Giuseppe
Emeritus
Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization, April 2010 ? conclusions and recommendations (WHO, extract, edited)
[Source: World Health Organization, Full PDF Document (LINK). Extract, edited.]
Weekly epidemiological record - Relev? ?pid?miologique hebdomadaire
28 MAY 2010, 85th YEAR / 28 MAI 2010, 85e ANN?E
No. 22, 2010, 85, 197?212
http://www.who.int/wer
Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization, April 2010 ? conclusions and recommendations
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization reports to the Director-General of WHO on issues ranging from vaccine research and development to immunization delivery.1 SAGE met on 13?15 April 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland.
(...)
Influenza vaccines
SAGE was updated on the epidemiology of influenza A(H5N1) and pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 viruses. Since February 2003, there have been almost 500 human cases of H5N1, with 289 deaths, reported from 15 countries. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus is presently circulating primarily in western Africa. In China and the Republic of Korea, type B influenza is the predominant circulating virus. As reported to SAGE previously, there is a wide clinical spectrum of pandemic clinical illness; the risk groups for severe disease remain unchanged.
SAGE noted the latest data on the safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus vaccines. More than 570 million doses of vaccine were distributed, and >350 million doses administered. Safety data indicate a similar safety profile to that of seasonal vaccines. Preliminary analysis demonstrates an adjusted vaccine effectiveness of >70%.(13)
WHO reported the results of a survey on pandemic vaccine production capacity conducted in January 2010; the survey found that approximately 1.37 billion doses were planned for production by June 2010, which is only 28% of the annual global production capacity estimated during the WHO survey in May 2009. The reasons for the low output include: lower than expected yields of vaccine virus; inability of manufacturers to use their most dose-sparing formulation; reluctance of some regulatory authorities to register adjuvanted vaccine formulations; decline in demand; and the switch from pandemic vaccine production to seasonal vaccine production.
To protect against the development of severe disease as a result of infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus, WHO is coordinating the distribution of donated pandemic influenza vaccine to eligible countries. Governments, foundations and manufacturers have donated vaccines, ancillary products, and financing. As of the end of March 2010, 94 countries had requested donations of vaccine, 76 countries had signed agreements with WHO, and 48 national deployment plans had been approved. By the end of April 2010, WHO expected to deliver >22 million doses to 46 countries. It will be important for each country to assess their overall response to the pandemic and the effectiveness of vaccine deployment.
SAGE was informed of the global estimate of the disease burden for seasonal influenza. Extrapolation of data from industrialized countries indicates 250 000?500 000 deaths annually.(14) Accurate estimates for tropical countries are constrained by weak surveillance capacity and difficulties in distinguishing influenza from other respiratory diseases. WHO will report in May 2011 on the implementation of resolution WHA 56.19 (on the prevention and control of influenza pandemics and annual epidemics) and on countries? performance in reaching the 75% coverage target for high-risk groups through the seasonal vaccination programme.
The Chair of SAGE?s H1N1 working group reported on a meeting held in March 2010; the meeting concluded that no changes were necessary to previous recommendations made by SAGE on priority target groups for vaccination or the number of doses needed; these positions were endorsed by SAGE.
The Chair of SAGE?s H5N1 working group reported on 2 teleconferences and 1 meeting which reviewed whether SAGE?s recommendations on H5N1 vaccine warranted modification following experiences during the H1N1 pandemic. A detailed presentation to SAGE will be made in November 2010.
SAGE approved the proposal from the Secretariat to update the WHO position paper on seasonal influenza vaccination as wells as the establishment of a new working group on influenza vaccines and immunization.
(...)
1) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010 (LINK, accessed May 2010).
13) Wood DJ, et al. Update on H1N1 vaccine immunogenicity, safety and effectiveness. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010 (LINK, accessed May 2010).
14) Shindo N. Global seasonal influenza disease burden and implementation of WHA 56.19. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010 (LINK, accessed May 2010).
