Have vaccines for mpox been developed? The short answer is yes, they have.
The European Union, United States, Canada and others approved the use of the MVA-BN vaccine back in 2022 during the first declared global health emergency formpox.
The long answer is a bit more complicated.
Vaccines to protect against an mpoxinfection do exist, but currently no available vaccines specifically target the monkeypox virus. How is this possible?
The monkeypox virus belongs to a genus of viruses called Orthopoxvirus, which are all complex DNA viruses.
Among others, viruses in this genus include the variola virus, which causes smallpox, the cowpox virus and the vaccinia virus.
Viruses from this genus have a great share of genetic similarity, which makes it possible for vaccines developed against other viruses to also be used to protect from mpox infection.
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Vaccines which protect against mpox rely ona phenomenon called cross-reactivity.
Cross-reactivity happens when different antigens different species of viruses, for example appear similar to our immune system.
Imagine this: As viruses from the Orthopoxvirus are structurally similar, if a person is infected by the variola virus, for example, the antibodiesthat their cells willproduce against the viruswill also be able to protect them against a monkeypox virus infection.
Cross-reactivity between antibodies to Orthopoxvirus allows a vaccine developed to fight smallpox, for example, to also work with mpox infections.
The answer currently seems to be:there is no guarantee.
Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 after a decadeslong global mass vaccination effort.
After the 1980s, mass immunization against the disease stopped, which some researchers suggest could have increased the susceptibility of people to other forms ofOrthopoxvirus, including the monkeypox virus.
In fact, people born after the end of the universal smallpox vaccination program have lower levels of antibodies against the monkeypox virus.
This could explain why men aged 18-44 accounted for the majority of cases in the previous 2022-2023 mpox global outbreak.
But previous smallpox vaccination doesnt mean that a person is fully protected from contracting mpox.
Previous studies have suggested that the smallpox vaccine is about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox virus infection, but people who have received a smallpox vaccine seem to have milder cases of mpox .
As of August 2024, there is only one vaccine approved for use against mpox across all of the EU/EEA, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland and Canada.
This is the MVA-BN vaccine, also known as Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic.
The vaccine consists of a weakened strain of the vaccinia virus one of the viruses from the Orthopoxvirus genus, which the monkeypox virus belongs to.
The Modified Vaccinia Ankaravaccine was developed in the 1950s and '60s in Germany and was originally used to protect against smallpox infection.
Its current form, MVA-BN, was developed by the Danish biotech company Bavarian Nordic and has been in production since 2010. It is given in two doses, usually 28 days apart.
TheWorld Health Organizationlists another two vaccines approved bydifferent regulatory agencies for the prevention of mpox.
During the 2022 mpox outbreak, Japan approved the smallpox vaccine LC16, and Russia licensed OrthopoxVac for immunization against smallpox, mpox and other orthopoxviruses.
In the United States and Australia, ACAM2000, a vaccine which contains a live vaccinia virus, is recommended for people at risk for exposure to Orthopoxvirus infections.
Yes. One example is a new mRNA vaccine BNT166 specifically targeting antigens on the monkeypox virus, which is now under clinical evaluation.
You might be familiar with mRNA vaccines from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing global vaccination effort.
Currently, the WHO doesn't recommend a mass vaccination program. It recommends that only people who are at risk or who have been in contact with the virus should be considered for vaccination.
Edited by: Martin Kuebler
Sources and data:
Li D, Wang H, Sun L, et al. Levels of antibodies against the monkeypox virus compared by HIV status and historical smallpox vaccinations: a serological study. Emerging Microbes & Infections. Published in2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2024.2356153
Zuiani A, Dulberger CL, Silva, et al. A multivalent mRNA monkeypox virus vaccine (BNT166) protects mice and macaques from orthopoxvirus disease. Cell.Published in 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.017
Jezek Z, Grab B, Szczeniowski M, Paluku K, Mutombo M. Human monkeypox: secondary attack rates. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Published in 1988. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2844429/
Marzuki C, Zaid A, Azman FW, et al. Vaccines for Orthopoxviruses: A Review. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences. Published in2023. https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.19.s9.41
CDC. Mpox in the US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published October 19, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/clinicians/vaccines/vaccine-considerations.html
Akter F, Tahira Binte Hasan, Alam F, et al. Effect of prior immunisation with smallpox vaccine for protection against human Mpox: A systematic review. Reviews in Medical Virology. Published in 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/rmv.2444
Officials at Kadena Air Base in Japan said that childhood vaccines administered at a clinic over nearly three months might be "potentially ineffective," with the news coming right as students on base are set to return to school.
