"Seqirus Media Monitoring" 10th Sep 2020
Seqirus mentions
'Pharmacists are more than capable and qualified to provide this service.'
The Federal Government has signed its deal on a potential COVID-19 vaccine with CSL and AstraZeneca, saying a free vaccine could be available progressively throughout 2021. The PM’s office said that under the agreement, the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca and the University of Queensland/CSL will provide more than 84.8 million vaccine doses for the Australian population should trials currently underway prove successful. The HoA is between CSL’s influenza vaccines company, Seqirus, who will hold regulatory responsibility as the marketing authorisation holder, and the Australian Government. “CSL’s focus is to produce a safe and effective vaccine. It is important that on completion of clinical trials, the public has confidence in UQ-CSL V451, which makes use of the well-established recombinant protein technology platform, and Seqirus’ proprietary adjuvant MF59®, which has an extensive safety track record in humans,” CSL's Paul Perreault said.
Free coronavirus vaccination to be made available throughout 2021, if trials prove successful, says Federal Government
More than 84 million doses of potential coronavirus vaccines will be rolled out to Australians in stages across next year, if "promising" drug trials prove successful.
The Federal Government has already announced its intent to purchase a leading international vaccine candidate, from Oxford University and Astrazeneca, for local manufacturing if trials succeed. It has now secured agreement for that vaccine, along with another candidate from the University of Queensland and CSL, also to be produced locally, as part of a $1.7 billion supply and production agreement. CSL's chief executive Paul Perreault said the company would manufacture both vaccines. "While there are still a number of milestones to be met, we are hopeful that by next year we'll be in the fortunate position of having a vaccine candidate to support Australia and the world's emergence from this crisis," he said.
There's a special high-dose flu vaccine for seniors
In the U.S., with few exceptions, everyone 6 months and older should get the flu vaccine between now and the end of October. Anyone over the age of 65 should consider getting one of the two high-dose vaccines developed for seniors: Fluzone High-Dose and Fluad. Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious disease expert at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, says these high-dose vaccines have been shown to give seniors more protection.
Industry News
B.C. government buying nearly 2 million flu vaccine doses to prepare for fall, but vaccine won’t be mandatory
The British Columbia government is continuing to fight COVID-19 by first attacking the flu. The province announced on Wednesday an enhanced fall flu immunization campaign through the purchase of 1,965,000 doses of the flu vaccine. This is an additional 450,000 doses on top of what was already planned. A Fluzone-high dose flu vaccine will be available specifically to all long term care and assisted living facilities in the province.
AAP issues 2020-2021 flu vaccine recommendations
The AAP issued its influenza vaccine recommendations for the 2020-2021 season, still emphasizing the importance of vaccinating everyone aged older than 6 months. Once again, children can receive either an inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in the form of an injection or the live-attenuated vaccine (LAIV), which is administered via a nasal spray. “This is going to be the third season that [nasal spray vaccination is] back ,” Flor Munoz, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, told Healio.
Coming to Israel: Flu vaccine with 24% more efficacy
In Israel, the elderly population will be more at risk this winter of deadly infections as both coronavirus and the seasonal flu hit the country. However, for the first time, individuals over the age of 65 will have access to a flu vaccine with four times the effectiveness of a standard vaccine. Sanofi Pasteur's Fluzone HD should arrive in the country in late September and early October. It is a high-dose vaccine that can reduce the incidence of flu by more than 24% compared to the regular vaccine, Prof. Eyal Leshem confirmed. However, despite the high dose, it is considered safe to use.
Israel buys record 4 million flu vaccines
The Israeli government has bought a record four million flu vaccines in an effort to reduce hospitalizations during the winter, when most internal medicine departments run at well over their capacity. Hospitals are already straining to treat hundreds of Covid-19 victims and it is feared that even an influx of the average number of flu patients will overwhelm the system. The Fluzone High-Dose Influenza Vaccine contains four times the antigen, and is specifically formulated for those 65 and older. A nasal spray called Flumist will be available for those aged two-to-49.
