Influenza
Cell-derived flu vaccine noninferior to egg-based vaccine in children, study finds
The results of a phase 3 trial demonstrated that a cell-derived quadrivalent influenza vaccine was well tolerated and elicited noninferior antibody responses compared with a licensed quadrivalent egg-based vaccine in young U.S. children.
Past research and ‘unlimited resources’ spur fast development of COVID-19 vaccines
When scientists began working on solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, it seemed unlikely that a safe and effective vaccine would be available in a year, according to Paul A. Offit, MD.
The Great Influenza author: 'Nobody' in public health foresaw politicization of COVID-19
The U.S. public health community was unable to foresee the rampant politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was shocked by the initial federal response, according to New York Times bestselling author John M. Barry.
Traditional definition underestimates burden of health care-associated flu
Using a traditional definition of health care-associated influenza missed more than 80% of possible cases among patients admitted to acute-care hospitals during seven influenza seasons, researchers reported at the SHEA Spring Conference.
Female physicians more likely to give flu shot
Female doctors were more likely than their male counterparts in the same practice to administer influenza vaccines to their older patients, according to findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Q&A: Treating pregnant women with flu
A review published recently in Open Forum Infectious Diseases summarized the available clinical evidence on the safety and effectiveness of antiviral treatment for influenza in pregnant women.
COVID-19 more severe than influenza in patients with autoimmune disease
COVID-19 is more severe, with more complications and higher mortality, than influenza among patients with autoimmune disease, according to data published in Rheumatology.
Influenza vaccination may lower risk for all-cause, CV death in patients with CVD
Among patients with CVD, influenza vaccination was associated with lower risk for all-cause and CV death and major adverse CV events compared with no vaccination, according to a meta-analysis.
Hospitals strained in 2017-2018 influenza season, but did not plan for future pandemic
Although hospitals in the United States reported experiencing strain during the 2017-2018 influenza epidemic, they did not consider pandemic preparedness planning a high priority, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.
Influenza-associated aspergillosis is uncommon in US, study shows
Influenza-associated aspergillosis, or IAA, is uncommon in ICU patients in the United States, with a prevalence of 0.3%, according to an analysis of health insurance claims data.