CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Expands Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Recommendations
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to update its previous recommendations and include IXIARO, a new Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine for travelers to countries in Asia where the disease is endemic, as well as Americans living in such high-risk areas.
ACIP made significant changes to their previous Japanese Encephalitis
recommendations, last updated in 1993, noting that many more travelers
are now visiting areas where the disease is endemic. In addition to
recognizing the recent licensure of IXIARO, the committee’s expanded
recommendations urged clinicians to consider vaccinating travelers
visiting endemic areas during the transmission season, even those on
short-term visits, if they plan to spend a substantial amount of time
outdoors. The panel also concluded that IXIARO, which is derived from a
well-established cell line and does not contain stabilizers or
preservatives, has a lower risk of vaccine-associated adverse events
than older Japanese Encephalitis vaccines.
IXIARO received marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration on March 30, 2009 on the basis of studies that showed the
vaccine is highly immunogenic after only two doses. IXIARO has been
shown to stimulate a long-lasting immune response and to be well
tolerated. It is the only currently manufactured Japanese Encephalitis
vaccine available in the United States. IXIARO was developed by
Intercell AG; the rights to market and distribute the vaccine to the
private sector in the United States are held by Novartis Vaccines.
Subscribe to our FREE Ezine and be eligible for Health News, discounted products/services and coupons related to your Health. We publish 24/7.
HealthNewsDigest.com