During a pertussis outbreak, adolescents who were given whole-cell pertussis vaccines in childhood are more protected than those given acellular pertussis vaccines.
Despite considerable progress in global efforts to eradicate polio, significant challenges remain for vaccination in areas with endemic polio that are in the midst of conflict or insurgency.
For Australian women aged ≤30 years there has been a decrease in the proportion found to have genital warts following the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine program.
Social networks play a role in parents' vaccination decision-making.
Despite improvements in aspects of cancer prevention and early detection, American Cancer Society urged more systematic efforts to reduce tobacco use and obesity, and expand the use of screening tests could prevent much of the suffering and death of cancer.
A vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus is ineffective in preventing post-operative S. aureus infection and has serious safety problems when given pre-operatively to patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery.
Varicella vaccination is effective for preventing chicken pox (varicella), with no waning noted over a 14-year period, according to a new study.
Increased exposure to vaccines during the first two years of life is not associated with an increased risk of autism, according to a new study.
Text messages encouraging pregnant women to get an influenza vaccination are ineffective. A related study in the same journal examines factors predicting influenza vaccination among pregnant women.
A pediatric malaria vaccine is effective in reducing episodes of clinical malaria, but its efficacy declines precipitously within four years.
In the U.S., an increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome has been tied to vaccinations against the H1N1 virus in 2009. While the correlation is small but significant, researchers stress the vaccine's benefits outweigh risks.
Children who receive five doses of the acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) have an increased risk of developing the illness in the six years after the last dose, possibly explaining cases among 7- to 10-year-old children.
The potential exists for further transmission of vaccinia virus beyond the direct sexual contacts of smallpox vaccinees.
Vaccination against influenza for the 2012/2013 flu season appears to be moderately effective in reducing the need for outpatient medical attention, but the effect is lower in the elderly.
Depressed elderly patients display a diminished varicella zoster virus (VZV)-specific immune response after vaccination with the herpes zoster vaccine compared with non-depressed patients, but antidepressant medication helps to normalize this response.
Pertactin-negative variants of Bordetella pertussis have been identified in the United States; and children who receive diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell pertussis (DTwP) priming have lower reported rates of pertussis.
In the fourth week of 2013, influenza activity remained elevated in the United States, with the proportion of pneumonia and influenza-linked deaths above the epidemic threshold.
In 2011, non-influenza vaccination coverage among adults was similar to that of 2010, except for modest increases in human papillomavirus (HPV) among women and in tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) overall and among household contacts of children.
Pediatric rotavirus vaccinations also decrease the prevalence of the disease in unvaccinated adults.
Priming immune responses are induced in most infants after vaccination with a single dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).
Children with a history of severe egg allergy, even anaphylaxis, can safely receive a single dose of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (TIV).
The 2013 recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedules have been approved.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has released updated adult vaccination recommendations for 2013.
Pfizer announced that the FDA has approved Prevnar 13 (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM197 Protein]) for use in vaccine-naïve children and adolescents aged 6-17 years for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease caused by the 13 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes contained in the vaccine.
The prevalence of undervaccination in children is increasing with time, with about half of children undervaccinated before the age of 2 years.
Use of a simple point-of-care paper reminder form is associated with an increase in the percentage of immunosuppressed rheumatology patients who remain up-to-date with their pneumococcal vaccinations.
Although the influenza vaccine is recommended for all children aged ≥6 months, <45% of young children are fully vaccinated and the health care burden of influenza is considerable.
Protein Sciences announced that the FDA has approved Flublok (trivalent recombinant hemagglutinin [rHA] influenza vaccine) for use in adults 18-49 years old.
Currently available evidence indicates the safety of the U.S. childhood immunization schedule, with no indication of major safety concerns.
Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of fetal death, and vaccination is associated with a non-significant reduction in the risk of fetal death.
The majority of biologics approved since 1997 include pediatric information in their labeling and have been studied in pediatric trials.
Among children aged 12-35 months, receipt of the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine in the arm is associated with a significantly increased risk of medically attended local reactions.
Flu activity remains elevated, according to FluView, a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by the Influenza Division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; however, the annual flu vaccine is moderately effective at preventing the disease.
The national prevalence of three doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescent girls is about 32%, and incidence rates for some HPV-associated cancers are increasing.
