Flu vaccine selection
Executive Summary
Vaccines & Related Biological Products Advisory Committee postpones until mid-March selection of influenza A H3N2 vaccine strain for 2003-2004 flu season pending further analysis of new virus strains. Current vaccine strain, A/Panama/2007/99, has been ineffective at inhibiting recent strains marked by altered amino acid sequence, FDA and CDC reps said during Feb. 20 meeting. FDA committee is expected to hold teleconference March 17 or 18 on strain selection, at which time the panel also could hear data about occurrence of avian influenza virus (A H5N1) in Hong Kong. Committee voted to retain current A H1N1 (New Caledonia/20/99) and B (Hong Kong/330/2001 and 1434/02) strains...