The vaccinations were for measles, mumps and rubella, as well as varicella, a condition also known as chickenpox that is treated with the Varivax vaccine. The vaccines -- part of the recommended schedule of vaccinations for children -- were administered by the Kadena Immunization Clinic between May 3 and July 29.
"There are no assessed health risks associated with the administration of these vaccines," the Kadena Medical Clinic said on Facebook. "In the coming days, the 18th Medical Group immunizations staff will reach out to impacted patients to advise on corrective actions."
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First Lt. Robert Dabbs, a spokesman for the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, told Military.com that the issue arose from improper storage of the vaccines.
"The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and varicella (chickenpox/Varivax) vaccines were temporarily stored at colder than recommended temperatures," Dabbs said. "The 18th Wing is conducting a thorough investigation of this event to ensure the highest standards of safe, quality care for our community."
Dabbs declined to quantify the total number of individuals who were given the potentially ineffective vaccines.
During the investigation, the Kadena Medical Clinic announced on Facebook that the 18th Medical Group Immunization Clinic "will be closed during this process, and United States Naval Hospital Okinawa is available for urgent needs."
The naval hospital is also located on the island.
Both inoculations are required to attend Department of Defense Education Activity Schools, per public documents. The 2024-2025 school year for students attending Department of Defense schools in the Pacific is set to start next week, according to the online calendars.
Officials advised that people who have not been contacted by the 18th Medical Group clinic staff by Aug. 22 should call the 18th Medical Group Patient Advocate at "DSN 630-4146 or Comm 098-960-4146," according to the Facebook post.
This isn't the first time that the Kadena Medical Clinic has made errors when administering vaccines.
In January, the clinic announced on Facebook that staff had "determined that four pediatric patients were administered incorrect vaccines while receiving care."
Clinic staff contacted parents to check on children and address any questions or concerns, the base said at that time.
Related: Troops Suing Defense Department over Vaccine Mandate Reach $1.8 Million Settlement
A Health Care Worker seals a coronavirus swab after testing at the Pro Health Urgent Care coronavirus testing site on April 30, 2020 in Wantagh, New York. Al Bello/Getty Images North America hide caption
If it seems like a lot of people are getting COVID right now, youre not imagining it.
Were in the middle of a worldwide summer COVID-19 wave.
A high or very high level of COVID-19 virus is being detected in wastewater in almost every state, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 10 other states have a high amount of COVID in the wastewater.
Were now relying on wastewater data, because people arent testing. We cant have other reliable measures, said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the School of Public Health at Brown University and former White House COVID-19 response coordinator in an interview with NPRs Morning Edition. He said that based on the wastewater data, this is turning out to be possibly the biggest summer wave weve had.
Jha said weve settled into what feels like a more familiar pattern with COVID. Recently, the CDC labeled COVID as being endemic, meaning that COVID is here to stay in predictable ways.
There are two waves a year: one during summer and another during winter. The summer wave tends to be a little smaller, while the winter wave is bigger. But unlike the flu, which has a wave in the winter and almost no cases after, COVID infections can rise in between waves.
Its looking like this is probably not a seasonal virus, so it will likely be year round, said Dr. Otto Yang, associate chief of infectious diseases and UCLA and professor of medicine in an interview with Morning Edition.
Jha adds that the summer wave this year is still smaller than any of the winter ones, but as far as summer waves go, this has been a substantial one. It started a little earlier than the one last summer, and infections are still rising. Jha is hopeful that the surge will peak and ease soon, but he doesnt know exactly when that will happen.
COVID is continuing to evolve very rapidly, and every three or four months we get a new COVID variant. This summer, the dominant strains of COVID are KP.3.1.1, accounting for 27.8% of U.S cases and KP.3, accounting for 20.1%, according to data from the CDC and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Jha said that these variants evolved from Omicron.
It doesnt seem like these variants are more deadly. But they are almost certainly more contagious, said Yang. So if you have something thats equally deadly but more contagious, you will see more severe illnesses and deaths.
A new vaccine is currently being developed to target these new dominant variants. It is expected to come out in September.
Theyre better matched to their variants. The antibodies should work better. And so they would hopefully reduce the number of people that are getting symptomatic COVID and hopefully with that reduce the circulation, said Yang. Like the current vaccines, Yang expects the new vaccine to work well to prevent severe illness and death.
