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A change in the national polio vaccination policy has led to the elimination of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis

The researchers found that from 1990 through 1999, 61 cases of paralytic polio were reported; 59 (97 percent) of these were VAPP (1 case per 2.9 million OPV doses distributed), 1 case was imported, and 1 case was indeterminate.

12 Oct 2004

Pharmacists respond to unprecedented demand for the flu vaccine in the wake of the current shortage

Pharmacists are responding to unprecedented demand for the flu vaccine in the wake of the current shortage. The pharmacist is on the front line in addressing consumers’ questions and concerns about the availability of the vaccine and in helping Americans understand the CDC’s priorities for administration of the immunization.

10 Oct 2004

Indiana health officials are appealing to health care providers to limit use of this year’s diminished supply of flu vaccine

Indiana State health officials are appealing to health care providers to limit use of this year’s diminished supply of flu vaccine to immunizing people at high risk from complications of influenza.

6 Oct 2004

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responds to loss of Chiron flu vaccine

Clearly, the loss of the Chiron flu vaccine poses a serious challenge to our vaccine supply for the upcoming flu season. Chiron was to produce between 46-48 million doses of influenza vaccine for the United States.

5 Oct 2004

UK's Department of Health flu immunisation campaign launches

Manchester United's Paul Scholes is backing the UK's Department of Health flu immunisation campaign, which launched today.

4 Oct 2004

Family doctors in NI angry at DHSSPS handling of flu vaccine shortage

The shortage of flu vaccines and the DHSSPS's public handling of the situation has caused anger amongst many of Northern Ireland's GPs.

4 Oct 2004

Giving flu vaccine to toddlers in the spring and fall guards against infection

Giving flu vaccine to toddlers in the spring and fall guards against infection and is easier on parents than the fall schedule of two doses administered a month apart, found researchers from Duke University Medical Center and the University of Washington.

4 Oct 2004

Last year over 36,000 Americans died from exposure to the flu

Another 200,000 people were hospitalized with symptoms of the illness. The flu and pneumonia (the most common complication of the flu) combined are the fifth leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older.

29 Sep 2004

Chiron CEO to appear before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

Chiron Corporation announced that president and chief executive officer Howard Pien will appear before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging in Washington, D.C., today in a hearing titled, "Combating the Flu: Keeping Seniors Alive."

28 Sep 2004

PAHO outlines health challenges ahead

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr. Mirta Roses today presented a report summarizing PAHO's work over the past year in the Americas, during a special session of a meeting of the region's ministers of health taking place at PAHO headquarters this week.

28 Sep 2004

Outbreak of whooping cough in South Australia

South Australia's Department of Health is urging parents to make sure their children are immunised against whooping cough as an outbreak is beginning in SA.

28 Sep 2004

CDC reports that too few young children are protected against influenza

A report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that only 4.4 percent of the nation’s children aged 6 to 23 months were fully vaccinated against influenza during the 2002-03 influenza season, the first season CDC encouraged influenza vaccination for healthy children.

26 Sep 2004

Elan and Wyeth receive patents for Alzheimer's disease treatments

Elan Corporation and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals have announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office recently issued Neuralab Limited, a subsidiary of Elan, seven patents for the companies’ joint research on immunotherapeutic approaches to the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

23 Sep 2004

American Lung Association launches online flu shot locator

As the flu season is about to begin, the American Lung Association today launched its online "flu shot locator" to help more people find and obtain flu vaccinations in their neighborhoods.

23 Sep 2004

Whooping cough at epidemic levels in New Zealand

The Ministry of Health's Dr Alison Roberts says "Numbers have been on the rise since June this year, but they really spiked up in August. We have been expecting an epidemic around now.

22 Sep 2004

Liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver and other diseases related to hepatitis B infection will continue to increase

Liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver and other diseases related to hepatitis B infection will continue to kill people in the prime of life and burden health systems with chronically sick people unless childhood immunization against hepatitis B is stepped up

20 Sep 2004

Increase in cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in Indiana

Pertussis is a contagious illness caused by bacteria. It occurs in infants and young children more often than older children and adults. Adults with milder, undiagnosed symptoms can transmit the disease to infants and children.

20 Sep 2004

Hib infection on the rise in children despite vaccination programme

Cases of the Hib infection (haemophilus influenzae type b) among children and adults have risen in recent years, despite a vaccination programme which initially proved successful, say researchers in this week's BMJ.

17 Sep 2004

Experts discuss antibiotic resistance, tuberculosis, malaria, vaccines, maternal mortality, childhood diseases and health sector reform

New challenges ahead and the unfinished agenda in public health in the Americas" will be the focus of joint efforts by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

14 Sep 2004

ID Biomedical to supply meningitis C vaccine to the Canadian government

The Canadian government has retained an option to purchase additional product from the Company in the third and final year of the contract. The total value of the contract, including the third year option, could total approximately $30 million to ID Biomedical.

14 Sep 2004