UK cuts GSK vaccine order by a third
The UK Department of Health (DH) announced today that it has reached an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to cut its H1N1 vaccine order by about a third, according to a news release. The UK order with GSK has been capped at 34.8 million doses of Pandemrix vaccine, including those already received, and there will be no cancellation fee. Some unused vaccine will kept in reserve for a potential third wave of cases, while 3.8 million doses will be donated to African nations.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=46&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=412973&SubjectId=36
Apr 6 DH press release
Study: No H1N1 immunity in older Singaporeans
Researchers in Singapore performed serologic tests on 50 healthy volunteers, most of whom were born before 1958 and therefore potentially carrying H1N1 antibodies. However, none of the recruits, whose median age was 60, had immunity to pandemic H1N1 flu, which differs from findings in western populations. The authors say the results may reflect demographic differences, a very low seasonal-flu-vaccine rate in Singapore, or less exposure of Southeast Asians to swine-origin viruses from the West.
http://tinyurl.com/eid040510-h1n1serol
Apr 5 Emerg Infect Dis letter
Florida reports 4 H1N1 deaths
Four Floridians have died from H1N1 flu infections in the past week, bringing the state's total to 24 deaths, the Florida-based Naples News reported. The four deaths occurred in Sarasota, Miami-Dade, Volusia, and Indian River counties and were primarily among middle-aged people with underlying conditions such as respiratory or neurologic disease, a county health spokeswoman said. She said more than 90 people in the state have been hospitalized this year because of pandemic flu.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/apr/05/collier-lee-health-officials-push-swine-flu-vaccin
Apr 5 Naples News article