(...)
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[Source: World Health Organization, Full PDF Document (LINK). Extract, edited.]
Weekly epidemiological record - Relev? ?pid?miologique hebdomadaire
28 MAY 2010, 85th YEAR / 28 MAI 2010, 85e ANN?E
No. 22, 2010, 85, 197?212
http://www.who.int/wer
Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization, April 2010 ? conclusions and recommendations
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization reports to the Director-General of WHO on issues ranging from vaccine research and development to immunization delivery.1 SAGE met on 13?15 April 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland.
(...)
Influenza vaccines
SAGE was updated on the epidemiology of influenza A(H5N1) and pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 viruses. Since February 2003, there have been almost 500 human cases of H5N1, with 289 deaths, reported from 15 countries. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus is presently circulating primarily in western Africa. In China and the Republic of Korea, type B influenza is the predominant circulating virus. As reported to SAGE previously, there is a wide clinical spectrum of pandemic clinical illness; the risk groups for severe disease remain unchanged.
SAGE noted the latest data on the safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus vaccines. More than 570 million doses of vaccine were distributed, and >350 million doses administered. Safety data indicate a similar safety profile to that of seasonal vaccines. Preliminary analysis demonstrates an adjusted vaccine effectiveness of >70%.(13)
WHO reported the results of a survey on pandemic vaccine production capacity conducted in January 2010; the survey found that approximately 1.37 billion doses were planned for production by June 2010, which is only 28% of the annual global production capacity estimated during the WHO survey in May 2009. The reasons for the low output include: lower than expected yields of vaccine virus; inability of manufacturers to use their most dose-sparing formulation; reluctance of some regulatory authorities to register adjuvanted vaccine formulations; decline in demand; and the switch from pandemic vaccine production to seasonal vaccine production.
To protect against the development of severe disease as a result of infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus, WHO is coordinating the distribution of donated pandemic influenza vaccine to eligible countries. Governments, foundations and manufacturers have donated vaccines, ancillary products, and financing. As of the end of March 2010, 94 countries had requested donations of vaccine, 76 countries had signed agreements with WHO, and 48 national deployment plans had been approved. By the end of April 2010, WHO expected to deliver >22 million doses to 46 countries. It will be important for each country to assess their overall response to the pandemic and the effectiveness of vaccine deployment.
SAGE was informed of the global estimate of the disease burden for seasonal influenza. Extrapolation of data from industrialized countries indicates 250 000?500 000 deaths annually.(14) Accurate estimates for tropical countries are constrained by weak surveillance capacity and difficulties in distinguishing influenza from other respiratory diseases. WHO will report in May 2011 on the implementation of resolution WHA 56.19 (on the prevention and control of influenza pandemics and annual epidemics) and on countries? performance in reaching the 75% coverage target for high-risk groups through the seasonal vaccination programme.
The Chair of SAGE?s H1N1 working group reported on a meeting held in March 2010; the meeting concluded that no changes were necessary to previous recommendations made by SAGE on priority target groups for vaccination or the number of doses needed; these positions were endorsed by SAGE.
The Chair of SAGE?s H5N1 working group reported on 2 teleconferences and 1 meeting which reviewed whether SAGE?s recommendations on H5N1 vaccine warranted modification following experiences during the H1N1 pandemic. A detailed presentation to SAGE will be made in November 2010.
SAGE approved the proposal from the Secretariat to update the WHO position paper on seasonal influenza vaccination as wells as the establishment of a new working group on influenza vaccines and immunization.
(...)
1) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010 (LINK, accessed May 2010).
13) Wood DJ, et al. Update on H1N1 vaccine immunogenicity, safety and effectiveness. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010 (LINK, accessed May 2010).
14) Shindo N. Global seasonal influenza disease burden and implementation of WHA 56.19. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010 (LINK, accessed May 2010).
(...)
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