Category: Flu Vaccine

Atlanta (Precision Vaccinations News)

Although avianinfluenza (bird flu) viruses usually do not infect people, there have been some rare cases of human infection.

Human infections with bird flu viruses can happen when the virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, or mouth or is inhaled.

To clarify recent reports, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today publisheda technical summary of an analysis conducted on the genomic sequences of viruses linked to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses in Texas.

HPAI A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses have been circulating globally in wild birds in the United Statessince late 2021. These HAPI viruses have caused commercial and backyard poultry outbreaks, with spillover resulting in sporadic infections in mammals.

As of April 2, 2024, the analysis results confirm that the risk to the general public associated with the ongoing HPAI A(H5N1) outbreak remains low.

The CDC stated while minor changes were identified in the virus sequence from the patient specimen compared to the viral sequences from cattle, both cattle and human sequences maintain primarily avian genetic characteristics and, for the most part, lack changes that would make them better adapted to infect mammals.

Avian influenza viruses can undergo changes in a host as they replicate after infection.

The genome for the human isolate from Texas had one change (PB2 E627K) that is known to be associated with viral adaptation to mammalian hosts and which has been detected before in people and other mammals infected with HPAI A(H5N1) virus and other avian influenza subtypes (e.g., H7N9).

But there isno evidence of bird flu virusesspreading among people.

In addition to dairy cows, several mammals, such as Bears, cats, dogs, and seals,have recently been infectedwith this type of bird flu.

Furthermore, there are no markers known to be associated with influenza antiviral resistance found in the virus sequences from the patient's specimen, and the virus is very closely related to two existing HPAI A(H5N1) candidate vaccine viruses that are already available to manufacturers, and which could be used to make vaccine if needed.

TheU.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized theAudenz(Influenza A(H5N1) Monovalent Vaccine, Adjuvanted) cell-based vaccineon January 31, 2020.

Overall, the genetic analysis of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses in Texas supports the CDC's conclusion that the human health risk currently remains low.

More details are available in this CDC technical summary, linked here.

On April 28, 2022, the state ofColoradoreported aninfluenza A (H5) virus infectionin a man. The CDC confirmed that this'Montrose County, Colorado patient is the first human detection of any influenza A(H5) virus in the U.S.since2016.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says available epidemiological and virological evidence currently suggests that influenza A(H5) viruses have not acquired the ability to sustain transmission among humans.

The WHO posted the cumulative worldwide number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) reported (2003-2022).

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Technically, the HPAI A(H5N1) Outbreak Risk Remains Low - Precision Vaccinations

April 1, 2024A person in the United States has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus (H5N1 bird flu), as reported by Texas and confirmed by CDC. This person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering. The patient was told to isolate and is being treated with an antiviral drug for flu. This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which CDC considers to be low. However, people with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection. CDC has interim recommendations for prevention, monitoring, and public health investigations of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses.

CDC is working with state health departments to continue to monitor workers who may have been in contact with infected or potentially infected birds/animals and test those people who develop symptoms. CDC also has recommendations for clinicians on monitoring, testing, and antiviral treatment for patients with suspected or confirmed avian influenza A virus infections.

This is the second person reported to have tested positive for influenza A(H5N1) viruses in the United States. A previous human case occurred in 2022 in Colorado. Human infections with avian influenza A viruses, including A(H5N1) viruses, are uncommon but have occurred sporadically worldwide. CDC has been monitoring for illness among people exposed to H5 virus-infected birds since outbreaks were first detected in U.S. wild birds and poultry in late 2021. Human illnesses with H5N1 bird flu have ranged from mild (e.g., eye infection, upper respiratory symptoms) to severe illness (e.g., pneumonia) that have resulted in death in other countries.

