Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material (the Vaccine) to produce immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by a pathogen. The material administrated can either be live, but weakened forms of pathogens such as bacteria or viruses, killed or inactivated forms of these pathogens, or purified material such as proteins.
Early results from clinical trials of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines in healthy adults – There are encouraging reports emerging from various clinical trials of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines, conducted by various vaccine manufacturers. Additional companies are expected to announce their preliminary trial results shortly.
Study find that vaccination of children and 70 percent of U.S. population could control swine flu pandemic – An aggressive vaccination program that first targets children and ultimately reaches 70 percent of the U.S. population would mitigate pandemic influenza H1N1 that is expected this fall, revealed by researchers.
Yale researcher questions federal guidelines for seasonal and swine flu vaccines – With the seasonal flu season approaching and uncertainty over whether swine flu will become more severe, new research published by Yale School of Public Health has found that more people are likely to avoid illness if vaccines are given out first to those most likely to transmit viruses, rather than to those at highest risk for complications.
Britain’s first swine-flu trials under way — Research led by University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. – UK’s first swine flu vaccine trials, led by the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, are taking place at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approves Vaccine for 2009-2010 Seasonal Influenza. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it has approved a vaccine for 2009-2010 seasonal influenza in the United States. The seasonal influenza vaccine will not protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.
HHS Purchases Additional H1N1 Vaccine Ingredients – U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the health department will commit $884 million to purchase additional supplies of two key ingredients for potential H1N1 vaccine to further prepare the nation for a potential resurgence of the 2009 H1N1 virus.
The World Health Organization grants prequalification to Cervarix: GSK?s vaccine to help combat cervical cancer in developing nations. – The World Health Organization (WHO) has awarded prequalification to Cervarix, GlaxoSmithKline’s cervical cancer vaccine. GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical company applied for WHO prequalification of Cervarix 2 years ago.
Penn study demonstrates new way to boost immune memory — Cancer vaccine efficacy enhanced using anti-diabetic drug metformin. – University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers have found that a common anti-diabetic drug might enhance the effectiveness of vaccines. The findings are described this week in an advanced online publication of Nature.
Government of Canada announces funding for research to further protect Canadians from the H1N1 flu virus – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, is pleased to announce another measure to address the H1N1 flu virus. The Government of Canada will fund a national influenza research network focused on pandemic vaccine evaluation.
New Report Finds 10 Early Lessons Learned from the H1N1 Outbreak – A new report – The Pandemic Flu: Lessons from the Frontlines – reviews 10 early lessons learned from the response to the H1N1 (swine) flu outbreak, 10 ongoing core vulnerabilities in U.S. pandemic flu preparedness.
Study: Benefit to women not enough to sway men to get HPV vaccine – Informing men that a new vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) would also help protect their female partners against developing cervical cancer from the sexually transmitted infection did not increase their interest in getting the vaccine, according to a new Florida State University study.
GARDASIL? is First Cervical Cancer Vaccine to Receive WHO Pre-qualification — WHO Pre-qualification Will Help to Facilitate Expanded Global Access and Implementation of HPV Vaccination Programs. – GARDASIL [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant], Merck’s cervical cancer vaccine, has been awarded World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualification. GARDASIL is the first cervical cancer vaccine to receive WHO pre-qualification.
