The FDA Now Wants Fall COVID Vaccines to Target KP.2But Not All Manufacturers Can Pivot – Verywell Health

The FDA Now Wants Fall COVID Vaccines to Target KP.2But Not All Manufacturers Can Pivot – Verywell Health

The FDA Now Wants Fall COVID Vaccines to Target KP.2But Not All Manufacturers Can Pivot – Verywell Health

The FDA Now Wants Fall COVID Vaccines to Target KP.2But Not All Manufacturers Can Pivot – Verywell Health

June 22, 2024

Key Takeaways

Less than a week after telling COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to target the JN.1 variant this fall, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reversed course.

The FDA is now asking vaccine manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax to target an offshoot of JN.1, called KP.2, insteadif feasible. The shift comes six days after the agency took the advice of its advisory panel and announced early fall vaccines should target JN.1.

While that advisory committee did discuss the emergence of KP.2 before the initial FDA decision to target JN.1, it concluded that the JN.1 vaccines already in development should be sufficient. That was in part to accommodate Novavax, who indicated it wouldnt be able to pivot to KP.2 for an early fall vaccine rollout. Experts like epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH, believe a vaccine option like Novavax, which doesnt use mRNA technology like Pfizer and Moderna, is important to offer alongside mRNA vaccines for better uptake. Thats because some people are wary of the newness of mRNA technology. Plus, unlike the mRNA vaccines, the Novavax vaccine does not include an ingredient called PEG, which a small number of people are allergic to.

Moderna and Pfizer told Verywell in emails that they would be able to comply with the newest FDA request. In a statement, Novavax implied their planned JN.1 vaccine should still do the trick, indicating its not possible to update the vaccine platform in time: Novavax's JN.1 vaccine has demonstrated broad cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple variant strains, including KP.2

Even if Pfizer and Moderna produce KP.2 vaccines in the coming months, that doesnt guarantee the vaccine will keep pace with COVID, which is constantly mutating. The FDA said that the agency will continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines.

If a markedly more virulent variant occurs that results in more morbidity or mortality, the agency could consider recommending a change in vaccine composition at any time, an FDA spokesperson told Verywell. Although it is true that protein-based vaccines [such as Novavax] currently take longer to manufacture, most COVID-19 vaccines administered in the U.S. have been mRNA-based, and these products could potentially be manufactured relatively quickly.

An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will determine who should actually get an updated COVID vaccine late next week. While COVID doesnt have a typical season like flu does, it still tends to mutate and spread easily when people are in close quarters during the winter. Therefore, the CDC has begun recommending an annually-updated vaccine, especially for people at risk of severe COVID, each fall.

Once the CDC makes its recommendations, people who are eligible for another shot should ask their doctors or pharmacists about which vaccine brand is best for them.

Amesh Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, suspects a Novavax vaccine that lags behind other options will have the lowest uptake, even though targeting JN.1 still offers cross-protection, because these variants are all very similar.

No matter what you choose, though, when it comes to protection against severe disease, any of the vaccines, including ones against outdated variants, confer that protection, he added. It will be important to look at the actual efficacy numbers [for Novavax], but I suspect that it would probably be much better than not getting an updated vaccine if youre in a high-risk group.

A CDC advisory committee will meet next week to determine who should get the vaccine. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you whether an updated COVID vaccineand which oneis recommended for you.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

By Fran Kritz Kritz is a healthcare reporter with a focus on health policy. She is a former staff writer for Forbes Magazine and U.S. News and World Report.

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?


See the original post here:
The FDA Now Wants Fall COVID Vaccines to Target KP.2But Not All Manufacturers Can Pivot - Verywell Health
Spike in Southern California Monkeypox Cases Sparks New Warning – Newsweek

Spike in Southern California Monkeypox Cases Sparks New Warning – Newsweek

June 22, 2024

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department issued a warning on Monday alerting residents to an uptick in Mpox (Monkeypox) cases, calling it a "concerning increase."

According to the news release, the Public Health Department said, "The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is alerting residents and health care providers about a concerning increase in mpox cases, with 10 new cases reported in Los Angeles County in the past two weeks up from an average of less than two cases per week during the preceding several weeks."