H5 bird flu is widespread among wild birds in the U.S. and globally. These viruses also have caused outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry flocks, and sporadic infections in mammals. HPAI in dairy cows was first reported in Texas and Kansas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on March 25, 2024. Unpasteurized milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as a throat swab from a cow in another dairy in Texas, tested positive for HPAI A(H5) viruses of the genetic clade 2.3.4.4b, which is the same clade that is widespread among birds globally. On March 29, 2024, USDAs National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed HPAI in a Michigan dairy herd that had recently received cows from Texas. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is providing regular updates on detections in dairy herds, as well as information on epidemiological findings and biosecurity guidance for farmers and veterinarians. Preliminary analysis of A(H5N1) viruses has not found changes that would make these viruses resistant to current FDA-approved flu antiviral medications, so these are believed to be effective against these viruses. Candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs) developed against related clade 2.3.4.4b viruses are available for vaccine manufacturing if necessaryand preliminary analysis indicates that they may provide reasonable protection against H5N1 influenza viruses. Seasonal flu vaccines do not provide protection against these viruses. Analysis of virus samples is ongoing.

CDC is working closely with state and federal agencies, including USDA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and local health authorities to further investigate and closely monitor this situation.

Prevention Measures

According to CDCs interim recommendations, people should avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals (including cattle), as well as with animal carcasses, raw milk, feces (poop), litter, or materials contaminated by birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1)-virus infection. People should not prepare or eat uncooked or undercooked food or related uncooked food products, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk, or products made from raw milk such as cheeses, from animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1)-virus infection (avian influenza or bird flu). Specific recommendations for farmers; poultry, backyard flock, and livestock owners; and worker protection are also available.

People exposed to birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1) virus infectionshould be monitored for any signs and symptoms of illness for 10 days after the last known exposure, including people wearing recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). Additional information onprotective actions around birds, includingwhat to doif you find a dead bird, is available on CDCs website.

According to FDA and USDA, there are not concerns with the safety of the commercial milk supply at this time because products are pasteurized before entering the market. Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption; milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce for human consumption. FDAs longstanding position is that unpasteurized, raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to consumers, and FDA is reminding consumers of the risks associated with raw milk consumption in light of the HPAI detections.

CDC continues to work with USDA, FDA, and state health departments to monitor people exposed to animals infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. Because influenza viruses constantly change, continued surveillance and preparedness efforts are critical, and CDC is taking measures in case the public health risk assessment changes. This is a developing situation, and CDC will share additional updates as new relevant information becomes available.

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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection Reported in a Person in the U.S. | CDC Online Newsroom ... - CDC

Influenza is a common respiratory infection. Although most cases are relatively mild, flu can cause more severe illness in young children and older people.

Influenza virtually disappeared from Australia during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic when public health restrictions reduced contact between people. Since 2022, it has returned to a seasonal pattern, although the flu season has started and peaked a few months earlier than before 2020.

Its difficult to predict the intensity of the flu season at this point in the year, but we can sometimes get clues from the northern hemisphere. There, the season started earlier than usual for the third year running (peaking in early January rather than late February/March), with a similar number of reported cases and hospitalisations to the previous year.

Influenza vaccines are recommended annually, but there are now an increasing number of different vaccine types. Heres what to know about this years shots, available from this month.

Like other vaccines, influenza vaccines work by training the immune system on a harmless component of the influenza virus (known as an antigen), so it can respond appropriately when the body encounters the real virus.

Influenza strains are constantly changing due to genetic mutation, with the pace of genetic change much higher than for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID). The strains that go into the vaccine are reviewed twice each year by the World Health Organization (WHO), which selects vaccine strains to match the next seasons predicted circulating strains.

Read more: Flu vaccine won't definitely stop you from getting the flu, but it's more important than you think

All current influenza vaccines in Australia contain four different strains (known as quadrivalent vaccines). One of the strains appeared to disappear during the COVID pandemic, and the WHO has recently recommended dropping this strain from the vaccine. Its expected trivalent (three strain) vaccines will become available in the near future.

There are eight brands of flu vaccines available in Australia in 2024. These include egg-based vaccines (Vaxigrip Tetra, Fluarix Tetra, Afluria Quad, FluQuadri and Influvac Tetra), cell-based vaccines (Flucelvax Quad), adjuvanted vaccines (Fluad Quad) and high-dose vaccines (Fluzone High-Dose Quad).

