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"Seqirus Media Monitoring" 25th Oct 2018

Seqirus mentions
Flu jabs - NHS denies there are delays in supply
In England, the NHS has denied there are any delays in the supply of this year’s flu jab - despite some local surgeries having to postpone their clinics. The over 65s vaccine is a new jab, called FLUAD, manufactured by Seqirus. A company spokeswoman explained the vaccine was licensed last summer, with the NHS agreeing in February to use it this coming winter. GPs and pharmacies then had two months to place orders, which were due to be delivered in phases between September and November. She said this is now ongoing, and there had been no delays to the agreed timetable, but demand was higher than expected
Kezia Dugdale: Injection of cash needed to battle flu
Kezia Dugdale, MSP, writes that "Last winter saw the highest rate of flu-like illness in Scotland for seven years, and the number of people who died hit an 18-year high. In light of this data, it is a scandal that a new flu vaccination recommended for everyone aged over 65 in other parts of the UK will only be available to over-75s here in Scotland. The Fluad jab is reported to be more effective in protecting older people from three different strains of flu."
The pain of turning away flu patients because of the Fluad shortage
In England, the manager of an independent pharmacy reflects on this season’s disrupted flu service, and considers how health professionals can come together to prevent a repeat next year: "It’s only October and I'm tired. I'm tired and frustrated at having to turn away business in my pharmacy, because I can't order any Fluad vaccines for Mr and Mrs Jones who live down the road." "Perhaps the pharmacy community, together with GP surgeries, could band together and let our grievances be known to those at the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) and NHS, who dictate to us who can have which vaccine and when. I don’t blame Fluad's manufacturer Seqirus, but I doubt they will be allowed to have the same monopoly on the market again."
The 4 Vaccines Older Adults Need
There are four shots that all older adults should be up to date on, including the flu shot: to improve their chances of escaping the flu, older adults should consider a vaccine designed for their age group. According to the CDC, the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine contains four times the amount of antigen in regular flu shots. The second such vaccine, Fluad—designed to elicit a stronger immune system response than the traditional flu shot—has also been shown to offer more protection to seniors
Wishaw's elderly and pregnant woman at risk after NHS admit flu vaccine shortage
In Scotland, pregnant women and elderly people in Wishaw are at risk of becoming seriously unwell after NHS Lanarkshire admitted a shortage of flu vaccines. Many people have been left desperately waiting to be vaccinated after their GP surgeries ran out of supply of the adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (aTIV) for over 75s and the quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) for the at-risk under 65s. The alarm was raised by one elderly Wishaw woman who called the newspaper with her concerns after having been waiting almost a month for her aTIV.
Afluria, Afluria Quadrivalent Approved for Use in Patients 6 Months and Older
A quadrivalent flu vaccine has been approved for use in younger patients by the U.S. FDA. The AFLURIA QUADRIVALENT vaccine, from Seqirus, has been granted an indication that expands its availability to pediatric and adolescent patients at least 6 months of age. The approval comes more than 2 years after the vaccine was first accepted in the US for adults aged 18 years and older. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccination-an advisory that Gregg Sylvester, vice president of Medical Affairs at Seqirus, echoed in response to the new FDA indication.
Industry News
FDA approves first new flu drug in nearly 20 years
In the U.S., flu sufferers now have a new option for relieving symptoms. Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil), a single-dose, oral prescription drug, was approved by the FDA on Wednesday. The antiviral is the first new flu treatment approved by the FDA in nearly 20 years, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said. The pill is intended for patients who are 12 or older and who have had symptoms for no more than 48 hours.
BiondVax's Universal Flu Vaccine Phase 3 Clinical Trial Completes First Season's Enrollment of 4098 Participants
BiondVax announced the successful enrollment of the last participant in the first season of a pivotal, clinical efficacy, Phase 3 trial of the M-001 universal flu vaccine candidate. The 4,098 participants enrolled in this year's cohort will be monitored for two flu seasons. A second cohort of approximately 6,000 participants will be enrolled prior to the 2019/2020 flu season.