Read more: What Is a Health Savings Account?

The virus can be spread through close contact or by "respiratory droplets" which could include kissing, sneezing, or coughing, the LA Public Health Department says.

Monkeypox virus symptoms may be a rash on a person's hands or feet, face, chest or genital areas the Center for Disease Control says. The "incubation period" for the virus is between three to 17 days, the CDC says, and a person could feel normal and exhibit no symptoms. A person may also experience a headache, chills, fever, and respiratory issues the CDC says.

The LA Public Health Department also said in the release that "Early detection, testing and vaccination are vital to controlling the spread of this disease and protecting the health of Los Angeles County residents."

Read more: Compare the Top Health Savings Account (HSA) Providers

Newsweek reached out to the Los Angeles Public Health Department on Friday afternoon via email for comment and they responded saying the news release has the "most current information."

The LA County Public Health Department also listed recommendations for residents in the news release amid the increase in cases. The recommendations include getting testing if a person is exhibiting symptoms, asking a partner if they have symptoms of the virus, and getting the two-dose Jynneos vaccine.

Community leaders along with the Public Health Department are working together to "address" the "resurgence as swiftly and effectively as possible," the release says.

"Enhanced surveillance, contact tracing and outbreak investigations are underway to identify potential sources of the infection and prevent further transmission," the release notes. "Public Health's mobile vaccination units are providing free vaccination at numerous Pride events this season, Public Health's sexual health clinics found at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/chs/sexualhealthclinics/ and other walk-up vaccine clinics can be found at https://myturn.ca.gov/."

Meanwhile, the CDC posted to X, formerly Twitter, in May alerting health care professionals that summer gatherings could potentially lead to new cases of the virus. "Clinicians: summer gatherings could lead to new cases of mpox. Talk to your patients about the JYNNEOS vaccine. Two doses are more effective than one."

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.


Continued here:
Spike in Southern California Monkeypox Cases Sparks New Warning - Newsweek
Mpox cases detected in New South Wales, prompting vaccination alert – 7NEWS

Mpox cases detected in New South Wales, prompting vaccination alert – 7NEWS

June 22, 2024

Three mpox cases (formerly known as monkeypox) have been detected in New South Wales, prompting health authorities to encourage vaccination.

NSW Health said the three cases were confirmed this week and are linked to outbreaks in South Australia and Victoria.

A total of 72 mpox cases have been identified NSW in 2022.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

Mpox can spread through contact with contaminated items or surfaces, as well as prolonged or intimate skin-to-skin contact.

Symptoms of mpox include a rash, fever, sore throat, headache, tiredness, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes.

The rash may appear as vesicles, pustules or ulcers initially around the genitals, anus or buttock.

Mpox is endemic to a few African countries. In May 2022, a global outbreak began with over 97,000 cases reported, mainly affecting gay or bisexual men.

NSW Health executive director of health protection, Dr Jeremy McAnulty urged gay and bisexual men to be vigilant for symptoms and receive the free vaccine.

Mpox vaccine is recommended for all sexually active men who have sex with men, so get a vaccine if you havent already been vaccinated, he said.

It is important to note two doses of vaccine are required, so anyone who has only received one dose should get a second dose at least 28 days after the first.

Patients are considered contagious until rash lesions have crusted, scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed underneath.

READ MORE


The rest is here: Mpox cases detected in New South Wales, prompting vaccination alert - 7NEWS
Longitudinal Follow-Up Study on the Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Telephonic Questionnaire Approach – Cureus

Longitudinal Follow-Up Study on the Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Telephonic Questionnaire Approach – Cureus

