Cold medicine

Whooping cough is surging in Australia. Why, and how can we protect ourselves?

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 5, 2024
Sneeze, Pregnancy, Cough, Gene, COVID, Immunity, Disease, Pertactin, Risk, Patient, Bordetella pertussis, Ageing, Mouse, Social isolation, Bacteria, Respiratory tract infection, Life, Respiratory disease, Cold medicine, Woman, Fever, Atmosphere, Vaccination, Mask, Immune system, Rib, Vaccine

Cases are highest in Queensland and New South Wales, with more than 1,000 recorded in each state.

Key Points: 
  • Cases are highest in Queensland and New South Wales, with more than 1,000 recorded in each state.
  • The last time Queensland recorded more than 1,000 cases in three months was the first quarter of 2013.
  • So what is whooping cough, why are cases rising now, and how can you protect yourself?

It’s most dangerous for babies

  • The initial symptoms of whooping cough resemble other cold and flu-like symptoms.
  • However, as the disease progresses into the second week, the coughing fits become worse and more frequent.
  • After or between bouts of coughing, patients may gasp for air and produce the characteristic “whoop” noise.
  • Immunity from these vaccines wanes over time, so it’s also recommended adults receive a booster, particularly those who may come into frequent contact with babies.

Why are cases rising now?

  • Due to COVID measures such as border closures, social isolation and masks, the number of cases declined dramatically during 2020–23.
  • In Australia, cases have been particularly high during this outbreak in children aged 10–14.

A potential superbug

  • Most vaccines used in Australia and other developed countries stimulate your immune system to recognise and target three to five components of the bacteria.
  • These mutations make the bacteria look slightly different to the one used in the vaccine, helping it better hide from the immune system.
  • But in 2008, a new strain appeared in Australia that no longer produced pertactin, one of the components targeted by the vaccine.
  • This means your immune system, like a detective, has one less clue to recognise the bacteria.
  • Read more:
    Low vaccination and immunity rates mean NZ faces a harsh whooping cough winter – what needs to happen

What next?

  • Greater tracking of whooping cough strains, like we do with COVID, is needed to inform future vaccine design and treatments.
  • Importantly, although the bacteria is evolving, current vaccines are still very effective at preventing serious disease and reducing transmission.


Laurence Don Wai Luu does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Viral Sensitizers Market Research Report 2023: Viral Vaccines, Oncolytic Viral Therapies and Viral Vectors - Global Industry Trends and Forecasts, 2020-2022 and 2023-2035 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Health, Oncology, Other Health, Science Advisory Board, COVID-19, Genetic engineering, Workflow, Cell, Vector (mathematics and physics), Government, MLD, Cold medicine, Tetanus, Patient, DTP, Virus, COVID-19 vaccine, FDA, World Health Organization, AAV, Cell death, Vaccine, Infection, Measles, Gene, Viral, GMP, Immunization, WHO

The "Viral Sensitizers Market: Distribution by Application Area (Viral Vaccines, Oncolytic Viral Therapies and Viral Vectors) and Key Geographical Regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World): Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2023-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Key Points: 
  • The "Viral Sensitizers Market: Distribution by Application Area (Viral Vaccines, Oncolytic Viral Therapies and Viral Vectors) and Key Geographical Regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World): Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2023-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
  • The market research report highlights the efforts of several stakeholders engaged in this rapidly evolving segment of the viral manufacturing industry.
  • Key takeaways of the viral sensitizers market report are briefly discussed below.
  • We have extensively studied the historical market data within this industry, in order to develop a deeper understanding of the evolutionary market trends.

An RSV vaccine has been approved for people over 60. But what about young children?

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Bronchiolitis, Placenta, Infection, Hospital, Pneumonia, Influenza, Life, Fatigue, Cold medicine, GSK, COVID, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Infant, Vaccination, Croup, Risk, Palivizumab, Human, Disease, Child, Pregnancy, Chimpanzee, Antibody, TGA, Respiratory syncytial virus, Time, Vaccine, News, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, Nirsevimab, Immune system

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Australia for the first time.

Key Points: 
  • The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Australia for the first time.
  • RSV is a contagious respiratory virus which causes an illness similar to influenza, most notably in babies and older adults.

A bit about RSV

  • There are two key groups of people we would like to protect from RSV: babies (up to about one year old) and people older than 60.
  • In babies and younger children, RSV generally causes a wheezing asthma-like illness (bronchiolitis), but can also cause pneumonia and croup.