HIV-infected adults achieve higher rates of seroprotection when immunized with a high-dose of the influenza trivalent vaccine compared to the standard dose.
In response to the United Nations (UN) Environmental Program international treaty, which seeks to reduce mercury exposure from different sources, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has joined the World Health Organization (WHO) in urging the UN to reconsider their stance on thimerosal (ethyl mercury).
GlaxoSmithKline announced that the FDA has approved Fluarix Quadrivalent (quadrivalent influenza vaccine [types A and B]) for the immunization of children 3 years old and older, and adults to prevent disease caused by seasonal influenza virus subtypes A and B.
Significant increases in flu activity in the United States have occurred in the last two weeks.
Immunizing older adults with the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine appears to be safe.
The odds of contracting whooping cough increase with time since the final diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine dose.
Novartis announced that the FDA has approved the use of Flucelvax (inactivated influenza vaccine [Types A and B]) for active immunization in the prevention of influenza in patients ≥18 years old.
The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine containing 10 serotype-specific polysaccharides conjugated to Haemophilus influenza protein D, tetanus toxoid, and diphtheria toxoid as the carrier proteins (PHiD-CV10) is effective against invasive pneumococcal disease, including in infants using a 2+1 schedule.
For infants, vaccination with the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, coadministered with Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines, is associated with modest protection against clinical and severe malaria.
A new autoinflammatory disease characterized by features including inflammatory polyarthritis/polyarthralgia and dermatitis, and involving mutations in the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) gene has been identified.
A mumps outbreak largely among vaccinated, Orthodox Jewish male adolescents may have been transmitted by intense exposure, particularly among boys in schools.
Receipt of the influenza vaccine is associated with a reduction in the number of implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) therapies and in the number of major adverse cardiovascular events.
A new vaccination strategy is effective against genital herpes and possibly other sexually transmitted infections.
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced that it has filed a Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) with the FDA for a quadrivalent formulation of its Fluzone (Influenza Virus Vaccine); the sBLA file has been accepted by the FDA for full review, and an action date is anticipated in the second quarter of 2013.
Patients with localized scleroderma (morphea) often experience delay in diagnosis and variability in treatment that is based more on the specialty of the provider than disease characteristics.
For girls, receipt of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination at the recommended ages (11-12 years) does not correlate with an increase in sexual activity-related outcomes.
A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the donor ABCB1 gene, known to alter protein expression, significantly increases the risk of long-term graft failure.
Kidney transplant patients who receive mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors after transplant have a greater probability of death or transplant failure than patients receiving calcineurin inhibitors.
A new candidate vaccine designed to prevent cervical dysplasia and cancer in women already infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) serotypes 16 and 18 is well tolerated and induces a robust immune response.
Belimumab is safe for long-term administration in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
There are considerable differences in the adoption of preventive behaviors in response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic between countries, although adoption of these behaviors does not impact the likelihood of getting vaccinated.
Grifols announced that it has a robust inventory of HyperRAB S/D (rabies immune globulin [human]) to overcome the supply shortage caused by an increase in rabies exposures during 2012.
Astellas announced it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA seeking approval for tacrolimus extended-release capsules for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult kidney transplant recipients and adult male liver transplant recipients.
Nonmedical exemptions for school vaccination requirements have increased since 2005, particularly in states with easy exemption policies.
After receiving the last of five required doses of pertussis vaccine, a child's protection from the disease rapidly declines.
A safe recombinant, live, attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine has been deemed possible
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated recommendations for routine use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine and antiviral medications for the prevention and treatment of influenza in children.
Rates of medical exemptions from vaccinations required for entry to kindergarten are higher in states with easier criteria to obtain them.
Since 2006, a year after the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices expanded the vaccination schedule for adolescents, vaccination coverage has increased, but vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in females lags behind other routine vaccinations.
Patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc), without any clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease, have indicators of subclinical atherosclerosis.
A national test of the Rapid Assessment of Hospital Procurement Barriers in Donation (RAPiD) has identified specific barriers to organ donation and patient referral.
Genzyme initiated a voluntary recall of Thymoglobulin (anti-thymocyte globulin [rabbit] 25mg/vial) when one lot failed a periodic stability test for the molecular size distribution test.
Hepatitis A vaccine-induced seropositivity, noted after vaccination of infants younger than 2 years, persists for at least 10 years.
