(CIDRAP News) In light of vaccine production problems that delayed the delivery of the pandemic H1N1 vaccine, a report by President Barack Obama's science advisers released today said targeted investments in five specific areas could trim the time needed to quickly produce enough to protect the nation by weeks or months.
(CIDRAP News) Federal health officials, in releasing today a blueprint for overhauling the nation's civilian biodefense program, called for increased government partnerships with the private sector and a number of innovative steps to boost the development of medical countermeasures (MCMs) that have little or no commercial market.
Note: Substantial material was added to this article at 6:15 p.m. US Central Time on the WHO's pandemic response and the role of public health going forward.
(CIDRAP News) The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) today declared the H1N1 influenza pandemic over, saying worldwide flu activity has returned to typical seasonal patterns and many people have immunity to the virus.
(CIDRAP News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging healthcare providers to be alert for influenza cases, following the reporting of two small outbreaks of influenza A/H3N2 in Iowa and scattered H3N2 cases in 11 other states.
Jul 29, 2010
(CIDRAP News) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today endorsed its vaccine advisory group's recommendation for universal influenza immunization, as public health groups prepare to shift gears from pushing the pandemic H1N1 vaccine to drawing the public's attention to the new seasonal flu vaccine advice.
(CIDRAP News) Over the next few months, the nation's healthcare providers will shift from giving the pandemic H1N1 vaccine to a seasonal flu vaccine that contains the new virus, which has federal officials grappling with how to transition from a massive vaccine monitoring effort to a likely more routine system for the seasonal version.
(CIDRAP News) Amid media reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) might be on the verge of setting a date to discuss a step-down in the pandemic alert level, the agency said today that it's too early to determine if tropical and Southern Hemisphere countries have transitioned to normal seasonal flu patterns.