RSV vaccines for older people

  • For older adults, there are actually several RSV vaccines in the pipeline.
  • The GSK and Pfizer RSV vaccines are similar.
  • Both vaccines have been shown to reduce illness from RSV by more than 80% in the first season after vaccination.

Protecting young children from RSV

  • To prevent other diseases, this can be overcome by giving multiple vaccine doses over time.
  • But the highest risk group for RSV are those in the first few months of life.
  • To protect this youngest age group from the virus, there are two potential strategies available instead of vaccinating the child directly.
  • Abrysvo, the Pfizer RSV vaccine, has been trialled in pregnant women.
  • In clinical trials, this vaccine has been shown to reduce illness in infants for up to six months.
  • It has been approved in pregnant women in the United States, but is not yet approved in Australia.

What now?

  • RSV, like influenza, is a major cause of respiratory illness, and the development of effective vaccines represents a major advance.
  • While the approval of the first vaccine for older people is an important step, many details are yet to be made available, including the cost and the timing of availability.


Allen Cheng receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a member of the Australian Technical Advsory Group on Immunisation. The views expressed in this article may not reflect those of ATAGI.

DocGo Expands Mobile Health Services with Santa Cruz County, Arizona Department of Health

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Health Technology, Health Insurance, Telemedicine, Virtual Medicine, Technology, Managed Care, General Health, Medical Devices, Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Science, Software, Networks, Other Science, Research, Health, Mobile, Wireless, Partnership, Physician, MMR, Rural health, Tetanus, Vaccine, Diphtheria, HPV, IPV, Cold medicine, Arizona Department, Vaccination, DPT vaccine, Measles, Health care, University, DTAP, COVID, Mumps, Arizona Center, Pharmaceutical industry

(Nasdaq:DCGO), a leading provider of technology-enabled mobile health services, today announced the expansion of its vaccination and public health initiatives in Arizona through a new contract with the Department of Health in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.

Key Points: 
  • (Nasdaq:DCGO), a leading provider of technology-enabled mobile health services, today announced the expansion of its vaccination and public health initiatives in Arizona through a new contract with the Department of Health in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
  • Beginning in late November, DocGo now operates a mobile clinic to enhance vaccine accessibility in a rural area with limited access to medical resources.
  • Santa Cruz County is designated as a medically underserved area by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
  • DocGo previously offered flu and COVID vaccines in mobile clinics with Santa Cruz County Health Department, as well as with the Maricopa County Health Department and the state of Arizona Department of Health.

Rite Aid to Offer After Work Wednesday Walk-In Clinic

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 30, 2023
General Health, Pharmaceutical, Health, RSV, OTC, Shingles, Cold medicine, Pharmacist, COVID-19, Rite Aid, Virus, Tetanus, Respiratory syncytial virus, Vaccine, Travel

Rite Aid (OTC: RADCQ) makes it easy to keep your health a priority by offering an After Work Wednesday clinic at select stores, providing families a convenient opportunity to walk in and get the immunizations they need to protect themselves against the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other viruses.

Key Points: 
  • Rite Aid (OTC: RADCQ) makes it easy to keep your health a priority by offering an After Work Wednesday clinic at select stores, providing families a convenient opportunity to walk in and get the immunizations they need to protect themselves against the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other viruses.
  • Rite Aid’s upcoming After Work Wednesday event offers families the flexibility of a walk-in clinic, allowing them to conveniently receive routine immunizations.
  • “The health of our communities is always top of mind for Rite Aid, especially as we approach the holiday season,” said Karen Staniforth, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Rite Aid.
  • To help customers determine which routine immunizations are right for them, Rite Aid offers an Immunization Evaluation Questionnaire on its website.

FDA advisory panel's conclusion that oral phenylephrine is ineffective means consumers need to think twice when buying cold and flu meds

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Cold medicine, Nose, FDA, Sale, Nasal spray, No, Mouth, Humidifier, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Phenylephrine, Oxymetazoline, Time, Food, Thyroid disease, Common, Pseudoephedrine, Face, Dizziness, Gel, Diabetes, Infection, Health, Regulation of tobacco by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Tablet, Congestion, Nasal congestion, Nervous, Pharmacy, Color, Review, CVS, Blood, Insomnia, Depression, Pharmacist, Allergen, Prostate, Placebo, Pharmaceutical industry, Dietary supplement, Petroleum jelly, Vaccine

The ramp-up to cold and flu season is a bad time for consumers to learn that some of their most trusted go-to products don’t actually work.