June 22, 2024

Specialty

Please choose I'm not a medical professional. Allergy and Immunology Anatomy Anesthesiology Biostatistics Cardiac/Thoracic/Vascular Surgery Cardiology Critical Care Dentistry Dermatology Diabetes and Endocrinology Emergency Medicine Epidemiology and Public Health Family Medicine Forensic Medicine Gastroenterology General Practice Genetics Geriatrics Health Policy Hematology HIV/AIDS Hospital-based Medicine I'm not a medical professional. Infectious Disease Integrative/Complementary Medicine Internal Medicine Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Medical Education and Simulation Medical Physics Medical Student Nephrology Neurological Surgery Neurology Nuclear Medicine Nutrition Obstetrics and Gynecology Occupational Health Oncology Ophthalmology Optometry Oral Medicine Orthopaedics Osteopathic Medicine Otolaryngology Pain Management Palliative Care Pathology Pediatrics Pediatric Surgery Pharmacology Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Plastic Surgery Podiatry Preventive Medicine Psychiatry Psychology Pulmonology Radiation Oncology Radiology Rheumatology Substance Use and Addiction Surgery Therapeutics Trauma Urology Miscellaneous


Read the original post:
Longitudinal Follow-Up Study on the Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Telephonic Questionnaire Approach - Cureus
Emergent, once giant in the COVID vaccine business, exits Baltimore – The Baltimore Banner

Emergent, once giant in the COVID vaccine business, exits Baltimore – The Baltimore Banner

June 22, 2024

Gaithersburg-based Emergent BioSolutions is officially leaving Baltimore after a tumultuous stretch that began when it was forced to ditch hundreds of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine over questionable quality standards.

The company had already laid off hundreds of workers and shuttered the Bayview plant in East Baltimore where those bulk doses were produced. And Emergent said Thursday that it would sell its other major Baltimore plant, located in the Carroll-Camden industrial area, to an affiliate of Bora Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.

That plant was a fill center where it packaged drugs and therapeutics for market. Officials said all of Emergents 350 workers are expected to join Bora under the $30 million deal.

The decision to sell our Camden manufacturing facility is aligned with our multi-year plan to create a customer focused, leaner and more flexible organization, while we improve overall profitability and raise capital to reduce our debt, Joe Papa, Emergents president and CEO, said in a statement.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

We are working to ensure a smooth transition to Bora, especially for our Camden team and valued customers, over the coming weeks and months.

The company has been laying off workers and fending off lawsuits from shareholders since its COVID-19 vaccine debacle years ago. The suits claimed the company inflated its stock price while hiding manufacturing problems.

Emergent also faced an inquiry by the Congress Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis that showed its problems were deeper than initially disclosed. In all, about 525 million Emergent vaccine doses made had to be discarded, according to the congressional report.

The Biden administration had already canceled the federal contract, signed during the Trump administration, with Emergent to make the COVID vaccine, but the congressional panel said its finding confirmed the decision.

Federal inspectors found the company had insufficient processes and record keeping to ensure that vaccines were being made properly. Officials said at the time that the massive deals to make two kinds of vaccines at once, those developed by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, ended up being unrealistic.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Johnson & Johnsons vaccine never caught on, and AstraZenecas was largely used overseas.

The company continues to employ workers elsewhere across the U.S., including in Maryland, and Canada, although other Emergent facilities have laid off hundreds of workers in recent years. That includes some 300 layoffs earlier this year when it said it would shutter the Bayview plant and another one based in Rockville. Last year, Emergent laid off about 230 workers in Maryland.

Emergents biggest product continues to be Narcan nasal spray, used to reverse opioid overdoses. It also has government contracts to produce smallpox and anthrax vaccines for the national stockpile.

The Camden deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024.

In May, the company reported first quarter income of $9 million on about $300.4 million in revenue.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

The companys stock price, which peaked at $133 a share in 2020, was at about $6.38 in morning trading.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the number of Emergents layoffs from earlier this year.


More: Emergent, once giant in the COVID vaccine business, exits Baltimore - The Baltimore Banner
Dear Abby: My tenant isn’t vaccinated for COVID, what do I do? – New York Post

Dear Abby: My tenant isn’t vaccinated for COVID, what do I do? – New York Post

June 22, 2024

DEAR ABBY: Several months ago, I let the 49-year-old son of a dear friend move into my basement. Jason pays me rent plus utilities.

Last week, he informed me that he is not vaccinated for COVID. He was drinking at the time. Since my husband passed away with COVID in his system two years ago, I told Jason he would need to get vaccinated or find another place to live, but now Im not sure he remembers the conversation.