Until recently, the process of manufacturing flu vaccines has remained similar. Since the development of the influenza vaccine in the 1940s, influenza viruses were grown in chicken eggs, then extracted, inactivated, purified and processed to make up the egg-based vaccines that are still used widely.

However, there have been several enhancements to influenza vaccines in recent years.

Older peoples immune systems tend not to respond as strongly to vaccines. In some flu vaccines, adjuvants (components that stimulate the immune system) are included with the influenza antigens. For example, an adjuvant is used in the Fluad Quad vaccine, recommended for over 65s. Studies suggest adjuvanted influenza vaccines are slightly better than standard egg-based vaccines without adjuvant in older people.

An alternative approach to improving the immune response is to use higher doses of the vaccine strains. An example is Fluzone High-Dose Quad another option for older adults which contains the equivalent of four doses of a standard influenza vaccine. Studies suggest the high dose vaccine is better than the standard dose vaccine (without an adjuvant) in preventing hospitalisation and complications in older people.

Other manufacturers have updated the manufacturing process. Cell-based vaccines, such as Flucelvax Quad, use cells instead of eggs in the manufacturing process. Other vaccines that are not yet available also use different technologies. In the past, manufacturing issues with egg-based vaccines have reduced their effectiveness. Using an alternative method of production provides some degree of insurance against this in the future.

Read more: Should I get the flu shot if I'm pregnant?

Given indications this years flu season may be earlier than usual, its probably safest to get your vaccine early. This is particularly important for those at highest risk of severe illness, including older adults (65 years and over), those with chronic medical conditions, young children (six months to five years) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Influenza vaccines are also recommended in pregnancy to protect both the mother and the baby for the first months of life.

Influenza vaccines are widely available, including at GP clinics and pharmacies, while many workplaces have occupational programs. For high-risk groups, four of the vaccines are subsidised by the Australian government through the National Immunisation Program.

In older people, a number of vaccines are now recommended: COVID and influenza, as well as one-off courses of pneumococcal and shingles vaccines. In general, most vaccines can be given in the same visit, but talk to your doctor about which ones you need.

All influenza vaccines can cause a sore arm and sometimes more generalised symptoms such as fever and tiredness. These are expected and reflect the immune system reacting appropriately to the vaccine, and are mostly mild and short-term. These side effects are slightly more common in adjuvanted and high dose vaccines.

As with all medications and vaccines, allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis can occur after the flu vaccine. All vaccine providers are trained to recognise and respond to anaphylaxis. People with egg allergies should discuss this with their doctor, but in general, studies suggest they can safely receive any (including egg-based) influenza vaccines.

Serious side effects from the influenza vaccine, such as Guillain-Barr syndrome, a neurological complication, are very rare (one case per million people vaccinated). They are thought to be less common after influenza vaccination than after infection with influenza.

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There are new flu vaccines on offer for 2024. Should I get one? What do I need to know? - The Conversation Indonesia

Austin (Precision Vaccinations News)

Recent reports indicate that the multi-year, global outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virushas reached the stateof Texas.

In late March 2024, the Texas Animal Health Commission announced that dairy cattle in the Texas Panhandle had tested positive for avian influenza A(H5N1).

Subsequently, on April 1, 2024, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported one confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in Texas. The affected person had direct exposure to dairy cattle suspected of being infected with avian influenza.

The patient is being treated with anantiviral drug.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed the detection of HPAIin fiveadditional dairy herds in Texas.

The USDA reported that the HAPI strain foundis similar to the strain confirmed initially in cattle in Texas and Kansas.

This strainappears to have been introduced by wild birds (H5N1, Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b), which indicates the virusjumped from birds to cows.

Furthermore, these HAPIcases donot change the risk for the general public, which remains low.

However,the DSHS says in today'spress release that this 'bird flu' case is concerning and warrants close monitoring of the situation.

In response, DSHS issued a Health Alertasking healthcare providers around affected dairies to be vigilant for possible human cases and is providing testing and treatment recommendations.

