The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention continues to advise against the vaccination of children for the prevention of seasonal influenza.
The "Factsheet for the general public on seasonal influenza" notes that few "EU countries recommend immunising children or offering vaccines to pregnant women. An expert panel convened by ECDC considered there was as yet insufficient evidence on the burden of infection in children to take any view for or against immunisation."
http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/seasonal_influenza/basic_facts/Pages/factsheet_general_public.aspx
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Preventing Killer Flu: Endothelial cells may be factor in preventing cytokine storm
A team from the Scripps Research Institute found that endothelial cells may act as a regulator in how the body reacts to the flu virus.
The scientists were looking at the S1P pathway (molecular control circuit) and gave rodents a substance to stimulate the S1P1 receptor. They learned that the treatment lessened severe cytokine response.
Details available on SCIENCE NOW:
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/09/surprising-cells-rein-in-killer-.html
The scientists were looking at the S1P pathway (molecular control circuit) and gave rodents a substance to stimulate the S1P1 receptor. They learned that the treatment lessened severe cytokine response.
Details available on SCIENCE NOW:
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/09/surprising-cells-rein-in-killer-.html
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Thousands get flu in Australia, but few require medical care.
Thousands get the flu in Australia, but few require medical care.
Influenza monitoring systems are reporting nearly 8,000 cases, early in the Australia flu season.
Recent flooding and bad weather may be to blame, but it is not clear that this is either the main or sole reason for the high reported numbers. One theory is that there is simply more testing going on, another that fewer people are being vaccinated due to concerns about the safety of the flu shot.
Report in Brisbane Times: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/warnings-as-flu-cases-surge-20110719-1hn5m.html#ixzz1SeuevxIe
Report on “The Conversation”: http://theconversation.edu.au/flu-is-on-the-rise-australia-and-thats-not-to-be-sniffed-at-2414
Influenza monitoring systems are reporting nearly 8,000 cases, early in the Australia flu season.
Recent flooding and bad weather may be to blame, but it is not clear that this is either the main or sole reason for the high reported numbers. One theory is that there is simply more testing going on, another that fewer people are being vaccinated due to concerns about the safety of the flu shot.
Report in Brisbane Times: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/warnings-as-flu-cases-surge-20110719-1hn5m.html#ixzz1SeuevxIe
Report on “The Conversation”: http://theconversation.edu.au/flu-is-on-the-rise-australia-and-thats-not-to-be-sniffed-at-2414
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Reuters reports potential tripling of flu vaccine production by 2015
Reuters is reporting that the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced 11 new producers of flu vaccine. The manufacturers could potentially provide up to 1.7 billion doses of season flu vaccine by 2015.
According to Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO assistant director-general, "what we are continuing to do is to make sure that not only will there be more pandemic vaccine if need be, but also that the sites where these vaccines will be produced will be more diverse geographically and more populations of the world will have earlier access to pandemic vaccine."
"We have to take influenza vaccine as a tool to combat influenza pandemic, not just a tool to maximise profit," said Dr. Pathom Sawanpanyalert, Thailand's chair of the WHO's Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines, the experts group that met. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/health-flu-vaccine-idUSLDE76D0XD20110714
According to Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO assistant director-general, "what we are continuing to do is to make sure that not only will there be more pandemic vaccine if need be, but also that the sites where these vaccines will be produced will be more diverse geographically and more populations of the world will have earlier access to pandemic vaccine."
"We have to take influenza vaccine as a tool to combat influenza pandemic, not just a tool to maximise profit," said Dr. Pathom Sawanpanyalert, Thailand's chair of the WHO's Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines, the experts group that met. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/health-flu-vaccine-idUSLDE76D0XD20110714
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