How should I handle this? I dont want to alienate his mother (or him, whom I love like a son) over this? HEALTH-CONSCIOUS IN COLORADO

DEAR HEALTH-CONSCIOUS: Ask Jason if he remembers the conversation you had in which he mentioned that he has not been vaccinated for COVID. If he doesnt recall having made the statement, remind him. Then tell him that when your husband passed, he had COVID in his system, that you do not want to risk being exposed to COVID and that if he wishes to continue living with you, he will have to stay current on his vaccines. This need not be a confrontation if you approach the subject calmly.

DEAR ABBY: My girlfriend and I broke up after six years. Both of us have children from marriages that ended seven years ago. We reached a point a year and a half ago and started looking for a house together. After realizing we couldnt afford what she wanted in a home for our blended family, our relationship became strained. The last year has been our worst.

As she suffered through job loss and other outside forces affecting her mental health, I tried to offer her more support, but she felt suffocated. I am sometimes too intense trying to find solutions, even when she says she needs space. I have not kept up my end of giving her space.

We have had the best connection of our lives, so seeing her in pain has me distraught. She says she isnt able to give what I need in our relationship, while I have strived to be a good teammate in her times of need. Now she says she is done because I didnt give her space.

She is the love of my life. What do I do during this crushing and devastating time of my life? DAZED IN NORTH CAROLINA

DEAR DAZED: Im sorry things didnt turn out better for you. You and your girlfriend have very different communication styles. She wanted to vent and be heard. You felt compelled to find solutions to her problems. When someone says they need space, it often means the person feels pushed or smothered. It can also mean they want to dial back the relationship or may have met someone else.

Right now, your next step should be a giant one backward. Increase your exercise schedule, spend time with friends and do not sit around alone and brooding over something you cant change. IF the two of you manage to get together again, I urge you to get into couples counseling so this kind of heartbreak doesnt happen again.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.


Follow this link: Dear Abby: My tenant isn't vaccinated for COVID, what do I do? - New York Post
What Is H5N1 Bird Flu, How it Spreads to Humans, and Safety Concerns – URMC

What Is H5N1 Bird Flu, How it Spreads to Humans, and Safety Concerns – URMC

June 22, 2024

The H5N1 virus, also known as avian or bird flu, is once again in the news and on the radar of scientists and public health officials as a growing number of infections have been found in dairy cattle and farm workers.

David Topham, PhD, a professor of Microbiology and Immunology and director of the University of Rochester Translational Immunology and Infectious Disease Institute, has been studying the H5N1 and other influenza viruses for 27 years.

Topham: The H5N1 virus has been in North America for quite a long time in both wild birds and domestic poultry. A few years ago, a large outbreak in chickens and turkeys prompted farms to cull their entire flocks. Bird flu has been circulating in dairy cattle for at least five to six months and probably longer, but we don't know exactly when or where it jumped over.

We assume its a respiratory infection in cattle, and it also looks like the udders are infected because were finding a lot of virus in milk. There are also reports of infections in cats, which is concerning because theyre biologically closer to humans than cattle are.

The recent cases in humans have been dairy workers in a handful of states (not New York) who have close contact with the cattle. This is similar to what weve experienced since 1997, when H5N1 first emerged, and the people infected were either working with infected poultry or taking care of severely ill family members. So, transmission of H5N1 in humans so far resulted from very intense contact, as opposed to casually spreading.

Topham: Viral particles have been detected in the milk supply, but people should rest assured that pasteurization kills microorganisms, including the H5N1 virus.

A lot of people feel that drinking raw milk is healthier than pasteurized milk and I respect that. But when there's potentially a pathogen floating around in that milk, that changes the equation, and I would recommend avoiding raw milk at present.

Topham: Get vaccinated. Flu vaccines aren't perfect, but even a badly matched vaccine is better than no vaccine and will offer a degree of protection. It won't necessarily keep you from getting infected, but people that have more immunity tend to experience less-severe symptoms.

Topham: Anytime these viruses start to pop up in environments where lots of people are present and there are signs of infection, that's a concern. Because the more often that happens, the more likely that two viruses, such as the human influenza virus and the avian H5N1 virus, will mix and a new virus can emerge.

