Posted on the Pediatric SuperSite on November 21, 2009
Continue to encourage H1N1 vaccine in priority groups
Although the novel H1N1 vaccine remains in limited supply, it has shown
good efficacy, with even single 15 mcg doses of vaccine producing immunity in
adults, and pediatricians should continue to encourage vaccination in the
priority groups, according to a speaker at the Infectious Diseases in Children
Symposium held in New York this weekend.
Pedro Piedra, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine, provided an
overview of the pandemic influenza during a session here today.
Pedro Piedra
Photo by Michael P. Hall
“There has been higher morbidity and mortality in children,”
Piedra said, noting that it is important to vaccinate priority groups,
including pregnant women; household contacts of children younger than 6 months;
a subset of health care workers and emergency services personnel who have
direct patient contact or contact with infectious substances; children aged 6
months through 4 years; and children aged 5 to 18 years who have underlying
risk factors that put them at risk for complications associated with flu.
He provided an overview of the vaccines that are available for children
noting products manufactured by MedImmune LLC, Novartis Vaccines, Diagnostics
Limited and Sanofi Pasteur Inc.
He noted the inactivated, monovalent H1N1 vaccine, manufactured by CSL
Biotherapies, was previously approved for use in adults aged 18 years and older
and it recently received the expanded indication along with the company’s
seasonal influenza virus vaccine (Afluria). – by Colleen
Zacharyczuk
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