Evidence update: GlaxoSmithKline’s inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccines

<p>Inactivated trivalent influenza vaccines (IIV3s) are designed to protect against illness caused by two influenza A virus subtypes and one influenza B virus lineage. They may provide inadequate protection due to the co-circulation of viruses from two antigenically distinct influenza B lineages. Incorporating strains from both B lineages as in inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccines (IIV4s) reduces this risk. We summarize the evidence supporting two IIV4s manufactured by GSK Vaccines. Compared to IIV3s, these two IIV4s demonstrated noninferior immunogenicity against the shared influenza strains and superior immunogenicity for the strain of the additional B lineage, particularly in subjects who were seronegative for that B strain. One IIV4’s efficacy in children aged 3–8 years was 55.4% against influenza of any severity and 73.1% against moderate-to-severe influenza. Both IIV4s were well-tolerated with a similar safety profile to IIV3s. These IIV4s are more likely than IIV3s to protect against the added influenza B strain.</p

Maternal immunization: where are we now and how to move forward?

<p>Pregnancy and the postpartum period are associated with elevated risks to both mother and infant from infectious disease. Vaccination of pregnant women, also called maternal immunization, has the potential to protect pregnant women, foetuses and infants from several vaccine-preventable diseases. Maternal immunoglobulin G antibodies are actively transferred through the placenta to provide passive immunity to new-borns during the first months of life, until the time for infant vaccinations or until the period of greatest susceptibility has passed. Currently, inactivated influenza, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines are recommended during pregnancy in many countries, but other vaccines may also be administered to pregnant women when risk factors are present. Several new vaccines with a specific indication for use during pregnancy are under development (e.g. respiratory syncytial virus and group B streptococcus vaccines). Years of experience suggest that maternal immunization against influenza, tetanus or pertussis has an acceptable safety profile, is well tolerated, effective and confers significant benefits to pregnant women and their infants. This review describes the principles of maternal immunization and provides an update of the recent evidence regarding the use and timing of maternal immunization. Finally, the barriers preventing wider vaccination coverage and the current limitations in addressing these are also described (<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2017.1421320" target="_blank">Supplementary Material</a>).Key messages</p><p>Maternal immunization gives pregnant women greater protection against infectious diseases; induces high levels of maternal antibodies that can be transferred to the foetus; and helps protect new-borns during their first months of life, until they are old enough to be vaccinated.</p><p>Pregnant women and new-borns are more vulnerable to infectious diseases than the overall population; nevertheless, vaccination rates are often low in pregnant women.</p><p>This review provides an update of the recent evidence regarding the use and timing of maternal immunization and describes the barriers preventing wider vaccination uptake and the current limitations in addressing these.</p><p></p> <p>Maternal immunization gives pregnant women greater protection against infectious diseases; induces high levels of maternal antibodies that can be transferred to the foetus; and helps protect new-borns during their first months of life, until they are old enough to be vaccinated.</p> <p>Pregnant women and new-borns are more vulnerable to infectious diseases than the overall population; nevertheless, vaccination rates are often low in pregnant women.</p> <p>This review provides an update of the recent evidence regarding the use and timing of maternal immunization and describes the barriers preventing wider vaccination uptake and the current limitations in addressing these.</p

The Diverse Spectrum of Invasive Meningococcal Diseases in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients: Narrative Review of Cases and Case Series

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