Jun 25, 2010
Pharma group rates pandemic response
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) released a review of the world's pandemic response. It said that the years that public health, regulatory agencies, and vaccine producers invested in pandemic preparedness were a strong point. Other achievements were global cooperation and vaccine monitoring. Areas it said need improvement were upgrading vaccine-production technology, establishing advance supply agreements, and enhancing regulatory processes.
http://www.ifpma.org/fileadmin/webnews/2010/pdfs/20100624_Statement_H1N1_Lessons_24Jun2010.pdf
Jun 24 IFPMA statement
Study: 10% of H1N1 infections produce low immunity
Blood samples from 881 H1N1 patients showed that the immune system in 90% of patients produced a sufficient antibody response to ward off the disease (a seroprotective titer of 1:40), according to a new study. This means 10% had an incomplete immune response to the disease, making them susceptible to re-infection. Having pneumonia and sputum production increased the chance of a robust immune response, while having no fever lowered it. The authors say the 10% may benefit from vaccination.
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/653940?rss
Jun 24 Clin Infect Dis abstract
