Influenza News

A plethora of recently approved influenza vaccines will give patients more choices than ever for their annual immunization, according to information presented this week at the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Influenza activity has decreased in some areas of the United States, but overall, activity remains elevated throughout the country, the CDC reported.

Influenza activity has decreased in some areas of the United States, but overall, activity remains elevated throughout the country, the CDC reported.

During the most recent pandemic outbreak of influenza in the 2009-2010 season, pneumococcal vaccination may have contributed to decreased hospitalizations in young children; however, that same trend did not occur in the following year, according to study data published online.

Receiving the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination during pregnancy did not increase the risk for fetal mortality, according to study results published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The vaccine also reduced the mother’s risk for influenza during pregnancy and may have reduced the risk for influenza-related fetal death.

There are still high levels of influenza activity being reported across the country, but nationally, influenza activity is beginning to decrease, according to Thomas Frieden, MD, director of the CDC.

The FDA approved this week the first trivalent influenza vaccine made using an insect virus expression system and recombinant DNA technology. The vaccine is indicated for prevention of seasonal influenza in patients aged 18 to 49 years, according to a press release from the FDA.

Earlier shipment of influenza vaccine through the Vaccines for Children program in 2010 meant more children received two doses of the vaccine, according to study findings published online.

Despite recommendations that all children aged at least 6 months should be immunized against influenza, data from 2004 to 2009 indicate lower-than-expected coverage rates.

Influenza activity remains elevated in most areas of the United States after an early start to the season, the CDC reported today.