By Elizabeth Finkel MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—A warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to Australian vaccine maker CSL Biotherapies has shaken confidence in the country’s biotech superstar. The 15 June letter accuses CSL of failing to adequately investigate why its Fluvax influenza vaccine last year caused a sharply elevated rate of febrile convulsions […]
Swine Flu Jab – Narcolepsy Link Probed
Posted by: Naill Hunter, Editor, Irish Health 31 August 2010 The European Medicines Agency has launched a review of the swine flu vaccine Pandemrix, following reports of a link with the vaccine and the sleep disorder narcolepsy. The review is to be carried out by the agency at the request of the European Commission following […]
Recent studies bolster earlier evidence: Flu shots not beneficial
By: Richard Moore, Investigative Reporter 28 December 2010 Two recent studies published by the Cochrane Collaboration are supporting what earlier evidence has shown – and what some national public health officials have begun to acknowledge – there’s no evidence flu shots work effectively, especially in reducing flu-related deaths among the elderly. The Cochrane Collaboration […]
Rice scientists use formula to identify next strain of flu
By: Todd Ackerman 16 November 2010 Rice University scientists have developed a mathematical model that predicts the flu strain the upcoming season’s vaccine should cover more accurately and quickly than the current system. In a retrospective study published this week, the new model did better at predicting the upcoming season’s circulating flu strains […]
Flu vaccine only effective for select groups
By: Mark Lemstra 10 November 2010 This is the first in a four-column series on influenza. The first will discuss the ineffectiveness of immunization for the flu in most populations. The second column will discuss the great influenza epidemic of 1918 and the lessons we still have not learned. The third column will discuss last […]
