Flu-v Influenza Vaccine

Pharmacies Reopen Vaccination Services

Don Hackett — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:37:18 +0000

Reviewer:

A Maryland based pharmacy chain announced that all vaccinations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are once again available.

Giant Food, a regional grocery chain near Washington, DC, stated in a press statement it’s 153 in-store pharmacies have resumed vaccination services which were delayed due to the COVID-19 disease pandemic.

All vaccines are administered by Giant's certified in-store pharmacists and require no advance appointment.

This is important news since the 2020-2021 influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere is fast approaching.

Influenza vacations during the 2019-2020 flu season were about 45 percent effective at protecting people from the viral illness, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Unfortunately, a total of 182 influenza-associated pediatric fatalities occurred during the 2019-2020 season.

"Now it is more critical than ever for individuals to take preventative measures to protect themselves and their communities from sickness and staying up-to-date with recommended vaccines is an important first step," says Paul Zvaleny, Giant Food's Director of Pharmacy Operations.

"After pausing non-urgent services in April, we are looking forward to offering vaccinations to our customers and continuing to do our part to keep our communities healthy while following social distancing guidelines and strict safety procedures."

Giant pharmacies have implemented the additional health and safety policies when administering immunizations: maintaining social distancing measures, equipping associates with personal protective equipment consisting of face masks, face shields, and gloves, increasing disinfection procedures between vaccine administrations, and following additional screening processes for patients.

As part of its ongoing effort to support the well-being of customers, Giant pharmacists will continue offering customers free expert consultations. For more information on Giant, visit Giant Food.

Pharmacists in all states are allowed to administer a long list of vaccinations, but state laws do vary. Also, in some states, certain vaccines require a doctor's prescription.

When in doubt, check with your local pharmacist.

Influenza vaccine news published by Precision Vaccinations.

Sub Title:

Pharmacists authorized to delivery vaccinations for 2020 - 2021 flu season

References:

Giant Food Announces Vaccinations Once Again Available at All Pharmacies

CDC: Influenza Associated Pediatric Mortality

NY Pharmacists Authorized to Deliver Flu Shots to Children

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, covid-19, flu vaccine, influenza vaccines, flu, influenza, mmr

GoodRx Vaccine:

flublok-quadrivalent

Featured:

Childcare Leaders Found Under-Vaccinated Against Influenza

Don Hackett — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 15:46:33 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

Holly Lutmer PharmD

According to a University of Pittsburg Medical Center (UPMC) study, child care centers in the USA seldom require the adults who care for children to receive the annual flu shot.

This new study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society on December 12, 2019, found only 13.1 percent of childcare centers have a requirement for adult caregivers to be vaccinated against the influenza virus.

And, only 24.5 percent of childcare centers require a flu shot for children in their care.

This is unfortunate news since about 25 percent of children under the age of 5 attend some type of preschool program.

And, there have been 6 pediatric related fatalities already reported during the 2019-2020 flu season. Moreover, there were 143 pediatric fatalities related to influenza last flu season.

"When kids are in close proximity to each other in childcare centers they spread infectious diseases very efficiently," said study author Timothy R. Shope, M.D., MPH, of UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, in a press release.

"The interventions that we use for older children and adults to prevent influenza, such as maintaining a distance of 3 feet between individuals, and coughing or sneezing into a shoulder or an elbow, don't work very well for a 2-year-old.”

“So the best way we can protect them is through immunization."

The transmission of influenza viruses to others may occur 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.

Dr. Shope continued to say "If we're concerned with the public health of children and preventing influenza morbidity and mortality, we have to legislate the issue."

This study reported only the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, and Rhode Island have laws mandating flu vaccination for children in daycare.

Legislation that limits non-medical exemptions from childhood vaccination laws has advanced in several states in response to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, which suggests that there may be progress on this issue.

In the meantime, parents should take the initiative themselves.

"For parents, they don't need to wait until there is an influenza vaccination requirement for children in child care," Dr. Shope said. "They should do what is best for their child's health and get them immunized."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older every flu season. The CDC has approved various flu shots, which can be researched on this webpage.

This CDC recommendation is because children are at a greater risk for serious complications from influenza, including hospitalization and even death.

Influenza vaccination cannot cause flu illness because the vaccines are made with inactivated and weakened viruses, or they only contain a single gene from a flu virus, which cannot cause illness.

‘There are many flu vaccine options to choose from. If you have questions about which vaccine is best for you, talk to a healthcare professional,’ says the CDC.

