FluBub Study
The FluBub Study aims to learn more about the safety and effectiveness of giving the influenza vaccine to younger babies and providing them with much-needed protection earlier in life. This information may help find a better way to protect newborn babies from influenza, with the hopes of providing the seasonal flu vaccine at two months of age instead of six months as per the current National Immunisation Program.
FluBub Mum Dezire with her baby girl Briella
We launched FluBub in 2020, primarily recruiting in the maternity wards at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital. The Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital joined as a second site in late 2021, and we are very excited to expand our recruitment to St John of God Hospitals at Subiaco, Mt Lawley and Murdoch next year.
We will be ready to sprint out of the starting blocks when recruitment resumes in early 2023, and would love to hear from anyone expecting a baby in the lead-up to winter who is interested in giving their bub early protection against influenza. Babies in the study receive the flu vaccine already approved for use in Australia from six months of age, and there is a 50-50 chance babies will be allocated an early influenza vaccine.
There have been no safety issues identified in early vaccination so far, but we need greater numbers to reinforce the initial findings and for evaluation of the effectiveness of early vaccination.
For more information or to register your interest email flububstudy@telethonkids.org.au