News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) - Low demand for flu vaccine in previous years could limit the supply of vaccine, leaving the nation unprepared for a year when levels are higher, according to a new analysis of flu vaccine trends and policies by Trust for America's Health (TFAH), a nonprofit health advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.

(CIDRAP News) – Federal vaccine advisors today unveiled proposed voluntary recommendations for increasing flu vaccination in healthcare workers, sparking strong reactions from employee groups who object to language that stops just short of urging mandatory vaccination.

(CIDRAP News) – The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has formally asked federal health officials to recommend making influenza vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers (HCWs), saying this is probably the best way to protect patients from contracting flu in healthcare facilities.

(CIDRAP News) – Today was the 12th year the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has held a press conference to discuss its expectations for the upcoming flu season, but discussions were far from routine, reflecting uncertainty surrounding the pandemic flu strain and the complexity of launching two vaccine campaigns.

(CIDRAP News) – In the largest study so far on long-term outcomes for patients with West Nile virus (WNV) infections, Canadian researchers have found that prognosis is good, though recovery was slightly longer for those with neuroinvasive disease.