Seminars by Theme based Research Scheme Centre of Influenza Research on 1 March 2018

Seminars by Theme-based Research Scheme & Centre of Influenza Research on 1 March 2018

2018年03月01日

The Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) on Viral, Host and Environmental Determinants of Influenza Virus Transmission and Pathogenesis and Centre of Influenza Research (CIR) jointly present the following seminars:

Titles & Speakers:	"Influenza Vaccine Update 2018: Controversies and Challenges" by Dr Edward Belongia, Director, Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Population Health Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, US Abstract: Influenza vaccines have been routinely used for over 50 years, but research over the past decade has raised new questions about waning protection within one season, live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) effectiveness in children, vaccine safety in early pregnancy, and the effects of egg-based vaccine production. I will review the current state of knowledge on these topics and briefly discuss progress toward a universal vaccine. "Incidence of influenza virus infections, hospitalizations and deaths in older adults in Eastern China: Findings from the China Ageing Respiratory infections Study (CARES)" by Dr Nancy Leung, School of Public Health, HKU Abstract: Respiratory virus infections are among the leading causes of acute morbidity and mortality globally. Among the many viruses responsible for acute respiratory infections, influenza virus is thought to be among the most common identifiable causes of acute respiratory hospitalizations and deaths in older adults. Influenza virus infections occur annually during the winter seasons in the temperate zones of the northern and southern hemispheres and at varying times of the year in tropical and subtropical locations. The burden of influenza in older adults has been estimated based on respiratory illnesses in outpatients, or hospitalizations and deaths in hospitalized patients, but there is limited evidence on the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infections, hospitalizations and deaths in older adults in the community, especially in regions with twice-annual or year-round circulation of influenza. In this seminar, I will present some preliminary results on the incidence, burden and seasonality of laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infections, in a longitudinal cohort of older adults aged 60-89 years with low influenza vaccination coverage in Eastern China in 2015-17.
Date:	1 March 2018 (Thursday)
Time:	11:00am – 12:00pm
Venue:	Seminar Room 3, G/F, The HKJC Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, HK