QDIS Blog

Seems the external panel of experts has recommended approval of Sanofi’s H5N1 bird flu vaccine. While the FDA doesn’t have to follow the panels advice, they typically do. This despite the fact that the vaccine only showed antibodies in approximately 50% of the people vaccinated.

Sanofi Gets Nod From FDA Panel:
Sanofi Bird-Flu Shot’s Benefit Isn’t Clear, FDA Says

I would comment that vaccination are not 100% effective in all cases. I know from painful experience that this is the case. When I was young I was given a attenuated live vaccine for measles along with gamma globulin. Then as an adolescent, I developed full blown measles.

However to help prevent a pandemic, 100% effectiveness is not necessary. It is only necessary to vaccine a critical number of folks that will help prevent the spread of the disease. Right now, I think that this particular vaccine is not worth the risk unless you happen to be a chicken farmer. No one in the US has ever developed bird flu and right now it is difficult to spread from human to human. There have only been 270 cases in 10 countries world-wide. An interesting comment in the article is that this vaccine will NOT be commercially available and that governments will likely stockpile it to protect first responders and healthcare workers if needed.

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