This is just like reshuffling a deck of cards, and if the virus gets a better hand maybe it acquires the ability to spread from person to person via the respiratory route, and that would be really bad. This mixing event is the biggest concern and a major red line, because thats historically how pandemic influenza has emerged.

Topham: The good news is that we already have an H5N1 vaccine stockpile. We've developed vaccines against this strain that may not be a perfect match but will be close enough. In fact, the government has ordered manufacturers to begin increasing the stockpiles. So if the virus were to emerge, we could scale up very quickly and we would rapidly begin vaccinating people.

The COVID pandemic has accelerated the process of vaccine development, testing, and manufacturing and we are able to quickly ramp up the production even against newly emerged variants. We can do it in months instead of years. Tamiflu and the other antivirals against influenza look like they're effective against this virus.


Go here to see the original:
What Is H5N1 Bird Flu, How it Spreads to Humans, and Safety Concerns - URMC
Protecting more children, against more diseases, faster than ever before – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Protecting more children, against more diseases, faster than ever before – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

June 22, 2024

Paris / Geneva, 21 June 2024 On 20 June Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) co-hosted the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation with the African Union and the French Republic. At this event, opened by the Chair of the Board of Gavi, the President of the French Republic, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Gavi called on donors to support its efforts to protect more children, against more diseases, faster than ever before as it published its Investment Opportunity for its next strategic period, 20262030. The Forum also marked the launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), which will be backed by approximately US$ 1.2 billion in donor funding over the next 10 years.

Countries from around the world participated in this Global Forum, including the Heads of State or Government of Botswana, Germany, Ghana, Norway, Rwanda, and Senegal, as well as high-level representatives from governments (including more than 25 Ministers) and the European Commission, and leaders of partner organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, the Global Fund and Unitaid, as well from civil society, development banks, and the private sector.

In presenting its latest Investment Opportunity, Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi outlined to participants how the Alliance, if fully funded, could protect 500 million children in its next five-year strategic period, saving over 8 million lives.

Todays announced targets mean that while Gavi vaccinated one billion children between 2000 and 2020, it is aiming to reach the next billion children in half the time. This acceleration through 2030 is critical at a time when countries combat the increasing risks of climate change, fragility, and economic instability and in the last push towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Fifty percent of the vaccines in Gavis portfolio help combat the twin threats of climate change and antimicrobial resistance, expand investments in outbreak and pandemic preparedness and response, and key vaccine programmes. In Gavis next five-year strategy, it will aim to reach at least 50 million children with four doses of the malaria vaccine, and 120 million girls saving 1.5 million lives with the HPV vaccine.

Achieving this historic milestone will require effort from all of Gavis stakeholders, with donors being asked to provide new funding of US$ 9 billion. These pledges will be supplemented by a suite of innovative finance instruments that will maximise the impact of donor funding. Meanwhile, countries implementing Gavi programmes are expected to contribute a record amount over 40% of their own routine vaccine costs during the next strategic period. This is compared to 10% just fifteen years ago, reflective of the Vaccine Alliances unique model of country-ownership and sustainability of immunisation programmes. At the same time, immunisation programmes are expected to generate at least US$ 100 billion in economic benefits for Gavi-implementing countries.

With Gavis replenishment process for 20262030 only just beginning, the event saw early pledges from the United States of America, France, Spain and private sector and philanthropic donors worth at least US$ 2.4 billion (see below for details). Gavi will now commence an intense period of fundraising, with a view to hosting a final pledging event in the next 7 to 12 months.

The Forum also saw the official launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), an innovative finance mechanism designed to boost regional vaccine production capabilities in Africa and thus improve the continents resilience in the face of pandemics and other health emergencies.

Designed by Gavi in close collaboration with the African Union and Africa CDC, AVMA will offer incentives to the regions vaccine producers that successfully hit critical regulatory and supply milestones, helping to offset high upfront investment costs. Twelve sovereign and philanthropic donors committed to provide approximately US$ 1.2 billion to AVMA, including around US$ 800 million from Team Europe partners.