Pandemic Influenza News
News Scan for Sep 09, 2020 - Pandemic risk of swine H1N1 flu
Three global health groups issued a joint statement that strongly urged countries to be aware of the pandemic potential for an H1N1 swine influenza subtype circulating in Chinese pigs. The statement is from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Keith Sumption, DVM, PhD, the FAO's chief veterinary office, said though there are limited data on human infections and circulation of the virus in pigs, heightened awareness is needed for a number of reasons, including a recent study from China showing that the virus has characteristics linked to increased ability for zoonotic transmission.
Academic studies
New vaccine design reduces inflammation, enhances protection
Adjuvants can cause inflammation at the injection site, as well as side effects from an over-stimulated immune system, which prohibits many promising new adjuvant candidates from being integrated into vaccines. Researchers at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) at the University of Chicago have discovered a new way to limit inflammation from adjuvants: by adding a molecule that disrupts certain pathways in cells. Not only does it reduce inflammatory vulnerability, the molecule also appears to have an additional benefit of increasing the protective response against viruses like the flu, dengue, and even HIV. It could also eventually be used in the development of a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Vaccine proponents and opponents are vectors of misinformation online
In a new paper published in the Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, researchers from the George Washington University, University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University assessed content from the most active vaccine-related accounts on Twitter and found that even accounts with pro-vaccination views and higher public health credibility can be vectors of misinformation in the highly uncertain and rapidly changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pediatric influenza news
Study compares clinical features of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza in children
As the fall approaches, pediatric hospitals will start seeing children with seasonal influenza A and B. At the same time, COVID-19 will be co-circulating in communities with the flu and other respiratory viruses, making it more difficult to identify and prevent the novel coronavirus. With little published data directly comparing the clinical features of children with COVID-19 to those with seasonal flu, researchers at Children's National Hospital decided to conduct a retrospective cohort study of patients in the two groups. The study showed no statistically significant differences in the rates of hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit and mechanical ventilator use between the two groups.
Over 65’s influenza news
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General Influenza News
Why France is encouraging you to have a 'flu jab this winter
In France, the health system could be under pressure at winter approaches, with people reporting ‘flu-like symptoms that may or may not be Covid-19, as the two conditions sometimes appear to have similar symptoms. As a result, health agencies are advising people to get a ‘flu vaccine - even if they usually would not do so - as a way of reducing the load on the healthcare system. Since May, medical academy l’Académie de Médecine has even been advising that ‘flu vaccinations be made mandatory for “all carers and social workers in contact with vulnerable people, especially in elderly care homes, hospitals, and crèches”. It also advised that doctors should be required to offer a ‘flu vaccine to all their patients.
Flu shot extra important this year, N.S. health experts say
With a global pandemic in full swing, Nova Scotia health experts say this year it's especially important for as many people as possible to get the flu shot. Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, said the flu shot does not protect against COVID-19, but he said getting it will reduce the impact on the health-care system. "What's potentially going to be very complicated this winter when you get the flu season is trying to sort it out, because the symptoms of COVID and the symptoms of flu are very much the same," Strang said Wednesday.
B.C. to hire health-care workers, ramp up flu vaccines to prevent strain on hospitals during influenza season
B.C. has released details of how it plans to manage COVID-19 and influenza cases in the fall and winter months and prevent a combination of the two from straining the province's health-care system. A key part of the strategy, announced on Wednesday by Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, involves reducing the usual demand for hospital beds by reducing seasonal flu cases, while boosting hospital surge capacity if there is a sudden influx of patients. The plan will inject $1.6 billion into the health-care system and involve the strategic hiring and training of 7,000 health-care workers. It will also be launching a major vaccination campaign against influenza, with the goal of vaccinating nearly two million people, compared to the yearly average of around 1.4 million.
This might be your most important flu vaccine ever
The flu vaccine won't protect you from coronavirus, but CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains why it's more essential than ever to get the shot this year.
New Jacksonville Flu Vaccine Program Aims To Help City’s Underserved, Uninsured
The city of Jacksonville is partnering with the Duval County Medical Society to launch FluVaxJax, a campaign to get more people vaccinated ahead of flu season. The campaign’s website has resources for people to get signed up for the flu vaccine, or donate to the cause and help pay for flu vaccine vouchers as it continues over the next few months. Dr Sunil Joshi says a focus for the campaign is to get into underserved communities and help out the nearly 100,000 people who are uninsured in the county.
