| Sep 11 |
 | More results point to 1-dose regimen for H1N1 vaccines |
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| H1N1 flu widespread in 11 states |
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| Roche boosts Tamiflu supply, addresses resistance |
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| H1N1 Flu Breaking News |
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| Novel flu activity is declining in the Southern Hemisphere and in parts of Central America and the Caribbean but increasing in tropical areas of Asia and the Americas and in some parts of the United States and Eastern Europe, the World Health Organization reported today. Oseltamivir-resistant strains have been identified in 21 patients, 12 linked to postexposure prophylaxis and 4 linked to treatment. At least 3,205 deaths have been reported. The WHO also issued school closure guidance today. [WHO pandemic H1N1 update 65] |
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| British officials recently said one of the companies it ordered pandemic H1N1 vaccine from, US-based Baxter, is behind on delivering doses, the Financial Times reported. The government placed about one-third of its order with Baxter for its cell-based product. Baxter had promised 400,000 doses by the end of August, but has delivered only about half that amount. Britain ordered the rest of its vaccine supply from GlaxoSmithKline, which is reportedly on schedule. [Sep 9 Financial Times story] |
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| An official from MedImmune, which is making an inhaled vaccine against pandemic H1N1 influenza, said the company would begin shipping orders to the US government by the end of September, Reuters reported yesterday. The company official, Raburn Mallory, said MedImmune said there are no "red flags" in the safety data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration and that 5 million doses will likely be delivered by the end of the month, about 2 weeks ahead of other pandemic vaccine makers. [Sep 10 Reuters story] |
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| A state-run paper in Egypt carried an announcement from the country's prime minister today that the start of school and universities will be delayed to slow the spread of the pandemic H1N1 virus, the Canadian Press (CP) reported. The school year will begin Oct 3, a week later than planned, to allow those returning from Mecca Ramadan pilgrimages to show illness signs. [Sep 11 CP story] |
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| A new Associated Press-Gallup poll shows seniors are the group most interested in getting the pandemic H1N1 vaccine, and more people in the 18- to 29-year-old age- group are now saying they'll get the shot, the AP reported today. Younger people are bearing the greatest pandemic flu burden, so they are at the front of the line to receive the vaccine. During a normal flu season, seniors are at the front of the line for vaccine because they are among the hardest hit groups. [Sep 11 AP story] |
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| British scientists writing in Emerging Infectious Diseases call for a systematic effort to extend the shelf life of oseltamivir (Tamiflu), as it is one of just two drugs active against the H1N1 virus and is scarce globally. Oseltamivir's chemical profile suggests it should be feasible to extend its shelf life to more than 20 years, the writers say. In May, they note, European authorities said new batches of the drug would have a shelf life of 7 years instead of the previous 5 years. [EID article posted Sep 10] |
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| A New England Journal of Medicine study of children and adults published yesterday showed that receiving recent seasonal flu vaccines produced little or no immune response to this year's novel H1N1 in any age-group. However, 34% of adults older than 60 had cross-reactive antibodies to novel H1N1. Also, vaccination with the 1976 swine flu vaccine substantially boosted cross-reactive antibodies to novel H1N1 in adults. [NEJM study posted Sep 10] |
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