H5N1 Bird Flu Vaccine Approved
MONDAY, Nov. 25, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- A new vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent the so-called "bird flu" virus in adults at greater-than-average risk of exposure, the FDA said.
While most strains of bird flu don't infect people, the H5N1 virus has caused "serious illness and death in people outside of the U.S., mostly among people who have been in close contact with infected and ill poultry," the agency said in a news release announcing the approval.
The shot, called the Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Monovalent Vaccine, has been developed "in the event that the H5N1 avian influenza virus develops the capability to spread efficiently from human to human, resulting in the rapid spread of the disease across the globe," the FDA added.
The vaccine, produced by a Canadian subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline, is not intended for commercial distribution, the FDA said. It's designed to be administered in two doses given three weeks apart.
In clinical testing involving some 3,400 adults, the most common side effects included injection-site pain and swelling, muscle aches, headache and fatigue.
More information
To learn more about bird flu, visit flu.gov.
Related Articles
Search Allergy Articles
Spring Allergies Have Wide-Ranging Effects
Resolve to Keep Your Allergies, Asthma in Check in 2024
Ragweed, Mold & More: Get Ready for Fall Allergies
Back-to-School Tips on Preventing Asthma, Allergy Flares in Kids
Parents Scrambling After Asthma Inhaler Flovent Removed From Market
Poorer Neighborhoods Linked to Higher Asthma Rates in Kids
Canadian Wildfire Smoke's Health Impact on NYC Residents May Have Been Less Than Feared
Asthma Inhaler Switch in 2024 Could Leave Some Patients Scrambling
Healthy, Diverse Infant Microbiome Could Shield Kids From Asthma