"Over twenty years, Gavi has vaccinated a whole generation over one billion children. Our message today to our donors is that, with their help we can achieve even greater impact, helping to create a world that is safer for everyone," said Jos Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

"The Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation we organized together today in Paris is a concrete milestone towards vaccine sovereignty in Africa. France, hand in hand with its partners, is leading the way to champion global vaccination, ensuring every nation can protect its citizens and foster a healthier, united world," said Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic.

"The African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator could thus become a catalyst for promoting the pharmaceutical industry in Africa, creating an environment conducive to technical assistance and technology transfer, and fostering innovation and collaboration between member states. Africa-CDC is strongly committed to increasing Africa's drug production capacity from 1% to 60% by 2040. As part of this drive, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), once operational, will lay the foundations for a genuine integration of the levers of our health sovereignty," said Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

In addition to unveiling its 20262030 Investment Opportunity and formalizing AVMA, the Forum saw a number of new commitments and partnerships launched in support of Gavis next strategic period, leading to early pledges totalling more than US$ 2.4 billion:

A number of commitments were also confirmed in support of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), primarily through strategic reallocations of COVID-19 funding, totalling approximately US$ 1.2 billion.

In addition to financial commitments from sovereign and private donors to Gavis next strategic period, and innovative private sector and philanthropic partnerships, vaccine manufacturers also stepped up to support the Vaccine Alliances goal of shaping healthy vaccine markets that support equitable access:

A specific declaration dedicated to supporting local production of vaccines against cholera was also made under the auspices of the Forum with the support of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, the United States of America, as well as the European Commission, Gavi, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Health Organisation. France made a concrete commitment to this ambition by announcing support of EUR 10 million.

"With the support of Team Europe, France committed to co-host this Forum with the Vaccine Alliance and the African Union because we share a common ambition: ensuring vaccine sovereignty for all our partners! Local production is key to better fight epidemics and next pandemics. This objective is at the core of our global health strategy as well as of the EU-AU strategic partnership," said Dr Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Minister of State for Development and International Partnerships of the French Republic.

"Africa CDC supports the replenishment of Gavis 6.0 strategy, an investment in preventing deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases in Africa. AVMA will enable us to produce 60% of our vaccines in Africa by 2040. The commitments and pledges for the AVMA mark the beginning of Africas journey towards its second independence an Africa that ensures the health security for its citizens," said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

"We are incredibly grateful for the strong show of support we received today from donors as we prepare for an intense period of resource mobilisation. We are grateful also to implementing countries, for the political commitment they make to vaccine equity, and alongside them Gavis many partners and stakeholders with whom we strive day in, day out, to improve lives and livelihoods," said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi.

Gavi and its partners also launched "The Starting Line," a campaign designed to mobilise athletes, content creators, and media to highlight the importance of equal access to vaccines. The campaign will run through this summer's Paris Olympics and will feature a series of sporting champions, including former French footballer Robert Pires, former swimmer, and Olympic gold medalist Laure Manaudou, breakdancer Junior Bosila Banya, professional footballer Ada Hegerberg, and Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah. Additionally, the campaign will include a series of videos by content creators such as Michel Cymes and Max Klymenko, and the launch of a website where everyone can assess their place on "The Starting Line" of life.


View post:
Protecting more children, against more diseases, faster than ever before - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
State of Kansas Files a Lawsuit Against COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturer – Contagionlive.com

State of Kansas Files a Lawsuit Against COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturer – Contagionlive.com

June 22, 2024

Yesterday Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced the state is suing Pfizer for misleading claims it made related to the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition to Kobach, Deputy Attorney General Fran Oleen, Assistant Attorney General Kaley Schrader, and Assistant Attorney General Melanie Jack announced the lawsuit ata press conference in the state capital of Topeka.1

According to the complaint that was filed in Thomas County District Court, a news statement says Pfizers misledKansans about the vaccines risks, including to pregnant women and for myocarditis.And that Pfizer claimed its vaccine protected against COVID variants, despite data showing otherwise. The statement also said the pharmaceutical company also suggested its vaccine prevented COVID transmission, but later admitted it had never studied whether its vaccine stopped transmission.1

The complaint also alleges that Pfizer coordinated with social media officials to censor speech critical of COVID-19 vaccinesand declined to participate in the federal governments vaccine development program, Operation Warp Speed, to avoid government oversight.1

Pfizer made multiple misleading statements to deceive the public about its vaccine at a time when Americans needed the truth, Kobach said.

