The World Health Organization recently convened a meeting of 100 clinicians, scientists, and public health professionals to discuss the clinical features of pandemic influenza. They concluded that the vast majority of infections with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus were uncomplicated and are followed by full recovery within 7 days. However, some patients, including children, develop …
There have been many interesting responses to my recent post, “Are you receiving the influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine?” Some individuals have already been immunized or plan to do so shortly. Others are concerned about the safety and efficacy of the monovalent preparations. As pointed out recently in a Nature editorial, “Mass-vaccination campaigns…must take public concerns …
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccine: efficacy and safety Read More »
All the evidence I’ve seen so far points to a poor uptake of the influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine in the United States. This is not good news – inadequate immunization means more infections and more deaths. A few weeks ago I asked a class of about 50 students in a course on Emerging Infections whether …
Are you receiving the influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine? Read More »
Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, and Alan Dove In episode #53 of the podcast “This Week in Virology”, Vincent, Dick, and Alan talk about Nobel prizes for telomere research, bacteriophages that protect aphids from wasps, salicylates and pandemic influenza mortality, and hand washing. [powerpress url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/twiv/TWiV053.mp3″] Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download …
Here at Columbia University Medical Center, all employees and students may receive, at no charge, influenza vaccine every year. I just went to the lobby of the Milstein Hospital, showed my ID, and received the seasonal influenza vaccine. Here is the proof: As I’ve written before, vaccine records provide interesting information. The medical center administration …
During the more than 30 years that I have studied viruses, I have had many opportunities to speak with journalists of different kinds. For the most part, the print journalists have done a good job at accurately presenting the science, but I cannot say the same for my experience on radio and TV. I want …
