New Warning Over Bird Flu Vaccine - University Of Leicester Professor Calls For Vaccination Programme

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 07 Nov 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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A team of international researchers has written to the journal, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, calling for people to be vaccinated now against bird flu in order to mitigate the effects of global pandemic.

Professor Karl Nicholson, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Leicester and Consultant Physician at the Leicester Royal Infirmary is among those who has written the article.

The experts say that the World Health Organisation and national governments should give "urgent consideration" to priming potential victims with a preparatory jab.

Administering an initial vaccination would help to build up the immune system followed by a booster shot as soon as the first signs of a pandemic emerge.

People primed in advance would then be fully protected in a week instead of six weeks. Professor Nicholson and colleagues said there may be no warning before deadly H5N1 bird flu explodes in the human population.

Current vaccination strategies require two jabs spaced six weeks apart, but the researchers warn that after six weeks it may be too late to prevent widespread loss of life.

They concluded: "The maximum benefit from using a pre-pandemic vaccine may be gained from priming populations before there is evidence of a novel virus emerging and spreading, when systematic supply, distribution and vaccination strategies can be put in place."

An international study led by University of Leicester researchers recently determined that vaccination will be the best way to protect people in the event of the next influenza pandemic - but that each person would need two doses.

In an article in the New England Journal of Medicine published on October 9, researchers from the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester report on a study carried out at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Dr Iain Stephenson, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the Infirmary and a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Leicester carried out the research with Professor Karl Nicholson.

An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza strain emerges (one to which humans have no immunity), mutates and spreads globally as a virus. Although it is not possible to predict the actual pandemic influenza strain, global health authorities have identified H5N1 avian influenza as a strain with the greatest pandemic potential in humans. H5N1 is currently circulating in birds and has caused serious illness in more than 380 people worldwide with a mortality rate, among people known to have been infected, of greater than 60 percent.

University Of Leicester

A member of the 1994 Group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.

- Named University of the Year by Times Higher (2008) Shortlisted (2006, 2005) and by the Sunday Times (2007)
- Ranked second to Cambridge for student satisfaction amongst full time students taught at mainstream universities in England
- Ranked as a Top 20 university by the Sunday Times, Guardian,Times and UK Complete University Guide, published in The Independent
- Ranked in world's top 200 universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong International Index, 2005-08 and the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings
- Ranked top 10 in England for research impact by The Guardian
- Students' Union of the Year award 2005, short listed 2006 and 2007

Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has more than 20,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency- including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA Fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Centre. 90% of staff are actively engaged in high quality research and 13 subject areas have been awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. The University's research grant income places it among the top 20 UK research universities. The University employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of over £200m, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300m investment programme- among the biggest of any UK university.

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