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Pharmaceutical industry

Influenza Season Woes: Vaccine Effectiveness, Alternative Options, and Treatment Strategies

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the influenza season gets underway, concerns about vaccine effectiveness and alternative options for those who cannot receive the traditional injected vaccine have prompted healthcare professionals to explore new avenues for prevention and treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that the current vaccine may not provide full protection against the circulating strain, but still offers some cross-protection. For healthy patients between the ages of 5 and 49 who cannot receive the traditional vaccine, a new nasal spray form of the influenza vaccine, FluMist, is available.

Key Takeaways:

  • The current influenza vaccine includes a strain of type-A influenza that is related to, but different from the strain circulating, which may limit its effectiveness against certain strains.
  • FluMist, a nasal spray form of the influenza vaccine, appears to be about as effective as injected vaccine for healthy patients between the ages of 5 and 49, but is an expensive option and should not be used by health care workers and others who have contact with people who have weak immune systems.
  • Treatment with oral antiviral drugs may be useful for people at high risk for influenza-related complications, including those who cannot receive the traditional vaccine or have concern about their exposure to influenza before the vaccine begins to work.
  • Three oral drugs have been FDA-approved for prevention of flu: amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu).
  • Amantadine and rimantadine can prevent illness due to type A flu in 70 to 90% of adults, with amantadine having more frequent side effects.
  • Oseltamivir and zanamivir (Relenza) are about 70 to 90% effective for prevention and treatment of flu type A or B.
  • Adult patients taking amantadine, rimantadine, or zanamivir should start treatment at least two weeks before and stop it 48 hours before taking the FluMist vaccine.

Statistics:

  • 70 to 90% of adults may be protected against type A flu with amantadine or rimantadine treatment started before exposure and continued throughout exposure (up to 6-8 weeks).
  • 70 to 90% of adults may be protected against type A and B flu with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) treatment.
  • Up to 6-8 weeks may be required to continue treatment with amantadine or rimantadine to prevent illness.

Sources:

  • "The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics" (Sept. 29, 2003)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • The Medical Letter Inc. (http://www.medicalletter.org/)
  • Christine Froias, Kovak-Likly Communications, +1-203-762-8833, cfroias@klcpr.com

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