Live Tuberculosis “Vaccine” Being Tested as a Treatment for COVID-19 Infections
Story Highlights Researchers at Texas A&M University and five other academic institutions have begun a phase 4 clinical trial re-purposing a live attenuated tuberculosis vaccine to treat COVID-19. The researchers believe that the TICE® BCG vaccine, which is licensed to prevent and treat bladder cancer, may help mitigate the severity of COVID-19. The research team […]
Gallup Poll Shows Fewer Americans Trust Vaccines
Story Highlights A Gallup poll in December of 2019 revealed that fewer people in the U.S. feel that vaccines are very important compared to a 2001 Gallup poll, a trend that was first noted in 2015. The poll also found there is an increased perception of both advantages and disadvantages of vaccines compared to 2001, […]
Cholera Vaccine Recommended by European Medicines Agency
The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the approval of the single-dose oral cholera vaccine Vaxchora, developed by multinational biopharmaceutical firm Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. of Gaithersburg, Maryland. On Jan. 30, 2020, the CHMP adopted a “positive opinion” on the granting of a marketing authorization for the bacterial […]
Massachusetts Health Care Workers Refusing Free Flu Shots
Story Highlights Hundreds of health care workers in Massachusetts are declining the annual flu shot. Health care worker flu shot requirements vary from state to state. A recent study questions the scientific validity of mandating annual influenza vaccinations for hospital workers. Hundreds of health care workers in Massachusetts, including those in nursing homes and kidney […]
Samoa Measles Emergency Extended
On Dec. 20, 2019, the government of Samoa announced that 94 percent of the island nation’s population of about 200,000 people had been vaccinated against measles as part of a government-led mandatory, mass vaccination campaign. As of Dec. 20, the Samoan Ministry of Health (MOH) had confirmed 5,463 reported cases with 1,762 hospitalizations and 78 […]
Fluzone Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Approved by FDA for Elderly
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental Biologics License Application (BLA) for the Fluzone high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine for use by adults 65 years of age and older. Fluzone is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. of France.1 2 The Fluzone high-dose influenza vaccine was approved by the FDA in 2009 as […]