Recent flu vaccine news

The CDC suggested on April 8, 2019, that employers ‘Take action to keep your workplace healthy this flu season. Consider offering free on-site flu vaccinations at your business locations.’

‘Making annual flu vaccinations part of your workplace wellness program offers many benefits to you and your employees.’

This UPMC study’s findings are drawn from a telephone-based survey, conducted in 2016, that included 518 directors across 48 states, randomly selected from a national database of licensed U.S. child care centers.

The study was funded by the CDC. No conflicts of interest were disclosed.

The Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society is dedicated to perinatal, childhood, and adolescent infectious diseases.

Flu vaccine news is published by Precision Vaccinations.

Sub Title:

Children in childcare centers can spread infectious diseases very efficiently

References:

CDC: Promoting Vaccination in the Workplace

Child Care Centers Rarely Require Flu Vaccination for Children or Their Caregivers

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

CDC: Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, influenza vaccines, flu shots, who needs flu shots,

GoodRx Vaccine:

Flu-v

Featured:

57% of Ireland Avoid Annual Flu Shots

Danielle Reiter RN — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 23:29:49 +0000

Reviewer:

Holly Lutmer PharmD

Boots Ireland announced research revealing 57 percent of people in Ireland have never been vaccinated against the influenza virus.

Of those who haven’t had a flu shot in the past, 10 percent stated that the ‘cost was the main factor in their decision’, while 7 percent claimed it was a matter of ‘how much time it took to organize’ an appointment.

Additionally, this report published by Boots in PharmacyNewsIreland on September 29, 2019, found only 29 percent of people plan to get vaccinated for the 2019/2020 flu season.

Ireland’s national guidelines strongly urge those in the at-risk groups to get an annual influenza vaccination. At-risk groups include those over the age of 65 years, pregnant women, and people with long-term health conditions.

This year, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the 4 strains of flu virus recommended by the World Health Organization as the influenza strains most likely to be circulating this season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Speaking on the importance of getting vaccinated, Dr. Kim Roberts, Ussher Assistant Professor of Virology and leader of the Influenza research group at Trinity College Dublin, said in this article: “Getting the flu vaccination is the best preventive measure against influenza and the spread of the virus. The flu vaccine usually takes about two weeks to take effect, so it’s better to get the vaccination as early in the season as possible”.

While it is strongly recommended that people in these groups get the flu vaccination, Boots, a leading pharmacy chain, is supporting the national guidelines by ‘encouraging the public to take preventative measures to stop the spread of flu by getting vaccinated.’

In Ireland, the Northern Hemisphere seasonal flu vaccine is available from October 2019 until the end of April 2020.

Of those who have previously received a flu vaccination, about 20 percent obtained service from a pharmacy.

Caoimhe McCauley, Director of Pharmacy, Boots Ireland, commented: “Some patients may be eligible for a free vaccine depending on their HSE scheme eligibility and risk factors.”

“The consultation appointment can be booked on-line with walk-ins also welcome. Our in-store pharmacists are available to answer any questions about the vaccination service and give advice on general winter wellness.”

“The vaccination can help to prevent the spread of the virus to both you and those around you, helping protect those who are vulnerable against flu this season,” concluded McCauley.

If you are pregnant, you should get the flu vaccine because you are at increased risk of severe complications from flu, says HSE. The flu shot is made from an inactivated virus, so it's safe for both mother and baby during any stage of pregnancy.

You should get it as early as possible in your pregnancy.

The flu vaccine helps your immune system to produce antibodies to fight the influenza virus. If you have been vaccinated and you come into contact with the virus, these antibodies will attack it and stop you from getting sick.

If you are pregnant through 2 flu seasons, you may need 2 vaccinations, 1 in each flu season.

Pregnant women are more likely to get complications due to changes in their heart and lung function. Getting flu in pregnancy may also lead to premature birth, lower birth weight, and even stillbirth.

The flu vaccine will also help protect a newborn baby during their first few months of life, says HSE.

Boots Ireland is a leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer with 87 stores and just over 2,000 employees. Boots Ireland's purpose ‘is to help customers look and feel better than they ever thought possible.’

