H1N1 NEWS SCAN: Vaccine updates, side effects with mass Tamiflu administration

H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

India approves pandemic vaccine
The pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadila announced today it has gained approval from the drug controller general of India to become the first India-based firm to market a pandemic H1N1 vaccine in the country. The vaccine, VaxiFlu-S, will be marketed by Vaxxicare, part of a division of the company that focuses on preventives.
http://businesstoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&issueid=60&id=15039&Itemid=1&sectionid=4
May 13 Business Today report

Study finds side effects with mass antiviral 'blanket'
Last June when pandemic H1N1 struck 17% of students and staff at a UK elementary school, 92% of students and 91% of staff received the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for treatment and prevention. Of those, 41% (113/273) of students and 47% (25/53) of staff reported adverse effects. Overall, 14% of students and 20% of staff did not complete the course of oseltamivir, primarily due to adverse effects. The authors say potential benefits of mass treatment must outweigh possible side effects.
http://tinyurl.com/eurosurv051310h1n1
May 13 Eurosurveillance study

Netherlands cancels third of its GSK vaccine order
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has agreed to cut 33% of its order of H1N1 vaccine from the Netherlands, saving the country 21 million euros, Reuters reported. The Dutch government said in March it wanted to sell 21 million unused vaccine doses back to drug firms. The original Dutch order was 34 million doses, 11 million of which were administered and 257,000 sold to other countries. GSK cut its Dutch order from 9 million to 6 million doses. A second supplier, Novartis, has not reduced its order.
http://lta.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idLTALDE64B25M20100512
May 12 Reuters article

Virus-like-particle vaccine shows promise
A recombinant pandemic H1N1 virus-like-particle flu vaccine made by Rockville, Md.-based Novavax protected ferrets against the disease in a study published in Vaccine. The vaccine induced a good antibody response in the animals and inhibited viral replication in the upper and lower respiratory tract. A single 15-microgram dose resulted in complete clearance of the virus from the lungs. Ferrets are known to be good animal models for flu in humans.
http://tinyurl.com/vaccine051210vlp-vax
May 12 Vaccine abstract

This week's top reads

  1. FDA significantly limits COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

    Critics said today’s announcement is more evidence of the current administration’s willingness to undermine public trust in vaccines.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    FDA building

  2. Woman dies of Creutzfeldt-Jakob almost 50 years after taking prion-contaminated growth hormone

    The patient, who presented with gait imbalance and tremors, wasn't diagnosed until she was in a coma, shortly before she died.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Woman in hospital bed

  3. HHS expected to discontinue COVID vaccine recommendations for some groups

    When CDC advisers widened their recommendation in 2023, most members were swayed by data, including those for long COVID, showing that no group is at low risk for the virus.

    Lisa Schnirring

  4. WHO advisers say current strains OK for COVID vaccine production

    Current vaccine strains show high neutralization against the latest variants, but the LP.8.1 antigen may provide similar or moderately higher cross-reactive antibody response.

    Lisa Schnirring
    senior vaccination

  5. US measles outbreak grows to 1,024 cases

    Texas remains the country's hot spot, with 718 cases. 

    Chris Dall
    Doctor treating child with measles

  6. Moderna pulls licensing submission for combo flu-COVID vaccine

    Moderna's combination vaccine was intended for adults 50 and older. 

    Stephanie Soucheray

  7. Mpox activity escalates in Sierra Leone

    Responding to the surge is a major focus, partly to prevent the spread to other West African countries. 

    Lisa Schnirring
    mpox virus

  8. Flu vaccine efficacy 41% overall and 26% in older adults, per 2023-24 estimates

    Estimated effectiveness was 68% against influenza B and 32% against type A.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Flu shot going into arm

  9. Testing ties Listeria outbreak to ready-to-eat sandwiches

    An earlier investigation hinted at hospital food as a source, but evidence didn't reveal a specific item.

    Lisa Schnirring

  10. FDA vaccine advisers recommend sticking with JN.1 strain for next COVID vaccines

    The group weighed considerations about newer variants and raised concerns that a strain recommendation might interface with the FDA's new proposed COVID vaccine framework.

    Lisa Schnirring
    woman vaccinated

Our underwriters