This is great news, although I must admit that I am somewhat more cautious when drugs/vaccines are still in the postmarketing "Phase IV" of a clinical trial.

Abhijay.

Abhijay P. Karandikar, MD, MPH, MRO
Medical Director - Occupational Medicine
Company MD - Pines Health Services


From: "Welch, Karen E." <Karen.Welch@hhchealth.org>
To: Abhijay Karandikar <dr_abhik@yahoo.com>; MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh@mylist.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 5, 2014 2:59 PM
Subject: RE: [MCOH-EH] "Egg free" flu vaccines

As of October 29, the FDA approved Flublok for use in people 18 and older;  announcement at the following link: http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm421396.htm
 
 
 
Karen Welch, RN, MPH, COHN-S
Director of Employee Health and Absence Management
Description: Description: Description: http://hartfordhealthcare.org/img/signatureLogo.gif

80 Seymour Street, P.O. Box 5037
Hartford, CT 06102-5037
(860) 972-0603

Karen.Welch@hhchealth.org
www.hartfordhealthcare.org
Employee Service Center - Leave of Absence
 
From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces+karenw=harthosp.org@mylist.net] On Behalf Of Abhijay Karandikar via MCOH-EH
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2014 2:31 PM
To: MCOH/EH
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] "Egg free" flu vaccines
 
List,
 
Taking a slight hiatus from Ebola to the flu:
 
We have had quite a few employees 50 yrs and older who have stated that they will take the flu shot if it is egg free (for various reasons, predominantly h/o allergy). Of the "egg free" vaccines, Flublok is approved for individuals 18-49 years, although my research has shown that it has been trialed in the 50+ age group. Flucelvax's  original reference strains are obtained from the WHO Collaborating Center grown in eggs and technically cannot be considered completely "egg free".
 
Is anyone using the egg free vaccines to increase vaccination rates in the elderly and if so, which ones and why? If not, why not?
 
Abhijay
 
Abhijay P. Karandikar, MD, MPH, MRO
Medical Director - Occupational Medicine
Company MD - Pines Health Services

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