Buzz
Miami Beach, the Caribbean, and Cabo may be tempting vacation spots, but they often come with a steep price. How about a getaway where your hotel covers your travel costs and even gives you extra money just for showing up?
Thanks to St. Louis University’s Center for Vaccine Development, you can now do just that. The only requirement? You’ll be deliberately exposed to the flu virus. And forget about sightseeing, as you’ll be confined to quarantine.
As Forbes reports, the university recently announced that part of its on-campus hotel has been converted into a flu research center. 'Guests' of 'Hotel Influenza' will be paid volunteers in a human challenge study designed to test the effectiveness of flu vaccines. Instead of tracking participants who may or may not get infected, the center ensures exposure by deliberately infecting volunteers and then monitoring their immune response. Researchers are offering $3500 to cover the travel costs of each volunteer, with the remainder serving as compensation for their time spent in quarantine.
Exposure doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll show flu symptoms. If a participant happens to have received a real vaccine instead of a placebo, they might stay healthy and spend their time in the center’s simple accommodations, which offer catered meals and a common area with a TV. If they do get sick, 24-hour medical care will be available to alleviate their discomfort. Due to the risk of transmission, they won’t be allowed to leave until they stop shedding the virus. The average stay is around 10 days.
The center hopes this targeted approach will enhance seasonal flu vaccines, with the ultimate goal of creating a universal vaccine that can protect against multiple flu strains. Organizers anticipate that the pilot study will begin within the next six months.
There are only 24 spots available, so make sure to reserve your place early.
