in their adjuvanted recombinant protein-based COVID-19 vaccine program to improve immune response in older adults. 
This decision was published on December 11, 2020, and was based on the Phase 1/2 study interim results which showed an immune response comparable to patients who recovered from COVID-19 in adults aged 18 to 49 years. 
But, a low immune response in older adults, likely due to an insufficient concentration of the antigen, stated the companies.

Clinical studies indicate the new poliovirus vaccine may have the potential to overcome outbreaks caused by a mutated polio strain linked to the oral vaccine.
According to studies published by The Lancet on December 9, 2020, scientists have developed the first poliovirus vaccine against a mutated form of the disease that is causing disease outbreaks across Africa and Asia.

The University of Queensland announced that following consultation with the Australian Government, CSL will not progress the UQ-CSL v451 COVID-19 vaccine candidate to Phase 2/3 clinical trials.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the N.F. Gamaleya Research Center announced AstraZeneca has accepted the RDIF proposal and will begin clinical trials of its vaccine in combination with the Sputnik V adenoviral vector of the 26th serotype, by the end of 2020.