CMAJ editorial urges pandemic vaccine without adjuvant for high-risk groups

An editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal is urging the government to fast-track pandemic H1N1 vaccine for high-risk groups.

And to do that, it suggests offering these groups the vaccine without an adjuvant, a boosting compound that may stretch limited supplies.

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Using adjuvanted vaccine offers the benefit of faster delivery of enough vaccine to meet Canada’s needs. For instance, it could allow a half dose or a third of a dose to be used for each person, such that each batch that rolls off the production line will protect more people than vaccine without adjuvant.

Full Article: here.

Read the CMAJ editorial here.

Michael Pontus, the hospital’s chief executive and president, said more than 10 patients tested positive as carriers of the bacteria late last year, a first for the hospital.

After increased efforts to isolate patients and sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with the bacteria, he said the number of carriers had been reduced to “around five or so.”

Krell said carriers often didn’t show symptoms of VRE, but the danger was it could be passed on to someone susceptible to infection.

Full Article: ‘Superbug’ found in hospital patients