According to TexasFarmbureau.org,Texas's 2023 dairy cattle population includedover 4 million beef cows, 635,000 milk cows, and 4.25 million calves.

Providers should consider the possibility of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection in those with influenza symptoms and relevant exposure history.

This includes people who have had close contact with a person with suspected or confirmed avian influenza A(H5N1) infection, affected animals, or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms with suspected avian influenza A(H5N1) infection.

A close contact is defined as a person who has been within 6 feet of a confirmed or probable avian influenza A(H5N1) case for a prolonged period or has had direct contact with infectious secretions. In contrast, the case was likely to be contagious, beginning one day before illness onset and continuing until the resolution of illness.

From a prevention perspective, bird flu vaccines have been approved and produced as of April 2024.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,about 20 millionH5N1 and12 millionH7N9 vaccines were availablein theNational Strategic Stockpile in 2023.

One vaccine, CSL Seqirus Inc.Audenz monovalent, adjuvanted,cell-basedinactivatedsubunit vaccine, received its initial U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationApproval inJanuary 2020.

These bird flu vaccines are not commercially available in the United States. Moreover, the CDC says annual flu shots do not offer protection against this type of influenza virus.

Read more:

Texas Confirms Its First Human Bird Flu Case - Precision Vaccinations

(Precision Vaccinations News)

Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics today announced itis presenting a poster at the World Vaccine Congress on a mice study that examined LHNVD-110, a novel, unconjugated single peptide vaccine candidate comprised of multiple epitopes to broadly target human and influenza viruses.

According to the Company's press release on April 2, 2024, results from the poster show that LHNVD-110 generated broadly reactive antibodies to human and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HAPI) viruses while neutralizing seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.

The Company says using a single peptide provides a more cost-effective and easily scalable approach to such a universal influenza vaccine.

In this study, Longhorn examined mice that were immunized intramuscularly with a low dose (2 g) and high dose (20 or 40 g) of LHNVD-110, an unconjugated composite influenza peptide vaccine with multiple highly conserved epitopes of HA, NA, and matrix (M1/M2/M2e), including a universal T cell epitope.

Two booster immunizations were given on days 21 and 35. Isotype specific IgG titers to composite peptides, individual epitopes, and multiple strains of influenza A (H1N1, H3N2, H5N1), and B (Yamagata, Victoria) were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, known as ELISA.

This data mirrors previous studies with LHNVD-105, a dual peptide vaccine containing the same epitopes.

"We are studying a single peptide universal influenza vaccine because we believe it could deliver a cost-effective strategy towards formulation and manufacturing and provide immunity against human and avian influenzas," said Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics CEO Gerald W. Fischer, MD, in a press release.

"We are expediting IND-enabling studies of LHNVD-110 to prepare for human clinical trials."

The Company wrote, 'While traditional influenza vaccines protect against specific strains predicted for circulation during the upcoming flu season, this often leads to mismatches and variable effectiveness. That is why peptide-based vaccines with broad strain coverage may offer useful strategies for preventing influenza, no matter the strain.'

LHNVD-110 is also formulated with the AddaVax adjuvant from InvivoGen.

Originally posted here:

Longhorn Presents Advantages of Single Peptide Vaccine for Coverage of Human and Avian Influenza Viruses - Precision Vaccinations

From this week, free influenza vaccination will be available to some New Zealanders (those over 65, with long-term conditions, pregnant or with specific mental health conditions), but Pharmac recently announced it will no longer be free for children under 12 and Mori and Pacific people aged between 55 and 64.

This is the most recent example of a missed opportunity for New Zealands health system to improve outcomes and close equity gaps.

We know that free flu vaccination for children is a crucial component of achieving health equity.

Not only is the burden of influenza high in children compared with other groups in the population, but children are also a major pathway for the virus to spread within their whnau and wider communities.

We also know poor-quality housing contributes to worse health outcomes, especially for Indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and people with low incomes.

Children living in cold, damp houses, and Mori and Pacific children, are more likely to be hospitalised for acute respiratory conditions such as asthma, which are exacerbated by the flu.

