Scientists at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in Wellington have made significant progress in the basic research required to develop a vaccine against asthma and allergy.
Explaining the principle behind this vaccine Institute Director Professor Graham Le Gros said “We don’t know why the immune systems of individuals with asthma or food allergy respond to house dust mites and food proteins as though they were parasites. But what we do know from our research is that if we shut down the Th2 immune response before it gets going, we can prevent the development of asthma and allergy symptoms”.
The work at the Malaghan Institute complements past research that showed a decrease in allergy and asthma symptoms in young children who had received immunisation against some infectious diseases when compared with their unimmunised peer group.
Menactra® is a meningococcal A,C,Y,W-135 conjugate vaccine used to protect against four groups of Neisseria meningitidis, group A, group C, group Y and group W-135.
Menactra® is used as an alternative vaccine to the meningococcal C conjugate vaccines (Meningitec® and Neisvac-C™) and the meningococcal A,C,Y,W-135 polysaccharide vaccines (Menomune® ACYW-135 and Mencevax® ACYW).
The conjugate and polysaccharide vaccines work differently to generate protection against the bacteria. Protection from the conjugate vaccines lasts longer than that from the polysaccharide vaccines. The conjugate vaccines also generate long term memory cells allowing rapid boosting of immunity years later.
The immunisation programme ended on December 16th 2011. An estimated 31,455 Northlanders are belived to have taken up the offer of free vaccine against the serious disease.
The meningococcal C vaccine is no longer available free within the Northland District Health Board area. It can be purchased through your local doctor.
The Northland meningococcal disease free information line 0800 430 123 is still being staffed 24 hours each day for those with questions about meningococcal disease or the vaccine.
In New Zealand a single dose of either brand of varicella vaccine in children under the age of 13 years is likely to be adequate because there is a lot of wild virus circulating that will boost immunity.
Initially in the U.S. a single varicella vaccination was part of the national immunisation programme. The vaccine effectiveness meant much less wild disease was circulating and subsequently less immunity boosting occurred. Adolescents in the U.S. began experiencing breakthrough varicella disease and the U.S. introduced a two dose varicella vaccination schedule for children. Australia, who also have a single varicella vaccination on their national immunisation programme, may be following a similar trend of reduced incidence of wild varicella disease. In New Zealand the varicella vaccine is not on the National Immunisation Schedule, we are not experiencing a reduction in wild varicella disease.
Engerix®-B is a privately purchased vaccine to protect against hepatitis B for adolescents aged 18 years and over and adults who do not meet the eligibility criteria for funded HBvaxPRO®.
Mencevax® ACWY is used for vaccination of children two years of age and over and adults to protect against four groups of Neisseria meningitidis, group A, group C, group Y and group W-135. Mencevax® is only used in children after the age of two years.
NeisVac-C™ is a menincococcal C conjugate vaccine used to protect against Neisseria meningitidis group C only.
The conjugate and polysaccharide vaccines work differently to generate protection against the bacteria. Protection from the conjugate vaccines lasts longer than that from the polysaccharide vaccines. The conjugate vaccines also generate long term memory cells allowing rapid boosting of immunity years later.
