Minimizing time delays in manufacturing vaccines appropriate to rapidly mutating viruses is the key step for improving vaccine effectiveness. The vaccine for the H3N2 flu type has failed for the last two years (~ 15% effective). Here we summarize the state of the predictive art and report the most current results for H3N2 flu vaccine design. Using a 2006 model of dimensional reduction of viral ...

Abstract We assessed preparedness of HSE East elderly long-term care facilities for an influenza outbreak, and identified Public Health Department support needs. We surveyed 166 facilities based on the HSE checklist document for influenza outbreaks, with 58% response rate. Client flu vaccination rates were > 75%; leading barriers were client anxiety and consent issues. Target flu vaccine uptake...

Background The threat of pandemic A/H1N1 influenza remains a matter of considerable public concern. Recent influenza outbreaks underline the importance of rapid production of a reserve of vaccine sufficient for pandemic and interpandemic periods. Traditional vaccines intended for seasonal influenza do not satisfy this demand, because they are unable to induce cross-reactive antibodies to pandem...

OBJECTIVE To identify practice strategies associated with higher flu vaccination rates in primary care. DESIGN Logistic regression analysis of data from a cross-sectional online questionnaire. SETTING 795 general practices across England. PARTICIPANTS 569 practice managers, 335 nursing staff and 107 general practitioners. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Flu vaccination rates achieved by each p...

BACKGROUND High rates of bacterial coinfection in autopsy data from the 2009 H1N1 influenza ("flu") pandemic suggest synergies between flu and pneumococcal disease (PD) during pandemic conditions, and highlight the importance of interventions like the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) that may mitigate the impact of a pandemic. METHODS We used a decision-analytic model, estimat...