Testing efficacy of H1N1 vaccine in the HIV-infected pregnant women takes off
Posted on 10. Oct, 2009 by admin in Health
Researchers launched trials to test H1N1 vaccine in the HIV-infected pregnant women. The H1N1 vaccine by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, contains attenuated 2009 H1N1 influenza strain virus.
The trial is initially poised to test in 130 HIV-infected pregnant women (in the age group of 18 to 39); all in their second or third trimester (14 to 34 weeks) periods of pregnancy.
According to Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases(NIAID), both HIV and pregnancy create poor immune response condition and so the studies assume importance.
The study involves taking blood samples from the pregnant women who are given the H1N1 dose, immediately after the dose and then 3 and 6 months after the vaccine. The samples will be studied for amount of antibodies that the recipient produced against the H1N1 influenza virus.
Once the woman delivers baby, the umbilical cord blood sample will be studied for concentration of maternal antibodies against the H1N1 virus that have been transferred to infants.
Blood samples will be studied from infants at 3rd and and 6th months to determine the antibody protection they derived from mother. However, infants per se will not be given vaccine.