Pfizer's partner, BioNTech, was not named in the suit.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was the first FDA approved vaccine back in 2021.

In a statement to the newspaper, The Hill, a Pfizer said the case has no merit and plans to respond to the suit in due course.2

We are proud to have developed the COVID-19 vaccine in record time in the midst of a global pandemic and saved countless lives. The representations made by Pfizer about its COVID-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based, the company said, adding later, Patient safety is our number one priority, which is why we follow diligent safety and monitoring protocols.2

In the Nature of the Action section of the compliant, the attorney general alleges: 1.Pfizer misled the public that it had a "safe and effective" COVID-19 vaccine. 2.Pfizer said its COVID-19 vaccine was safe even though it knew its COVID-19 vaccine was connected to serious adverse events, including myocarditis and pericarditis, failed pregnancies, and deaths. 3.Pfizer concealed this critical safety information from the public. 4. Pfizers said its COVID-19 vaccine would prevent transmission of COVID-19 even though it knew it never studied the effect of its vaccine on transmission of COVID-19. 5.To keep the public from learning the truth, Pfizer worked to censor speech on social media that questioned Pfizers claims about its COVID-19 vaccine. 6. Pfizers misrepresentations of a safe and effective vaccine resulted in record company revenue of approximately $75 billion from COVID-19 vaccine sales in just two years. 7. 7. Pfizers actions and statements relating to its COVID-19 vaccine violated previous consent judgments with the State of Kansas. 8.Pfizers actions and statements relating to its COVID-19 vaccine violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, K.S.A. 50-623 et seq., regardless of whether any individual consumer ultimately received Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine. 9. Pfizer must be held accountable for falsely representing the benefits of its COVID-19 vaccine while concealing and suppressing the truth about its vaccines safety risks, waning effectiveness, and inability to prevent transmission.

In the Allegations Common to All Counts section, the complaint reads:

Pfizers misrepresentations about its COVID-19 vaccine violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act and Pfizers consent judgments with Kansas each time Pfizer made them to a Kansas consumer, regardless of whether an individual consumer decided to receive or forgo Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

Millions of Kansans heard Pfizers misrepresentations about its COVID-19 vaccine. For example, Pfizer administered 3,355,518 Pfizer vaccine doses in Kansas as of February 7, 2024. This accounted for more than 60% of all vaccine doses in Kansas."

Interested parties can Read the full complaint here.

This suit comes after the state of Texas filed a suit against Pfizer in November of last year for a similar reason saying it unlawfully misrepresenting the effectiveness of the companys COVID-19 vaccine and attempting to censor public discussion of the product. 3

To read the petition,click here.

References

2. Nazzaro M. Kansas sues Pfizer over misleading statements about COVID vaccines. The Hill. June 17, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2024. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4726687-kansas-sues-pfizer-misleading-statements-covid-vaccine/mlite/


More:
State of Kansas Files a Lawsuit Against COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturer - Contagionlive.com
Series of free rabies vaccination clinic continues in Monroe County – 13WHAM-TV

Series of free rabies vaccination clinic continues in Monroe County – 13WHAM-TV

June 22, 2024

Series of free rabies vaccination clinic continues in Monroe County

by WHAM

Monroe County held a free rabies vaccination clinic Friday, June 21, 2024 in Henrietta. (Photo by Ben Vahey/WHAM)

Henrietta, N.Y. Monroe County hosted a free rabies vaccination clinic Friday.

It's part of a series of free vaccine clinics being held by the county through October.

The next opportunity for pet owners will be at the Sweden Community Center on Lake Road South on Saturday, Aug. 10. Pre-registration is required.

A full schedule and list of vaccination requirements can be found below:

Load more...


See the original post:
Series of free rabies vaccination clinic continues in Monroe County - 13WHAM-TV