Read more: How do you make a universal flu vaccine? A microbiologist explains the challenges, and how mRNA could offer a promising solution

Mori and Pacific adults have a higher risk of dying from the flu and lower rates of flu vaccination than other groups in the population. A significant life expectancy gap persists between Mori and non-Mori New Zealanders (7.5 years for men, 7.3 years for women).

Even Pharmacs own clinical advisors noted that wider criteria for free flu vaccination reduce access barriers for people at higher risk from this disease. The Whakamaua Mori Health Action Plan 2020-2025 states that:

achieving equitable Mori health outcomes requires initiatives to respond earlier to Mori health need.

Given the disproportionate burden of influenza on Mori and Pacific people, lower vaccination rates, greater exposure to risk factors for respiratory illness and persistent inequities in life expectancy, a lower age for free flu vaccination for Mori and Pacific adults is essential for achieving equity.

So why are we not funding free flu vaccinations for children under 12 and Mori and Pacific adults aged 5564?

One reason is money. Pharmac receives a fixed budget from the government and has to make tough decisions about how to allocate its funding across a range of competing health priorities. In 2022 and 2023, Pharmac widened access to free flu vaccination with funding made available as part of the former governments response to COVID, but says this funding has now ended.

The second reason is political will. The hard part about achieving equity is that it can mean doing things differently for different groups. This is what makes equity fundamentally different from equality. Sometimes we have to treat people differently to achieve equity.

Despite its apparent commitment to equity for all New Zealanders, our health system and political leaders often focus on one-size-fits-all approaches rather than recognising differences in need and access.

Read more: Racism and democracy: why claims of division by race in the NZ election and Voice referendum need challenging

We dont need to look far for examples of other missed opportunities to promote health equity.

When deciding whom to prioritise for COVID vaccination, the cabinet refused to include Mori in the high-risk group at 50 or 55 rather than 65, even though Mori were at greater risk of hospitalisation and have a lower life expectancy. Critics argued that inequity was hard baked into the vaccine rollout.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme was initially criticised for adopting a blanket 6074 age range, when at least half of Mori bowel cancer is diagnosed before age 60 (compared with 30% for non-Mori). Although the age range for this program has since been lowered to 50 for Mori and Pacific people, this has been rolled out in only three districts (Waikato, Tairwhiti and MidCentral) with no clear commitment to do the same in the rest of the country.

In 2023, Shane Reti, who is now the health minister, described the introduction of an equity adjuster into prioritisation tools for planned surgery as offensive. David Seymour, now an associate health minister, described it as racial discrimination. Despite clear evidence that Mori have longer wait times for elective surgery than non-Mori, these criticisms claim that adjusting for ethnicity (among other factors) would give Mori an unfair advantage.

These examples show how difficult it is to introduce much-needed measures to achieve equity when they require a tailored approach for some groups not to create an unfair advantage but to rectify an unfair disadvantage. Such measures depend on political courage and an appropriate budget.

But adjusting inclusion criteria for flu vaccination or bowel cancer screening are fairly cheap and simple interventions that can start saving lives immediately. What are we waiting for?

Link:

Changes to free flu vaccine eligibility are a missed opportunity to close NZ's health equity gap - The Conversation

Pictured: Facade of Moderna's office in Cambridge, Massachusetts/iStock, hapabapa

Moderna announced during its annual Vaccines Day event on Wednesday that it has secured up to $750 million in funding from asset management firm Blackstone Life Sciences to advance its mRNA-based flu program.

In exchange for its funding commitment, Blackstone will be eligible for cumulative commercial milestones and low-single digit royalties on sales of products from Modernas flu portfolio. The Massachusetts-based biotech will retain all rights to its flu assets. The Blackstone haul will not affect Modernas 2024 research and development framework of approximately $4.5 billion and the company said it will reflect the funding as a reduction in its R&D expenses.

Moderna CEO Stphane Bancel in a statement said that the additional support from Blackstone will help the company run late-stage studies for its flu assets, allowing it to achieve its ambition of launching multiple vaccine products in the next few years and deliver the greatest possible impact to people through mRNA medicines.

