Health

Avian flu vaccine elicits immune system response

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 17, 2006

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A vaccine created from an inactivated H5N1 avian influenza virus might provide effective protection against this bug, according to a study paid for by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and published in the New England Journal of Medicine March 30.

Researchers randomized more than 400 healthy adults to receive either two doses of this vaccine in varying amounts or a placebo. Those who received two shots of 90 micrograms of vaccine, the highest dosage, had the most robust immune system response. Mild pain at the injection site was the most common adverse event. No severe reactions were reported.

Authors suggested lower doses of vaccine might be sufficient to generate a response capable of defending against this virus and that dose-sparing approaches should be pursued aggressively. In the case of a pandemic, it might not be possible to produce enough vaccine for everyone to receive large amounts of vaccine.

"We are working hard to address the many challenges that remain with regard to the development of an H5N1 vaccine," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, MD. "We are investigating other options that may allow us to reduce the dosage ... so we can achieve a more practical immunization strategy."

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/04/17/hlbf0417.htm.

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