NEW ORLEANS – Researchers at Tulane University in New Orleans are looking for volunteers to study why certain flu vaccines do not work well for some people.

Researchers announced Wednesday that Tulane University’s School of Medicine will study some local residents to determine how inflammation can affect the way the flu vaccine works.

“Most studies on the flu vaccine have not been performed in our community,” Tulane immunologist Elizabeth Norton said. “I’m really excited that with study we’ll be able to examine how people in our city are responding to vaccination.”

According to the School of Medicine, age, diabetes and chronic viral infection can lead to chronic inflammation which can alter the way the vaccine works. Researchers also say that those same people are also at a higher risk of developing complications from the flu.

To be eligible to participate in the study, residents must be over the age of 65 or be an adult of any age with diabetes. Participants must not have received a flu shot this year.

The School of Medicine said that participants will receive a free flu shot and will donate blood, saliva and urine samples during two visits at Tulane’s Clinical Translation Unit.

For more information, call the university’s Clinical Translation Unit at 504-988-0200.