ATLANTA - A federal advisory panel on Thursday endorsed two new combination vaccines designed to reduce the number of needle sticks that young children must endure to get the recommended immunizations.

The panel gave its nod to a four-in-one shot made by GlaxoSmithKline. It offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio and costs $45. It's given once to preschool-aged children.

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Clinical Trials Update: June 25, 2008

(HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch:

Interstitial Cystitis

If you are 18 or older, and have had moderate-to-severe pain, pressure or discomfort due to painful bladder syndrome for at least six months, you may qualify for this study.

The research site is in Mountlake Terrace, Wash.

More information

Please see http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studi....

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Vaccines

If you are 68 or older and had a pneumonia vaccine at least three years ago, you may qualify for this study.

By Amanda Gardner
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have succeeded in developing a whole-virus bird flu vaccine that appears to be safe, more effective than the one currently approved for human use and also able to be manufactured much more quickly than conventional vaccines.

Three-quarters of volunteers produced antibodies against the virus after receiving a second dose of the vaccine, CELVAPAN, made by Baxter, compared with only 45 percent in the currently approved vaccine.