Key Points: 
  • The ramp-up to cold and flu season is a bad time for consumers to learn that some of their most trusted go-to products don’t actually work.
  • The 2023 FDA advisory panel met to review growing evidence that oral phenylephrine is an ineffective treatment for nasal congestion.
  • Consumers may also question whether combination cough, cold and flu products will still be safe and effective for use at home.

The backstory

  • The most recent analysis is not the first time an FDA advisory panel has scrutinized oral phenylephrine.
  • A 2007 panel examining its use concluded that more studies were needed to make a final decision regarding the effectiveness of phenylephrine.

Safety concerns

  • No safety issues with oral phenylephrine alone were documented in the 2023 advisory panel conclusion.
  • However, researchers and advisory panel members have raised concerns about the possibility of products containing ineffective phenylephrine remaining on pharmacy shelves.
  • Even if oral phenylephrine is safe, taking an ineffective medication could cause consumers to spend money on products that work no better than a placebo.

The story behind pseudoephedrine

  • Luckily, the nonprescription oral nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine – which is known to be effective – has been commercially available for many years.
  • Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant that is taken by mouth to relieve a stuffy nose.
  • If the FDA acts on the advisory committee’s conclusions that oral phenylephrine is not an effective nasal decongestant, pseudoephedrine may be the only remaining oral medication available without a prescription to treat nasal congestion.


Pseudoephedrine should not be used in doses higher than those that are recommended on the label. Use of products containing pseudoephedrine should be stopped and a health care provider consulted if dizziness, nervousness or sleeplessness occurs.
Pseudoephedrine should not be used by consumers with heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes or an enlarged prostate without talking with a health care provider like a pharmacist or a physician.
Products with pseudoephedrine should not be used while taking, or within two weeks of stopping, a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor, which is most commonly used to treat for depression or Parkinson’s disease.

Other treatments

  • These products are sold under the brand name Afrin and others.
  • All of these non-drug approaches can help sooth the nasal passage to provide temporary relief from congestion.
  • If symptoms of congestion continue for more than two weeks, or if signs of an infection arise, go see your doctor.


Lucas Berenbrok is part owner of the consulting company, Embarx, LLC. Colleen Culley and Karen Steinmetz Pater do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ILiAD Biotechnologies Announces Presentation at the 2023 World Vaccine Congress in Barcelona

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Biotechnology, General Health, Infectious Diseases, Health, Pharmaceutical, Infection, Bordetella pertussis, Fast track (FDA), Cold medicine, MPH, Iliad, Vaccine, MD

ILiAD Biotechnologies, LLC (ILiAD), a vaccine company utilizing its B-Tech technology to develop novel vaccines against infectious diseases, today announced Chief Medical Officer Stephanie Noviello, MD, MPH, will present data on its pertussis vaccine, BPZE1, at the World Vaccine Congress Europe in Barcelona, Spain (October 17 – 19, 2023).

Key Points: 
  • ILiAD Biotechnologies, LLC (ILiAD), a vaccine company utilizing its B-Tech technology to develop novel vaccines against infectious diseases, today announced Chief Medical Officer Stephanie Noviello, MD, MPH, will present data on its pertussis vaccine, BPZE1, at the World Vaccine Congress Europe in Barcelona, Spain (October 17 – 19, 2023).
  • BPZE1 is the most advanced next generation pertussis vaccine, designed to overcome deficiencies of current vaccines which include limited durability and the inability to prevent nasopharyngeal Bordetella pertussis infections that lead to transmission, especially to vulnerable infants.
  • Data from four BPZE1 human clinical studies have previously been published and BPZE1 has received FDA Fast Track designation.
  • Title: BPZE1, an intranasal live attenuated pertussis vaccine, evaluated in a Bordetella pertussis challenge study in healthy adults: a phase 2b, randomized, placebo-controlled study
    A copy of the presentation will be available after the conclusion of the meeting in the “BPZE1 Publications” section of the ILiAD website.

Rite Aid Helps Families Prep for Fall the Rite Way with Family Immunization Day

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 6, 2023
General Health, Health, Family, Consumer, COVID-19, NYSE, Cold medicine, Vaccine, Rite Aid, Travel, Pharmacist, Virus, Tetanus, Shingles, HPV, RSV, RAD

Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) will offer a Family Immunization Day at select stores providing families a convenient opportunity to walk in and get the vaccinations they need to protect themselves against the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other viruses.