Modernas flu pipeline includes nine assets, including the Phase III mRNA-1010 vaccine candidate, which is being developed for seasonal flu. In September 2023, the company released an interim analysis for the Phase III P303 study of mRNA-1010, which showed that the vaccine candidate met all of its co-primary endpoints and elicited high antibody titers for all four A and B influenza strains, as compared to a currently approved flu shot.

During Wednesdays Vaccines Day event, Moderna also revealed that mRNA-1010 is currently being assessed in an older adult extension phase of P303. The company is expecting to file regulatory submissions for mRNA-1010 within the year.

In addition to mRNA-1010, Moderna is working on four other flu shotsmRNA-1021, mRNA-1030, mRNA-1011 and mRNA-1012all of which are currently in Phase II studies. The company is also developing combination vaccines for flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Beyond its Blackstone flu partnership, Moderna on Wednesday provided updates for the companys other pipeline assets including its next-generation COVID-19 vaccine mRNA-1283, which aced its Phase III NEXTCove trial and induced a stronger immune response against the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 and original SARS-CoV-2 strains, as opposed to a licensed coronavirus vaccine.

Moderna also unveiled data from its Phase II/III ConquerRSV study, which showed that its vaccine candidate mRNA-1345 reached a vaccine efficacy of 83.7% against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD), defined by at least two symptoms.

The company has filed for the regulatory approval of mRNA-1345 for the prevention of RSV-LRTD and acute respiratory disease in older adults aged 60 years and older. Moderna expects the FDAs decision this year.

Tristan Manalac is an independent science writer based in Metro Manila, Philippines. Reach out to him on LinkedIn or email him at tristan@tristanmanalac.com or tristan.manalac@biospace.com.

Read more:

Moderna Secures Up to $750M in Funding from Blackstone to Advance Flu Program - BioSpace

Would getting two doses of the same flu vaccine during the same flu season be helpful? Adams Journal

Heres a question from a reader:

Im a 77-year-old male whos very active. For years, Ive gotten the annual flu vaccine in mid-October.

This year, in February, I got the flu. Fortunately, my symptoms were mild. But wouldnt a second flu shot have helped me be better protected?

Name withheld by request

More: Do I have COVID-19, the flu or maybe a cold? What your symptoms may be telling you

Happily, our reader did not seem to experience complications from his infection. However, as a group, older people are at higher risk for serious illness and even death from the flu.

So, it makes sense to search for ways to better protect them.

It is true that in some groups organ transplant recipients and children being vaccinated for the first time getting two doses of the same flu vaccine during the same flu season appears to be helpful. So, researchers tried this approach with people in their 70s.

However, in both of these studies, the second dose of vaccine failed to increase subjects levels of antibodies against influenza.

In addition, as the number of flu vaccinations a person receives over their lifetime grows, studies have shown that both antibody responses and vaccine effectiveness diminish.

Make no mistake: Youre better protected if you receive a flu shot than if you dont. But getting a second one wont help; in fact, it might even blunt your bodys ability to form protective responses.

For those 65 and over, the Food and Drug Administration has approved high-dose flu vaccines. These vaccines contain four times as much immune-stimulating antigen than the standard-dose vaccine.

As a result, it produces substantially higher levels of antibodies in those who receive it. In post-approval studies, the most prevalent of these vaccines, Fluzone, was found to be 24% more effective than standard vaccines in preventing flu infections among those 65 and over. It also seems to reduce serious complications of flu in older people, including pneumonia and worsening of heart and lung disease.

In sum, when it comes to flu vaccines, two doses are not better than one. But in older individuals like our reader, the high-dose vaccine can offer added protection.

James is executive vice president and chief medical officer of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Cohen, a marathoner, is OMRFs senior vice president and general counsel. Send your health questions to contact@omrf.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Would second flu shot mean better protection? | Bodyworks

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When it comes to the flu vaccine, are two doses better than one? | Bodyworks - AOL

Simply asking patients to get the flu vaccine, and combining it with helpful video and print messages, is enough to persuade many who visit emergency departments to roll up their sleeves, according to a new study led by UC San Francisco.