Middle-aged adults who have regularly engaged in physical activity for more than a decade appear to benefit from lower markers of inflammation.
A tuberculosis vaccine can reduce autoimmunity and increase insulin production in patients with long-term type 1 diabetes.
Patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing an HLA-mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD) reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may benefit from a prophylactic, short-course, bortezomib-based regimen to reduce the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
Sleeping <6 hours per night lowers the secondary antibody response to hepatitis B vaccination and significantly reduces the likelihood of individuals being clinically protected from hepatitis B.
Children who receive acellular pertussis vaccines have higher rates of pertussis compared with those receiving whole cell pertussis vaccines.
GlaxoSmithKline announced it has begun shipping the first lots of 2012-2013 FluLaval (influenza virus vaccine) and Fluarix (influenza virus vaccine) to CDC distribution centers and U.S. healthcare providers.
Sanofi Pasteur announced it will transition six products of its pediatric vaccine portfolio to two-dimensional (2D) barcoding technology by the beginning of 2013.
For patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and persistent nephrotic syndrome, rituximab treatment is associated with good rates of partial or complete remission with stabilized or improved renal function.
Novartis announced that it has commenced shipment of its seasonal influenza vaccine, Fluvirin (trivalent inactivated "split virus" influenza vaccine [types A and B]), to customers in the US for the 2012-2013 influenza season.
In kidney-transplant patients with at least one cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, switching immunosuppressants (from calcineurin inhibitors to sirolimus) is associated with increased skin cancer-free survival and delayed development of new skin cancers.
In the 2010 California pertussis epidemic, all deaths and most hospitalizations occurred in infants <3 months of age.
Pertussis rates may reach record levels this year in the United States, where Washington state is experiencing an ongoing epidemic.
A genome-wide association study of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis shows a genetic contribution to disease susceptibility, which differs between granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptoms stabilize among patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for 36 months.
Sanofi Pasteur announced that it has begun shipping the first lots of the 2012-2013 formulation of Fluzone (trivalent inactivated "split virus" influenza vaccine [Types A and B]).
Exposure to adjuvanted influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccination during pregnancy does not increase the risk of adverse fetal outcomes, and influenza vaccination correlates with a small but significantly increased risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
Sleep deprivation affects the daily rhythms and levels of granulocytes, and mirrors the body's immune response to stress.
Following introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine there has been a significant decrease in the prevalence of vaccine-type HPV among vaccinated young women and evidence of herd protection in unvaccinated women.
Bivalent and monovalent oral poliovirus vaccines (OPVs) are similarly effective, but decreases in vaccine coverage in parts of Pakistan and southern Afghanistan are hampering efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis.
Live attenuated herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine is not associated with an increased risk of HZ shortly after vaccination in patients treated with biologics for immune-mediated diseases.
Repeated and prolonged use of rituximab for B-cell depletion to treat relapses or maintain remission is safe and effective in patients with refractory granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; Wegener's), a primary systemic small vessel vasculitis.
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) similarly negatively impacts quality of life among patients treated at two different centers.
A steroid-free approach to immunosuppression following pediatric renal transplants is safe and effective.
The estimated number of global respiratory and cardiovascular deaths associated with the 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 is higher than the number of laboratory-confirmed deaths.
Early vaccinations do not seem to influence the risk of celiac disease (CD) among infants, nor do changes in the vaccination program explain the CD epidemic.
Baxter announced that the FDA has approved Gammagard Liquid 10% (immune globulin infusion [human]) for the treatment of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN).
For patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), long-term belimumab therapy combined with standard therapy is well tolerated.
The number of children consistently delaying vaccinations in Portland increased more than three-fold from 2006-2009.
GlaxoSmithKline announced that the FDA has approved MenHibrix (meningococcal [Groups C and Y] and haemophilus b tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine).
Biovest International announced the results from a Phase 2 BiovaxID lymphoma vaccine clinical trial.
For older immunocompetent adults, the risk of herpes zoster recurrence following a recent initial episode is fairly low in both vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts.
Polynoma LLC announced the start of MAVIS, the company's Phase 3 trial of POL 103A vaccine for melanoma.
Congenital variations in innate immunity, which are detectable at birth, might predict an infant's susceptibility to acute respiratory tract illness during the first year of life.