Influenza News

Seqirus released adjusted data showing that its cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine was around 36% more effective than the standard egg-based quadrivalent vaccine in preventing influenza-like symptoms in people aged 4 years and older during the most recent influenza season in the United States.

“We’re really excited about the developments in influenza vaccine right now,” Creech said.

After recommending against the live-attenuated influenza vaccine, or LAIV, for 2 years in a row, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted in February to support its use in patients aged 2 to 49 years for the 2018-2019 influenza season. This was welcome news for physicians, parents and children alike because the vaccine, which is administered intranasally, is relatively painless.

In February, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended a reformulated version of the FDA-approved live-attenuated influenza vaccine, or LAIV — marketed as FluMist — after its manufacturer had presented evidence showing the modified vaccine would perform better against influenza A(H1N1) than it had in previous influenza seasons. Infectious Diseases in Children asked Matthew Zahn, MD, chair of the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Public Health Committee, the ACIP liaison for the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and medical director of the epidemiology program for Orange County, California, Health Care Agency, if it is appropriate for the ACIP to recommend an FDA-approved quadrivalent vaccine that was reformulated due to a lack of effectiveness against one vaccine strain without first seeing additional effectiveness data against that particular strain.

A previously healthy 7-year-old male was admitted to a local hospital on Jan. 20 due to bilateral pneumonia. The illness began about 5 days earlier with cough, congestion, fever to 103°F, with occasional vomiting and diarrhea.

SAN FRANCISCO — An elementary school-located influenza vaccination program increased vaccination and decreased school absences and hospitalizations related to influenza in students, according to research presented at IDWeek.

The FDA today approved Xofluza for the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in patients aged 12 years or older who have been symptomatic for up to 48 hours.

Influenza season is underway and proper protection against the disease is imperative to stave off its harmful effects.

SAN FRANCISCO — Young children who were revaccinated with an MF59-adjuvanted, quadrivalent influenza vaccine, or aQIV, continued to show enhanced immunogenicity against strains that were contained in the vaccine and even those that were not, researchers reported at IDWeek.

SAN FRANCISCO — Health care providers who completed an online continuing medical education program on seasonal influenza in young children and parents’ influenza vaccine hesitancy vaccinated more infants against influenza than those who did not participate in the program, according to research presented at IDWeek.