The anthrax vaccine appears to be just as effective and causes few side effects if its dosage is reduced and its administration is changed to intramuscular injection, new study has found.

The current anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) vaccine is given in six doses -- at zero, two and four weeks then again at six, 12 and 18 months -- below the skin, or subcutaneously, with annual boosters

A new study has found that flu shots for pregnant women can help protect babies from the flu until six months of age.

There is currently no flu vaccine for babies under six-months-old, but babies in that age group are more likely to be hospitalized for the virus than any other age group

African health ministers signed here Thursday a declaration to use a new meningitis vaccine to immunize 250 million people in Africa.

The Yaounde Declaration was signed by the ministers on the fourth day of the five-day 58th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa. Under the document, health authorities in 25 countries composing the "meningitis belt" in Africa will introduce the new meningococcal A conjugate vaccine (MenAfriVac) from 2009 to 2015 to control the brain disease epidemic in the region

The U.S. government has recommended adding GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Rotarix vaccine to the choices for immunizing infants against the deadly intestinal virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting in children. Rotarix is a liquid and given in a two-dose series to infants from 6 to 24 weeks of age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has already endorsed Merck and Co Inc's RotaTeq saying both are equally effective. There are many different strains of rotavirus. The vaccine protects against rotavirus gastroenteritis caused by the G1, G3, G4, and G9 strains

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a vaccine that treats five childhood ailments in a single dose. Pentacel would reduce the number of injections children get before they are 18 months old by as many as one-third.

It is the first 5-in-1 pediatric combination for immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). The vaccine is approved for administration as a four-dose series at two, four, six and 15 to 18 months of age. The first dose may be given as early as six weeks of age