American Lung Association urges older adults to get vaccinated against influenza
The new MyShot campaign from the American Lung Association, with Sanofi Pasteur, encourages older adults to get their annual influenza vaccination. The initiative includes personal stories of adults in their 50s, 60s, and 70s saying why they prioritize influenza vaccination.
Fast-track flu vaccine raises hopes for quicker drugs approvals
A global pharma company is working with the UK medicines regulator to fast-track consideration of one of its vaccines, raising the prospect that Britain can gain a post-Brexit advantage by approving drugs more quickly than the rest of Europe. Sanofi’s vaccines division, Sanofi Pasteur, has been collaborating with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to accelerate the assessment of a new flu inoculation. Hugo Fry, UK and Ireland managing director of Sanofi, said the agency had shown it could be “flexible and agile in its ways of working”, accepting a dossier as part of the approval process that was “based on the documents submitted in Australia, adapted to meet MHRA requirements”.
Pandemic Influenza News

No News Recorded

Academic studies
High-Dose Flu Vaccine May Cut Hospitalization in Dialysis Patients
Receipt of the high-dose influenza vaccine in 2016 to 2017 was associated with lower rates of hospitalization among dialysis patients, according to a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Dana C. Miskulin, MD, from the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, and colleagues compared hospitalizations and deaths during the 2015 to 2016 and 2016 to 2017 influenza seasons by vaccine type administered within a national dialysis organization.
Fighting mutant influenza
Another flu season is here, which means another chance for viruses to mutate. Already, most influenza A viruses contain a mutation that confers resistance against one class of antiviral medications, and the bugs are steadily gaining resistance against another class. Scientists report in ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters a series of experiments designed to develop new medications that could potentially fight off the resistant and sensitive types of influenza A.
Influenza Vaccination Rates Vary as Clinic Day Progress
According to data published in JAMA Network Open, influenza vaccination rates declined as the clinic day progressed. Primary care practices that implemented active choice interventions in electronic health records to prompt medical assistants to ask patients about vaccinations, along with template vaccination orders for clinicians to review, were associated with increased vaccination rates.
Pediatric influenza news
Oxfordshire parents urged to get children nasal spray flu vaccine
Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) says this year the nasal spray will be offered to children aged two and three at GP practices and for children aged four to nine at schools by health nurses. Parents of young children are urged to have them vaccinated against flu this winter with the free nasal spray vaccine.
Local doctors urge mums-to-be to get flu jab to protect unborn baby
British health bosses are encouraging all pregnant women to get their free flu jab before the flu virus starts circulating. The three Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups – NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove, NHS South Worcestershire and NHS Wyre Forest – say the vaccination is the best protection against the virus. Doctors say flu can cause complications during pregnancy, particularly in the later stages, such as premature births or low birth weights and they say getting the free flu vaccination helps to keep both mum and baby safe.
Is your child eligible for a free flu jab? Half of kids aren’t protected, experts warn
In England, children aged over ten can now get the potentially lifesaving flu jab very easily - by popping down to their local Boots. The high street pharmacy is now offering to immunise older children against flu, in a bid not only to protect them but stop the spread of the virus to the rest of their family and the wider community.
Over 65’s influenza news
MP calls for assurances on flu vaccine
Cumbrian MP Sue Hayman has called on Health Secretary Matt Hancock to explain why elderly patients are struggling to access this year’s flu jab. Mrs Hayman spoke to local NHS bosses, who said the over 65s vaccine is different this year and may be arriving later - raising concerns that some may be left unprotected as flu season hits.
General Influenza News
Flu Vaccines Now Available
In the U.S., cold and flu season is here, and experts say your first line of defense is getting vaccinated against influenza. Epidemiologist Karen Martin with the Minnesota State Department of Health says there are choices for people getting the vaccine
There's still time to get vaccinated before flu season begins
With flu season right around the corner, members of the Johns Hopkins community are encouraged to take advantage of free flu shots being offered at campus locations. Annual vaccination clinics for Johns Hopkins faculty and staff began earlier this month and continue through Nov. 1. Eligible spouses and same-sex domestic partners can receive flu shots as well.
