RSV Vaccines for Senior Adults Linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome
On Feb. 29, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) presented a preliminary analysis that showed that 23 adults over the age of 65 who received a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).1 When a person develops GBS, including after an infection or […]
CDC Reports Errors in RSV Vaccines Given to Pregnant Woman, Monoclonal Antibody Shots to Children
A new problem involving the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccines given to adults over age 60 and monoclonal antibody shots given to infants and children has been highlighted in a recent emergency newsletter called the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity, which is distributed to health care providers.1 […]
Survey Finds 50 Percent of Americans Will Not Get Influenza Vaccine
A recent survey, which was conducted by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) to better understand the public’s attitudes and beliefs about influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumococcal disease, found that many adults in the United States are not concerned about these respiratory diseases. As a result, many Americans do not plan […]
Twelve Infants Die During Clinical Trials for FDA-Endorsed RSV Drug
On June 8, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee (AMDAC) voted unanimously (21-0) in favor of AstraZeneca and Sanofi’s new nirsevimab (Beyfortus) monoclonal antibody drug believed to provide protection for infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease and other lower respiratory tract infections during their first year of life.1 […]
Doctors Link Shortage of Children’s Medications to Spike in Respiratory Infections
In the last few months, parents and caregivers of children have struggled to find over-the-counter and prescription medications used to treat common childhood illnesses like influenza, ear infections and sore throats for their sick children.1 2 The four medications reportedly in short supply are Amoxicillin (an antibiotic), Tamiflu (an antiviral), Albuterol (a bronchodilator) and children’s Tylenol […]
Pfizer’s New RSV Vaccine for Pregnant Women on Fast Track
Amongst frantic media coverage of increases in cases of (RSV) among children, Pfizer has announced the development of an experimental bivalent RSV vaccine for pregnant mothers in an attempt to protect newborns from being infected with the virus. The pharmaceutical giant plans to submit the results of their RSV vaccine clinical trials to the U.S. […]