H1N1 FLU BREAKING NEWS: More spray vaccine, seasonal flu shots in Quebec, Russian H1N1 reporting, non-drug measures

Influenza, General
H1N1 2009 Pandemic Influenza

Sep 23, 2009

US orders 29 million more doses of H1N1 spray vaccine
The US government has ordered another 29 million doses of nasal-spray pandemic H1N1 flu vaccine from MedImmune, the company announced this week. The government had previously ordered about 13 million doses. The government has now ordered a total of about 251 million doses of H1N1 vaccine from five firms. MedImmune said it has already made enough vaccine to fill its orders, and the Food and Drug Administration has released 3.4 million doses, which are expected to reach providers in early October.
http://pressroom.medimmune.com/press-releases/2009/09/21/medimmune-receives-u-s-government-order-for-additional-29-million-doses-of-nasal-spray-vaccine-for-2009-h1n1-influenza/
Sep 21 MedImmune news release

Quebec may delay or cancel seasonal flu shots
Quebec may delay or shelve its seasonal flu vaccination campaign and concentrate on vaccinating people against pandemic H1N1 instead, CBC News reported today. For now, seasonal flu shots are "on hold," said Karine White, a spokeswoman for the provincial health ministry. She said officials are considering delaying seasonal flu shots until after the pandemic vaccine is delivered, narrowing the effort to focus on those at highest risk, such as seniors, or even canceling the drive altogether.
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/09/23/h1n1-flu-shots.html
Sep 23 CBC News story

Scientist: Russia underreporting pandemic flu cases
One of Russia's leading virologists claims that the country is underestimating its number of pandemic H1N1 cases, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Dr Dmitry Lvov made the claims in a state TV interview on Sep 21 and said Russia had also confirmed its first novel flu death. The country's health ministry has disputed both of Lvov's claims.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125366412674432421.html
Sep 23 Wall Street Journal article

Review suggests non-drug measures can curb flu
A meta-analysis of nonpharmaceutical interventions such as hand washing, masks, gloves, and gowns shows they can curb the spread of flu and should be pursued more vigorously, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) reported yesterday. The review included 58 papers, which varied in quality. N-95 respirators were generally superior to surgical masks, but the N-95s caused skin irritation. The authors said more studies are needed to gauge the efficacy of individual interventions.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/339/sep21_1/b3675
Sep 22 BMJ report

Meta-analysis supports link between flu and heart attack
A meta-analysis of 39 studies supports the idea that influenza (including flu-like illness) increases the risk of myocardial infarction, according to a report by British researchers in Lancet Infectious Diseases. Many observational studies showed consistent links between flu and acute myocardial infarction. One small randomized trial showed that flu vaccination reduced the risk of cardiac death in people with cardiovascular disease, but another randomized trial was inconclusive.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(09)70233-6/abstract
Lancet Infectious Diseases article summary

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. Meta-analysis: Zika-infected pregnant moms 4 times more likely to have babies with microcephaly

    Five of 22 studies noted that over 50% of newborns had microcephaly, and the same number of studies observed that over 5% had congenital Zika syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

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

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

    Stephanie Soucheray

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

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