HMC urges residents to get flu vaccination
In Qatar, both healthcare workers and members of the community who are yet to receive the influenza vaccination should consider getting it, a senior official of the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) urged. “We strongly recommend those most at risk of influenza, including young children under the age of five, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with pre-existing and chronic medical conditions receive the vaccination,” said Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, deputy chief medical officer and head of Infectious Diseases.
This Is Why Last Year's Flu Was the Deadliest Season Yet, Says Biologist
There were two big factors explaining why the 2017-2018 flu season was such a bad year in the U.S: one of the circulating strains of the influenza virus, A(H3N2), is particularly virulent, and vaccines targeting it are less effective than those aimed at other strains. In addition, most of the vaccine produced was mismatched to the circulating A(H3N2) subtype. Scientists are on the hunt for a better way to protect the world's population from influenza, with vaccines that do not use egg-grown viruses, and with a universal flu vaccine
Flu season officially arrives
In Canada, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health has reported its first case of lab-confirmed flu in the area. The organization reminded the public to get a flu vaccination in order to avoid getting sick. “Get the flu shot to protect yourself and those around you,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, CEO of WDGPH in a statement.
Baby spends 3 weeks in ICU after getting flu from someone who wasn't vaccinated
Despite the push to protect ourselves from the flu, fewer than half of Americans get vaccinated every year. In today's Healthcast, medical specialist Kristi Krueger takes a look at the potentially deadly consequences of that decision.
Burden of disease
Man dies of suspected H1N1 in Coimbatore
In Coimbatore, a 41-year-old man from Somandurai Sithur in Pollachi died in a hospital on Tuesday night due to a suspected case of H1N1. All the major private tertiary care hospitals in the city are seeing at least one H1N1 virus case every week. The number is likely to increase once rainy season starts.
Vigil against dengue, A(H1N1) influenza intensified in Salem
In Salem, India, the Public Health Department has intensified its vigil against dengue and A (H1N1) influenza in the district and has launched awareness programmes in schools in all the blocks in the district.
Flu claims state’s first death of season in Pierce County
Flu season has claimed its first death in Pierce County, Washington State. A man in his 40s died Oct. 22 from flu-related complications, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department officials. The man’s death marks the first statewide, according to a tweet from the state Department of Health.
Flu Surveillance in Animals
Mild Form of Bird Flu Outbreak in Kandiyohi County
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has confirmed a case of H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock in Kandiyohi County in central Minnesota. This is not the same virus that was the cause of the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak that caused thousands of poultry deaths in the Midwest in 2015. The disease, known as H5N2 LPAI, was detected during routine surveillance testing of a flock of 10,000 13-week-old turkey toms
Guatemala will be pronounced free of avian flu in 2019
In Guatemala, efforts to get rid of H5N2 seem to be bearing fruit and the country is expecting to be declared free of avian flu in 2019, according to an official source. As a result the country's food security status will be improved too
China confirms outbreak of H5N6 bird flu in Hubei province
China’s agriculture ministry confirmed on Wednesday an outbreak of H5N6 bird flu in central Hubei province. The outbreak occurred on a farm near Yichang city, where 340 birds out of 529 died from the disease. Authorities in the area culled almost 5,000 birds to control the spread of the disease
Flu Scan for Oct 23, 2018 - CIDRAP
In avian flu outbreak developments, the United States reported the detection of low-pathogenic H5N2 in a Minnesota turkey flock and Laos reported a highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreak in backyard birds. The low-path H5N2 detection in Minnesota occurred on Oct 19 at a turkey farm in Kandiyohi County in the west central part of the state. In Laos, the highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreak began on Oct 10 in Sekong province in the south

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