The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced that it has asked for clinical trials of a vaccine targeted against the novel A(H3N2)v triple reassortment viruses infecting some people in the USA.
The US initiative raises the question of whether there should be a similar initiative in Europe, for example in support of the E.U. Council Recommendation on Seasonal Influenza Immunization
On the 22 November 2011, ECDC organised a workshop at the European Parliament to provide policy makers with more information on the facts about seasonal influenza vaccination and on ECDC’s contributions to the implementation of the 2009 Council Recommendation on this subject.
It is accompanied by an editorial comment from Maria Zambon of the UK Health Protection Agency add link pleaseThis comprehensive study published by an international group attempts to estimate the global incidence of lower respiratory infections and premature deaths associated with influenza in children younger than 5 years.
This is an authoritative independent evidence-based review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines. It confines itself to trials and observational studies where diagnostic tests confirmed influenza infection as the end point.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently recommended using the same three flu strains in next year's Southern Hemisphere (SH) vaccine as are in the current Northern Hemisphere vaccine and were used last year in southern hemisphere countries.
The one-day workshop was the 2nd of a series of workshops in support to the Council Recommendation of December 2009 that encourages EU and EEA Member States to adopt and implement action plans or policies to improve seasonal influenza vaccination coverage.