Influenza News

SAN FRANCISCO — Influenza vaccination reduces the risk for influenza-associated pneumonia hospitalizations and seems to be more effective in children compared with adults in preventing this outcome, according to findings presented here during ID Week 2013.

SAN FRANCISCO — Influenza vaccination reduces the risk for influenza-associated pneumonia hospitalizations and seems to be more effective in children compared with adults in preventing this outcome, according to findings presented here during ID Week 2013.

SAN FRANCISCO — Young children who visited a pediatric clinic during influenza season for non-influenza related events were at increased risk for contracting an influenza-like illness, according to study results presented at ID Week 2013.

Last year, more people received the influenza vaccine compared with any other season, according to a presentation from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

Most neonates have seroprotection against influenza if their mothers receive the vaccine any time during the second or third trimester but at least 15 days before delivery, according to recent study findings published in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

Since 1978, the annual influenza vaccine contained three strains — two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain. This year, a number of quadrivalent influenza vaccines will be added to the list of options.

It is the start of another new influenza season. For my more than 30 years in vaccine research, this has always been a time of anticipation.

In a pediatric population, a whole-virus H5N1 vaccine is appropriate for pre-pandemic or pandemic immunization, according to recent study findings published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

The influenza A(H7N9) virus has the potential to transmit easily among humans and cause a pandemic, new data suggest.

In preparation for flu vaccine season, Richard Lander, MD, navigates the coding pitfalls associated with physicians selecting the correct CPT code for the four trivalent flu vaccines and three quadravalent flu vaccines available for this season.