Researchers found a 32% vaccine uptake in patients who were asked if theyd be interested in getting the flu shot and told their health providers would be informed. They saw a 41% uptake for those who were asked about receiving a flu shot and received a pamphlet, watched a three-minute video of a physician with a similar ethnic background discussing the vaccine and were told about the benefits of the vaccine in person.

The study published March 26, 2024 in NEJM Evidence.

The researchers say this type of systematic approach could lead to more underserved people receiving vaccines, especially those whose primary health care occurs in emergency departments.

Flu leads to considerable mortality in the United States annual death rates are typically in the tens of thousands, especially when combined with pneumonia but vaccination is particularly low among underserved populations and those whose primary care occurs in emergency departments. Such patients often face general vaccine hesitancy or a lack of opportunities for the flu shot.

This research arose from our desire to address the health disparities that we see every day in our emergency department, especially among homeless persons, the uninsured and immigrant populations, said first author, Robert M. Rodriguez, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine with the UCSF School of Medicine.

Investigators in the study created flu vaccine messaging including a brief video, flyer and a scripted health provider question, Would you be willing to accept the influenza vaccine? and assessed their effectiveness among nearly 800 patients in five cities: San Francisco, Houston, Philadelphia, Seattle and Durham, North Carolina. The median age was 46. More than half the participants in the trial were Black or Latino, 16 % lacked health insurance, nearly a third had no primary care and 9% were homeless or living in severely inadequate housing. These demographic characteristics are similar to patient populations often served by urban emergency departments.

The researchers designed the clinical trial to span a single flu season between Oct. 2022 and Feb. 2023.

Overall, our study adds to the growing body of knowledge showing that a number of important public health interventions can and should be delivered to underserved populations in emergency departments, said Rodriguez, whose previous research has found the effectiveness of delivering similar COVID-19 vaccine messaging to emergency department patients.

Co-authors: From UCSF, co-authors are Melanie F. Molina, MD; James Ford, MD; Mireya I. Arreguin; Cecilia Lara Chavez; and Dave V. Glidden, PhD. See paper for other co-authors.

Funding: The study was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (RO1 AII66967-01).

The rest is here:

Just Ask: Patients in the ER Are Willing to Get a Flu Shot - UC San Francisco

TUESDAY, March 26, 2024 (HealthDay News) New research offers an easy prescription to get people to roll up their sleeves for a flu shot.

Just ask them to.

And then reinforce the invitation with a little video and print encouragement.

"Our study adds to the growing body of knowledge showing that a number of important public health interventions can and should be delivered to underserved populations in emergency departments," said first author Dr. Robert Rodriguez, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of California-San Francisco.

The new research published March 26 in the journal NEJM Evidence found a 41% rise in vaccination among study participants who were asked about getting a flu shot, given an information pamphlet and shown a three-minute video. In the video, a doctor from a similar ethnic group discussed the shot and its benefits.

Vaccination rose 32% among participants who were asked about their interest in the shot and were told their health care providers would be informed.

"This research arose from our desire to address the health disparities that we see every day in our emergency department, especially among homeless persons, the uninsured and immigrant populations," Rodriguez said in a UCSF news release.

The clinical trial spanned one flu season, from October 2022 to February 2023. It included nearly 800 patients in five cities: San Francisco, Houston, Philadelphia, Seattle and Durham, N.C.

Their demographic makeup was similar to populations often served by urban emergency departments: More than half were Black folks or Latino patients; 16% were uninsured; nearly a third had no primary care; and 9% were homeless or living in "severely inadequate" housing.

Researchers' used this group to assess their vaccine messaging which included a brief video, flyer and scripted health provider question "Would you be willing to accept the influenza vaccine?"

"Overall, our study adds to the growing body of knowledge showing that a number of important public health interventions can and should be delivered to underserved populations in emergency departments," Rodriguez said.

Previously, he has studied the effectiveness similar strategies in COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about flu shots.

SOURCE: University of California - San Francisco, news release, March 26, 2024

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ERs Might Be Good Spots to Offer Flu Shots - HealthDay