Wisconsin DHS: Residents should get flu vaccinations by Halloween
State Health officials urged Wisconsin residents on Wednesday, Sept. 9 to get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible. Annual flu vaccines are always important officials said, but reducing illness and hospitalization from flu is critical this year to protect frontline health care workers and hospital systems who will continue to care for people with COVID-19.
Gov. Sisolak, First Lady of Nevada receive annual flu shots, urge Nevadans to do the same
Today, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and First Lady Kathy Sisolak received their annual flu shots at the Southern Nevada Health District offices in Las Vegas. "As we continue to slow the spread of COVID-19, a flu shot is a powerful tool to help make sure are all staying healthy," Gov. Sisolak said.
Gov. Kelly emphasizes 2020 flu shots
Governor Laura Kelly is emphasizing the importance of getting a flu shot to stay healthy and decrease the burden on the health care system over the 2020 flu season. Governor Laura Kelly says after receiving her flu shot from a Walgreens representative, that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for all Kansans to get a flu shot in the 2020 flu season.
Health Officials Stress Importance of Influenza Vaccine as Flu Season Looms Ahead
While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most prominent public health concern since march, each winter brings a new flu season. Which is why officials are urging people to get vaccinated. “Now is the time to get it,” stressed Diane Seiloff, Adult Services Coordinator for St. Louis County Public Health. A flu shot will either eliminate or lessen flu symptoms. This in turn should keep people with flu symptoms out of hospitals which may already be dealing with an influx of COVID-19 patients this winter.
Ducey extends Enhanced Surveillance Advisory to track impact of COVID-19, influenza
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order Tuesday extending the 'Enhanced Surveillance Advisory' for COVID-19, and include additional influenza reporting requirements for health care facilities. “COVID-19 and influenza season pose a dual threat to Arizona this year,” Governor Ducey said. “That’s why it is so important to get your flu shot and continue making responsible choices, such as masking up and staying physically distant. We are committed to keeping Arizonans healthy and safe throughout influenza season, and we will continue our state’s around-the-clock efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health.”
UNC Health experts warn COVID-19 and influenza could cause 'twindemic'
Health experts at the University of North Carolina spent Wednesday discussing the possibility of what they called a "twindemic," or outbreaks of both COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. The doctors said it was still too early to know exactly what it would do to people if they got both viruses, but it is never too soon to prepare for that possibility. "The other thing that we can do. We do have a vaccine to prevent influenza A and B, so to help mitigate the effects of potentially getting two viruses, what you can do is get a flu vaccine," said Dr. Cheryl Jackson.
Huge Exeter site will be turned into flu jab hub
In England, Exeter's large Matford Centre, used for car boots and livestock sales, will host clinics to ensure vulnerable patients don’t miss out on their free flu jabs this year. St Thomas Medical Group (STMG) has a total of 40,000 patients including those at St Thomas Health Centre, Exwick Heath Centre, Pathfinder Village Surgery, and the Student Health Centre at the University of Exeter. This year, as the Government widens the eligibility criteria, the GPs will need to administer injections to 10,500 patients against their average number of 8,000.
GP practices considering options for flu clinics amid coronavirus pandemic
In England, the flu vaccination programme has been expanded in case the coronavirus pandemic continues into winter, with millions more being offered a free jab to ease pressure on healthcare services. Some GP practices in the county will soon be holding flu clinics, which may involve alternative venues to the surgeries themselves. Health chiefs say drive-thru clinics are also being considered to maximise uptake of jabs.
Burden of disease
Double Whammy Cases of COVID-19, Influenza Reported in S. Korea
South Korea has reported COVID-19 cases that are also presumed to be infections involving seasonal influenza. Jeong Eun-kyeong, chief of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(KCDC), said in a media briefing on Wednesday that there were cases of people in the country who tested positive for both COVID-19 and the flu. She said further details will be announced later after confirmation and analysis.
Flu Surveillance in Animals