Abt Associates will conduct a study for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate the effectiveness of the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines among pregnant women, one of the high risk populations identified by CDC. Under the two year contract valued at $5.5 million, Abt Associates will identify and enroll study participants, coordinate testing of participants for infection with influenza viruses, develop and maintain all study databases, and assist CDC with data analysis.
Serious health risks have been observed in pregnant women with H1N1, including the development of pneumonia, maternal death, spontaneous abortion, and preterm birth. Because of these risks, pregnant women have been targeted as a high risk group and encouraged to get the H1N1 vaccine. The CDC study will assess vaccine effectiveness and the impact of H1N1 and seasonal influenza infection in this target population. The study is designed to avoid interfering with the standard clinical care of patients.
"In recent months, we have witnessed the rapid development, production, and distribution of vaccines for the H1N1 influenza," said Dr. Scott Royal, Vice President of Abt Associates' Domestic Health Division. "Conducting this study of vaccine effectiveness in a high risk population is the critical next step in the public health response to the H1N1 threat, and Abt Associates is enthusiastic about carrying out this important work for CDC."
Abt Associates is partnering with the Kaiser Permanente Northwest and Kaiser Permanente Southern California to carry out the study.
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