US CDC backs Tamiflu after this season’s flu vaccines found to be less effective
The US agency name the Roche antiviral in its “think flu” campaign last week, urging patients to consider using it or Relenza (zanamivir), Rapivab (peramivir) as a second line defence and warning that vaccines developed for the current flu season are less effective than in previous years.
“Preliminary vaccine effectiveness results of about 23% indicate that the vaccine is working less well this season, likely because of substantial antigenic and genetic drift among circulating H3N2 viruses, which are dominating so far this season.”
So, while the CDC still recommends that doctors vaccinate their patients, the agency also suggests they consider giving an antiviral therapy to infants and elderly people considered high risk for flu-related complications
Roche told in-Pharmatechnologist.com that: “Roche cannot comment on CDC policy.”
“However, Roche supports the use of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) as a CDC recommended medicine for the treatment and prevention of flu, as demonstrated by its approval in over 100 countries and having been taken by over 130 million people worldwide.”
