Repurposed epilepsy drug could be used to boost vaccine protection among elderly

Craig Brierley A Cambridge-led team showed that the drug more than doubled the number of antibodies against flu and increased 10‑fold the number of flu-specific CD8 T cells, a type of white blood cell that kills cells infected by flu. Vaccination helps protect individuals from infection by priming the immune system to recognise and attack invading pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria. But for people with weaker immune systems, vaccines do not always offer strong or lasting protection, often requiring multiple ‘booster’ shots to maintain immunity.