Word: influenza
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...team led by Harvard researchers has discovered a family of naturally occurring proteins in human cells that protect against influenza and other illnesses—a finding that may lead to methods to speed up vaccine production and to new flu prevention drugs for humans...
...regimen for youngsters is based on a similar recommendation in this population for seasonal flu vaccination. Because their immune systems are still developing, and because they are less likely to harbor existing antibodies from previous bouts with the flu, children are less able to generate protective antibodies against the influenza virus than adults, requiring two doses of the shot. (See what you need to know about the H1N1 vaccine...
Since the pandemic began last spring, children have been the hardest hit by H1N1. So far, youngsters have the highest infection, hospitalization and death rates from the pandemic influenza than any other age group, and health officials have targeted those between six months and 24 years old as a priority group for vaccination...
...receive, each containing 7.5 mcg of viral antigen. The findings could factor into discussions that health officials have as they make up recommendations for next year's flu season. Having children get immunized only once, rather than twice, may help increase the percentage of kids who are protected against influenza...
Another reason to be cautious about the Australian data, says Fiore, is that the youngsters in the study were all healthy, with normal immune systems. But those who are most vulnerable to influenza are children with underlying conditions such as asthma or diabetes, who may need the added boost from a second dose to protect them from complications of the flu. He notes also that previous studies of other H1N1 vaccines showed slightly weaker antibody responses in children after a single dose than the Australian shot, which suggests one dose may not be enough to effectively combat influenza in youngsters...