Jan 12, 2010
WHO to field questions on pandemic response
In response to some European officials who have questioned its response to the flu pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today it will order an independent review, but probably not until after the pandemic is over, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. A WHO spokeswoman said its executive board will address questions on the topic at its Jan 18 meeting. Some members of the Council of Europe have charged that vaccine companies pressured the WHO and have called for an investigation.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/world/01/12/10/under-fire-who-ready-review-handling-flu-pandemic
Jan 12 AFP story
Hospitals get mixed grades on H1N1 response
In a survey of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, 60% of the 323 respondents said their hospitals were well prepared for the H1N1 pandemic, but 51% said other infection-prevention activities were neglected during the crisis, according to a report in Clinical Infectious Diseases. About 31% of respondents reported shortages of antiviral drugs, and 30% said personal stockpiling of antivirals occurred at their hospitals. Most endorsed mandatory flu shots for health workers.
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650169?rss
Jan 11 Clin Infect Dis abstract
Mandatory flu shots for health workers deemed success
Mandatory flu vaccination of staff has been successful at BJC HealthCare, a St. Louis health group with 26,000 workers, according to a Clinical Infectious Diseases study. After the requirement was set in 2008, 98.4% of workers were vaccinated. Medical exemptions were granted to 1.2% of workers and religious exemptions to 0.3%. Only eight workers were not vaccinated and not exempted. Fewer employees sought medical or religious exemptions than had declined the vaccine the year before.
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650752?rss
Jan 11 Clin Infect Dis abstract
A third of UK health workers now vaccinated
Only about a third of frontline National Health Service workers in England have received H1N1 vaccine, according to a report in the Nursing Times newsletter. As of December, 343,000 of about 1 million staff members had been vaccinated, the Department of Health reported. A department spokeswoman said the number of healthcare workers who received the pandemic vaccine is about twice the number who have received the seasonal vaccine.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/swine-flu/third-of-frontline-nhs-workers-protected-against-swine-flu/5010171.article
Jan 12 Nursing Times report
VaxInnate licenses recombinant H1N1 vaccine to Indian firm
VaxInnate Corp. of Cranbury, N.J., announced today that it has licensed its recombinant H1N1 vaccine to Biological E. Limited, an Indian company, and will help the firm test and market the vaccine in India. Clinical development of the vaccine there will start early this year, and it could become available for emergency use after completion of clinical trials. Biological E. will be able to make the vaccine—produced in a bacterial expression system—in its existing facilities, officials said.
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100112006111&newsLang=en
Jan 12 VaxInnate press release
New HHS PSAs urge vaccination for minorities
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) held two press briefings today to launch new public service announcement (PSA) campaigns to urge African-Americans, American Indians, and Alaska natives to be vaccinated against H1N1. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin conducted the briefings along with other officials. The briefings were part of National Influenza Vaccination Week activities.
http://www.flu.gov/news/multimedia/index.html#aa/?date=011210
HHS flu.gov page with access to PSAs
FDA offers guidance on drug production in emergencies
In an effort to maintain the nation's supply of drugs and other medical products in the event of a pandemic or other emergency, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued draft guidance to help pharmaceutical companies plan for high absenteeism rates. It focuses on "medically necessary products" such as antivirals and details what the FDA could do to help protect the supply. The guidance is also aimed at companies that make the raw materials and components used in the products.
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM196497.pdf
Jan 2010 FDA draft guidance
