The 2009 influenza pandemic has introduced the new re-assorted influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus which recirculated during the 2010/11 influenza season. Before that season, it was possible to acquire protective immunity either by pandemic or seasonal influenza vaccination against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 or by natural infection. To obtain data on vaccination coverage and antibody levels in a reference...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of dual vaccination of seasonal influenza and pneumococcus in nursing home older adults during a novel pandemic of influenza A (H1N1). SETTING Nine nursing homes in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS A total of 532 nursing home older adults were included in the study. MEASUREMENTS Efficacy of dual vaccination of seasonal influenza and pneumococcus in nursing home o...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the association between living arrangements and influenza vaccination among elderly South Korean subjects. METHODS We used data from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants older than 65 years were included and categorized into 4 groups according to the type of living arrangement as follows: (1) living alone gr...

CONTEXT Pregnant women are at increased risk of severe influenza-related complications and hospitalizations and are a priority group for influenza vaccination. OBJECTIVE To examine coverage of seasonal and pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccines in pregnant women in a managed care setting, from 2008 to 2012. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study of 10,145 pregnant women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES H1...

TO THE EDITOR—We are pleased to respond to the interesting questions raised in Sambhara’s letter regarding our article [1]. How has prior exposure to 2009 pandemic influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (A[H1N1]pdm09) or previous vaccination influenced the A(H1N1)pdm09specific vaccine responses? In Norway, mass vaccination was initiated before the peak of the pandemic, and healthcare workers (HCWs) wer...

Methods Serum was collected from 138 HCWs including laboratory personnel, doctors and nurses working at JIPMER, Puducherry during August October 2013. Details of influenza vaccination and laboratory confirmed influenza infection were noted. Hemagglutination inhibition assay was performed to determine the serum antibody levels against WHO reference antigens – pandemic influenza A (H1N1) A/Califo...

BACKGROUND Influenza-related morbidity and mortality remain high. Seasonal vaccination is the backbone of influenza management but does not always result in protective antibody titers. Nonspecific effects of BCG vaccination related to enhanced function of myeloid antigen-presenting cells have been reported. We hypothesized that BCG vaccination could also enhance immune responses to influenza va...

Background and Aims: Vaccination is the most effective method to prevent influenza infection. Among the available vaccines, cold-adapted live-virus vaccines are suitable approach that have been produced and evaluated for recent years in few countries. The goal of this project was to derivate a cold adapted variant of the influenza A/New Caledonia/20/1999(H1N1). Materials and Methods: Influenza ...

BACKGROUND Concerns have been raised about how the transmission of emerging infectious diseases from patients to healthcare workers (HCWs) and vice versa could be recognized and prevented in a timely manner. An effective strategy to block transmission of pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza in HCWs is important. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS An infection control program was implemented to survey a...