Key Points: 
  • Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) will offer a Family Immunization Day at select stores providing families a convenient opportunity to walk in and get the vaccinations they need to protect themselves against the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other viruses.
  • Rite Aid’s upcoming Family Immunization Day offers families the flexibility of a walk-in clinic, allowing them to conveniently receive routine vaccinations over the weekend.
  • Customers who are unable to attend a Family Immunization Day can schedule an appointment for necessary vaccinations at their local Rite Aid through the online scheduling tool .
  • To help customers determine which routine immunizations are right for them, Rite Aid offers an Immunization Evaluation Questionnaire on its website.

ILiAD Biotechnologies Reports First-ever Demonstration of Protection Against B. pertussis Colonization in Phase 2b Human Challenge Study of BPZE1 Vaccine

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Other Health, Research, General Health, Pharmaceutical, Infectious Diseases, Hospitals, Clinical Trials, Science, Biotechnology, FDA, Other Science, Health, Vaccine, Bordetella pertussis, Cold medicine, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, University, Vaccination, Culture, Public, Immunity, Infection, CFU, CDC, Epidemic, Quarantine, Death, Congress, Professor, CFU-GEMM, Clutch (eggs), United Kingdom, Iliad, Immunization, University of Oxford, Safety, Disease, MD

ILiAD Biotechnologies reported today that its BPZE1 intranasal pertussis vaccine has met the primary endpoint of protection against nasopharyngeal B. pertussis colonization (p=0.03) in the Phase 2b CHAMPION-1 Study.

Key Points: 
  • ILiAD Biotechnologies reported today that its BPZE1 intranasal pertussis vaccine has met the primary endpoint of protection against nasopharyngeal B. pertussis colonization (p=0.03) in the Phase 2b CHAMPION-1 Study.
  • The CHAMPION-1 Phase 2b Human Challenge study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of BPZE1 vaccine in healthy adults.
  • The study has a primary objective to demonstrate that prior immunization with BPZE1 protects against colonization as evidenced by negative B. pertussis culture following virulent B. pertussis challenge 2–4 months after vaccination.
  • As a result, the preparation method of the B. pertussis challenge dose was modified to achieve the per-protocol adequate inoculum of B. pertussis challenge as specified in the original study protocol.

FDA's greenlighting of maternal RSV vaccine represents a major step forward in protecting young babies against the virus

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 28, 2023
Insurance, Cold medicine, Bronchiolitis, DPT vaccine, Pregnancy, Placenta, Urinary tract infection, Life, Vaccination, Hospital, Clinical trial, Parent, Infection, Diphtheria, Coagulopathy, History, Antibody, Respiratory syncytial virus, Mother, CDC, Pain, Death, RSV, Swelling, Risk, Child, Immunodeficiency, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Frustration, Preterm birth, Tetanus, Infant, Center, Birth, FDA, Pneumonia, Food, Safety, Vaccine, Birth control, Nirsevimab

RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory infections in young children and can be especially severe for infants under 6 months of age.

Key Points: 
  • RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory infections in young children and can be especially severe for infants under 6 months of age.
  • It is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Each year, RSV is associated with half a million emergency room visits, nearly 100,000 hospitalizations and 300 deaths in young U.S. children.
  • The approval of a maternal vaccine and monoclonal antibody signals a major milestone in the medical profession’s ability to prevent RSV disease in children.

A game-changer in the fight against RSV

    • Abrysvo stimulates the mother’s immune system to produce antibodies that cross the placenta and offer protection to the newborn against RSV illness, starting at birth.
    • In the trial, the maternal RSV vaccine prevented 82% of severe lower-respiratory illnesses caused by RSV in infants in the first 3 months of life, and 69.4% through 6 months of age.
    • Abrysvo was also approved by the FDA in May 2023 to prevent RSV illness in adults 60 years and older.

Monoclonal antibodies also provide protection

    • For those who are unable to get the RSV vaccine during their pregnancy, there is also an option to provide ready-made antibodies to protect the baby.
    • These antibodies help protect against lower-respiratory tract disease, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia, caused by RSV.

Parsing the differences

    • Clinical trials showed that the vaccine was protective up to 6 months of age and the antibody up to 5 months of age.
    • While Abrysvo stimulates the production of the mother’s own antibodies that get passed on to the baby, Beyfortus is not actually a vaccine.
    • It instead provides ready-made antibodies given as an injection to protect the child.
    • The cost of Abrysvo and how it will be covered by insurance will depend on what the CDC says in October.

The bottom line

    • Both products are safe and effective, and it is important to protect young infants and children at risk from RSV.
    • Until now, effective monoclonal antibodies were only available for the most premature babies.