Travel Vaccine information published by Vax-Before-Travel

Sub Title:

Women can get a flu vaccine during any stage of pregnancy says the NHS

References:

NEW RESEARCH BY BOOTS REVEALS OVER HALF OF PEOPLE IN IRELAND HAVE NEVER BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST THE FLU

Boots Winter Flu Vaccination Service

Less than 30% plan to get flu vaccine

Flu vaccine during pregnancy

The flu jab in pregnancy -Your pregnancy and baby guide

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, ireland and flu, irish flu vaccinations, influenza vaccines, flu shots

GoodRx Vaccine:

Flu-v

Smoking Increases Influenza Risk By 5x

Don Hackett — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 22:44:25 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

Although smoking has been recognized as a risk factor for many respiratory diseases, its effects on influenza-associated morbidity and mortality remain less known.

Through its effects on the human immune system, new research published on August 26, 2019, indicates ‘smoking may facilitate influenza virus infections and related complications.’

According to a new study by researchers at the University of Nottingham, smokers are more than 5 times more likely than non-smokers to get sick with the influenza virus.

Additionally, for the studies included in this research, the occurrence of influenza-like illness (ILI), current smokers were 34 percent more likely to develop ILI than non-smokers.

The objective of this study was to ‘enhance the awareness that ‘smokers have an increased risk of catching the seasonal flu.’

This study systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, and Web of Science to identify relevant randomized control trials, cohort, and case-control studies through November 2017.

Previously, the University of Nottingham published smoking-related studies on the following topics:

Current smokers are 33 percent more likely to miss work than non-smokers and were absent an average of 2.7 extra days per year.
Pregnant women who suffer from pre-eclampsia are putting the lives of their unborn children at significantly increased risk if they continue to smoke during pregnancy.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer these insights:

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body causing many diseases.

But there is some good news from the CDC, which says, ‘quitting smoking lowers your risk for smoking-related diseases and can add years to your life.’

Influenza News published by Precision Vaccinations.

Sub Title:

Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body causing many diseases

References:

Cigarette smoking and the occurrence of Influenza – Systematic Review

CDC: Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking

Smoking and Influenza-associated Morbidity and Mortality

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations, smoking and influenza, stop smoking now, smoking and your body

GoodRx Vaccine:

Flu-v

Featured:

Universal Flu Vaccine Candidate Announced Positive Phase 2b Results

Don Hackett — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:49:39 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

A ‘universal’ influenza vaccine producer announced additional good news regarding the Phase IIb viral challenge Study for FLU-v (FLU-v004).

FLU-v is a synthetic universal flu vaccine candidate offering long-lasting protection across a broad spectrum of influenza which could be given to a much broader population.

The development of a universal influenza vaccine has become a worldwide public health priority in both industrialized and low-and-middle-income countries, said this January 10, 2019 press release.

Various global stakeholders have indicated the benefits of vaccines that induce broad immunity so as to prime the population against newly emerging influenza viruses or other respiratory viruses of pandemic potential.

hVIVO plc, announced positive results for the primary endpoint, following completion of the analysis of samples by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and additional results from the Phase IIb viral challenge study of FLU-v.

FLU-v is a broad spectrum influenza vaccine that targets regions in the influenza virus that are conserved among many different influenza strains.

hVIVO reports that this study’s primary endpoint achieved statistically significant results, such as:

One dose of FLU-v produced a highly statistically significant reduction in the primary endpoint of Mild to Moderate Influenza Disease (MMID), comprising a positive signal of influenza infection and at least one influenza symptom, compared with placebo (p=0.035).
A statistically significant additional endpoint has been achieved (p=0.006) from further data analyzed by the NIAID from FLU-v 004, which confirmed the result for the primary endpoint and has the potential to become the primary regulatory endpoint for Phase III.
These results together with the previously reported highly statistically significant reduction in symptoms endpoint (p=0.023) and performing better than placebo in a number of other key endpoints are evidence of the vaccine’s protective effect.

Trevor Phillips, Executive Chairman of hVIVO, said in a press release, "The successful achievement of statistical significance in the primary endpoints from two Phase II studies confirms that FLU-v has clinical impact in establishing immunity and disease, symptom and viral load reduction.”

NCT03180801 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single-center trial of 123 subjects in collaboration with to assess the efficacy and safety of two different formulation and dosing regimens of FLU-v vaccine administered in healthy adults.

For more information, please contact hVIVO.

Sub Title:

hVIVO Phase IIb challenge study of FLU-v announced positive results for the primary endpoint

References:

HVIVO reports that the Phase IIb viral challenge Study for FLU-v (FLU-v004) achieved the primary endpoint

hVIVO reports positive results from the Phase IIb field study of FLU-v (FLU-v 003)

Efficacy of FLU-v in an H1N1 Influenza Human Challenge Model

Image:

Age Groups:

Adult

19 21 years

22 26 years