Vaccine
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Rotavirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in children. Two rotavirus vaccines (RotaTeq and Rotarix) have recently completed clinical trials. We investigated whether routine infant immunisation with either vaccine can be cost effective. ⋯ Rotavirus immunisation could reduce the substantial short-term morbidity burden due to rotavirus, but is unlikely to be deemed cost effective unless the vaccine is competitively priced.
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The dangers of accidental freezing of vaccines in the cold chain have prompted studies throughout the globe to better characterize the risk. To date, there has been no systematic review of these studies. ⋯ More rigorous study designs were associated with higher levels of freeze exposure. As more expensive, freeze-sensitive vaccines are introduced into immunization schedules, freeze prevention will become increasingly critical for ensuring that the world's children are receiving fully potent vaccine.
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This paper offers a framework for managing a comprehensive Global Access Strategy for new vaccines in developing countries. It is aimed at strengthening the ability of public-sector entities to reach their goals. ⋯ Relying on the application of innovation theory, the strategy leads to the identification of six Components of Innovation which cover all aspects of the vaccine innovation process. Appropriately modified, the proposed framework can be applied to the development and introduction of other products in developing countries including drugs, and nutritional and agricultural products.
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Influenza virus is a highly infectious respiratory pathogen that results in severe morbidity and mortality. The current licensed trivalent vaccine formulations in the U. S. are made from virus grown in allantoic fluid from infected hen eggs that is then chemically inactivated and split into subunit components. ⋯ All vaccinated animals had high titer anti-HA antibodies regardless of the vaccine immunogen and animals vaccinated with the highest doses of VLPs (3 microg and 600 ng) also had antibodies against NA. Purified rHA elicited primarily IgG1 antibodies, which is indicative of a T helper (Th) type 2 response, whereas mice vaccinated with the VLPs or WIV were associated with a dominant Th1 immune response (IgG2a and IgG2b). Interestingly, VLPs elicited antibodies that recognized a broader panel of antigenically distinct H3N2 viral isolates compared to rHA or WIV in a hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) assay.
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In response to recent outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), the development of an effective H5N1 influenza vaccine is urgently important. We assessed the efficacy of two inactivated H5N1 whole-virus vaccines, rgHK213/03 and rgVNJP1203/04, generated by reverse genetics in a mouse model in the presence or absence of aluminum hydroxide (alum) adjuvant. Mice immunized with rgHK213/03 vaccine produced sufficient levels of serum antibodies that were cross-reactive to recent heterologous HPAIV-H5N1 virus, A/Turkey/12/06. ⋯ These immune responses were enhanced by addition of alum adjuvant, resulting in antigen sparing of vaccine. On the other hand, mice immunized with rgVNJP1203/04 vaccine had low levels of serum antibodies and less protective immunity than that elicited with rgHK213/03 vaccine regardless of addition of alum adjuvant. Our study suggests that rgHK213/03 vaccine is still useful as a backup vaccine for recent H5N1 viruses and that if rgVNJP1203/04 vaccine is employed, more vaccine antigen would be necessary to induce sufficient immunity.