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Please cite this paper as: Belshe et al. (2010). Efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine in children 6 months to 17 years of age. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 4(3), 141–145. Background It has been suggested that live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) may be less effective in older individuals because of prior wild-type influenza infections. LAIV is currently approved in the United States, South Korea and Hong Kong for individuals 2–49 years of age. Objective To examine data from previously published pediatric studies to determine the efficacy of LAIV in various age groups. Methods Four studies in which the subject age range exceeded 36 months were identified: one 2-year study comparing LAIV with placebo and three 1-year studies comparing LAIV with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV). Efficacy against any strain regardless of antigenic similarity to vaccine was analyzed by age; age groups were based on the study design and sample size. A logistic regression model was used to assess whether age, as a continuous variable, was an effect modifier on LAIV efficacy. Results The efficacy of LAIV did not vary with age in children aged 15–84 months compared with placebo or in children aged 6 months to 17 years compared with TIV. Conclusions The available data from prospective, randomized studies in children does not support the concept that prior repeated exposure to influenza, either through wild-type infection or vaccination with live, attenuated or inactivated vaccines, reduces the efficacy of LAIV compared with placebo or TIV. The decreased immunologic responses to LAIV reported in older individuals or those with pre-existing immunity do not appear to translate into reduced protection from influenza in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China witnessed a surge of Omicron infections after abandoning 'zero COVID' strategies on 7 December 2022. The authorities report very sparse deaths based on very restricted criteria, but massive deaths are speculated. Methods: We aimed to estimate the COVID‐19 fatalities in Mainland China until summer 2023 using the experiences of Hong Kong and of South Korea in 2022 as prototypes. Both these locations experienced massive Omicron waves after having had very few SARS‐CoV‐2 infections during 2020–2021. We estimated age‐stratified infection fatality rates (IFRs) in Hong Kong and South Korea during 2022 and extrapolated to the population age structure of Mainland China. We also accounted separately for deaths of residents in long‐term care facilities in both Hong Kong and South Korea. Results: Infection fatality rate estimates in non‐elderly strata were modestly higher in Hong Kong than South Korea and projected 987,455 and 619,549 maximal COVID‐19 deaths respectively, if the entire China population were infected. Expected COVID‐19 deaths in Mainland China until summer 2023 ranged from 49,962 to 691,219 assuming 25–70% of the non‐elderly population being infected and variable protection of elderly (from none to three‐quarter reduction in fatalities). The main analysis (45% of non‐elderly population infected and fatality impact among elderly reduced by half) estimated 152,886–249,094 COVID‐19 deaths until summer 2023. Large uncertainties exist regarding potential changes in dominant variant, health system strain and impact on non‐COVID‐19 deaths. Conclusions: The most critical factor that can affect total COVID‐19 fatalities in China is the extent to which the elderly can be protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Introduction sets the scene for the Symposium. It considers the governance value of civic engagement, along with civic engagement as identifiable modes of governance. Such matters are embraced in the subsequent analyses of significant developments and experience in South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong and China. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies of firms that issue seasoned equity in the US and Japan have found that these firms significantly underperform over the long-run subsequent to the issue. I offer further evidence of this by examining Japanese seasoned offerings (SEOs) from 1975 to 1992. I find similar results for firms issuing seasoned equity in Hong Kong. However, I also find that Korean SEOs generate insignificant abnormal returns over a 36-month period following the issue. These results suggest that the asymmetric information argument offered for the US and Japanese markets do not always hold, especially in markets where the regulatory and market structures vary greatly. Cross-sectional results suggest that younger firms tend to perform worse than older firms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The relationship of state policy to economic growth in such countries as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore has been appreciated by some social scientists for quite some time while; Hong Kong seemed to be the deviant case. The article focuses on economic growth in Hong Kong, which was also predicated on substantial state intervention. However, state ownership of land, the provision of collective consumption, and the supply of basic commodities by the People's Republic of China, at less than market prices, are the defining characteristics. Although many commentators have noted the advantages of Hong Kong's geographical position in aiding rapid industrialization, her political status may have been equally important. Because it is administering a colony, Hong Kong's government has been able to avoid the types of political pressures that have often led to mushrooming public sectors, disproportionate investment in "non-productive" activities and resultant financial difficulties in many third world countries.