Vaccines Treatment Options in Canada

The seasonal influenza vaccination program for 2010-2011 will be the first to follow the H1N1 pandemic of 2009. Many children either had the H1N1 infection or the adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine. Both H1N1 infection and adjuvanted vaccine produced strong immune responses which could last for some time. The seasonal influenza vaccine for this fall will be a trivalent inactivated product (regular seasonal influenza vaccine)once again, without adjuvant. It will contain 3 strains of killed, split-apart viruses that might circulate this winter, including the H1N1 pandemic strain. It is theoretically possible that giving the H1N1-containing seasonal vaccine to people who still have some immunity to H1N1 virus could result in more frequent side-effects. However, there is no good evidence that pre-existing immunity to a strain in the vaccine does increase side-effects. In short, there could be nothing out of the ordinary this fall but it would be prudent to check this before public flu vaccination programs begin. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to compare the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of self-administered intradermal influenza vaccine (Intanza)to nurse-administered. Read Less

The purpose of this study will be to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in healthy infants given with routine pediatric vaccinations in Canada. Immune responses induced by the infant series (NeisVac-C® and Pentacel®)and toddler dose(NeisVac-C®)of routine pediatric vaccines when administered with 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine will be studied for noninferiority to the immune responses when administered with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Safety profile and immunogenicity of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine will also be evaluated. Read Less

The primary objective is to assess the safety and tolerability of two consecutive doses of plant-based H5 VLP, (H5N1) pandemic influenza vaccine combined with Alhydrogel®, given 21 days apart, at three dose levels: 5µg, 10µg and 20µg., compared to the placebo, and combined with Alhydrogel®. Read Less

This study will look at what happens to the level of protection against hepatitis B (HB) disease if a 'helper' gel is applied to the skin over the injection site of a small dose of hepatitis B vaccine. Read Less

Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as Pneumococcus, is a common cause of pneumonia in transplant patients. There has been a vaccine available for this infection called Pneumovax. Recently, a new vaccine for this infection called Prevnar has been developed which may be more effective. Vaccinating the bone marrow donor before transplant may boost the recipient's immune response to the vaccine after transplant. This study is done to compare how vaccinating the donor with one of the vaccines will affect the recipient's immune system response to the vaccine. Read Less

The trial will compare a group of patients whose immune system is primed with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and then given a boost with polysaccharide vaccine (prime-boost strategy) vs. a group vaccinated with the standard 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine alone. It is hypothesized that the conjugate vaccine priming will provide an enhanced response in these immunosuppressed individuals who may respond poorly to standard vaccination. Read Less