Jha echoed that the new vaccines will be very protective against the current variants. He said the vaccines available right now are targeted to the variants that were dominant last year, and those are long gone. The COVID vaccines are not going to provide a lot of protection against infection, if any at all. But they would still provide some protection against serious illness, he said.
If you havent gotten your vaccine this year, Jha recommends waiting until the new vaccine comes out in a few weeks for the best protection.
He acknowledges that asking people to make substantial changes to their lives four and a half years into the virus is a tall order. For most people, he said, getting vaccinated is good enough. And if you are high risk and do get infected, treatments like Paxlovid are a great option, he added.
Jha said that the recommendation for most people is to get one shot a year, He said theres evidence that for the highest risk people, like elderly people in their late 70s or 80s or people who are immunocompromised, a second shot in the spring can offer an important level of protection. And for most Americans, they should focus on getting one shot a year.
What I recommend to people is they get it around the time they get their flu shot, which is usually in late September or October, said Jha.
Yang, though, thinks it is a good idea for anyone to get a booster if they havent had a COVID vaccine in six months.
Even though Jha said this may be the worst summer COVID spike weve had, he said there is some good news.
If you look at deaths from COVID so far in 2024, its down pretty substantially from 2023. So yes, were getting these surges but theyre not turning into hospitalizations and deaths at the same kind of numbers weve seen in past years, Jha said. Thats progress. Thats good news. That is immunity being built up over time. And so each infection just doesnt mean as much as it did four years ago, or even as much as it did two years ago.
This article was edited by Obed Manuel.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern due to the rising number of cases of mpox.
A new variant of mpoxpreviously known as monkeypoxemerged in September 2023 and has since surged in the African nation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to charity Doctors Without Borders, 479 people have died in the DRC since the start of the year due to the outbreak of a more severe strain, named clade 1b.
The neighboring countries of Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya have also reported cases of the new variant.
On August 15, the strain was first recorded outside of Africa. A person became infected in Africa and then traveled to Sweden; the individual is receiving treatment in the Stockholm region.
A matter of hours before the Swedish public health agency confirmed it had a case, the WHOs director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,called for a coordinated international responseto stop these outbreaks and save lives.
On Friday Pakistans health authority confirmed it has at least one case of mpox in a patient who had recently returned from a Gulf countrythough the strain of mpox the patient has is not yet confirmed.
The mpox disease across the spectrum is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact.
However, in the case of clade 1b thus far, the disease is believed to have been transmitted via sexual encounters.
The outbreak of clade 1b is understood to have originated in the mining town of Kamituga in the South Kivu province. A 2024 study published in the National Library of Medicine established the majority of patients in the initial surge were sex workers.
Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia tells Fortune that because of this fact, some social networks should exercise caution, whereas the wider population need not be as concerned.
Professor Hunter, whose expertise includes the epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases, points to the 2022 outbreak of mpox as an example of why the disease spread so rapidly in the past.
The outbreak two years agowhen patients had often traveled to Europe and North America as opposed to Africahe explains was spread predominantly through whats called sexual networks, where groups of people have a lifestyle where they have multiple sexual partners. And thats how it spread so effectively and so rapidly last time around.
Unlike COVID, the mpox disease in general does not merely spread via close contact, given the fact it is not airborne.
As a result, the COVID no-gos of traveling, public transport, and congregating in public spaces such as offices are unlikely to be impacted.
Professor Hunter describes the skin-to-skin contact that transmits mpox generally as intimate, such as holding hands, sharing a bed with someone, or a parent washing a child.
An air kiss on the cheeka greeting adopted in European nationswould not pose a risk, for example, Professor Hunter said.
Thats not going to transmit it, unless theres something on their cheek and you you press your cheek against their cheek, he adds.
Why the more aggressive clade 1b strain, in particular, is spreading through sexual intercourse as opposed to intimate contact is not yet known, Professor Hunter added.
There may have been some genetic evolution, Professor Hunter adds. There may not. It might have been just a purely random thing that it [was contracted] by these sex workers and then its been transmitting sexually ever since.
In the West we only really get interested in a disease when it starts directly threatening us, Professor Hunter adds to Fortune. The problem is that so many of these diseases could have been prevented from spreading if the countries on the ground had had the resources.
When [clade 1b] was first identified, if we had put a lot of effort into actually trying to control itvaccinating sex workers, making diagnosesthen we might not be having this conversation now.
But thats a recurring theme and we saw it to a certain extent with COVID as well. The West only gets concerned about controlling epidemics when we start seeing cases, and then it is almost always too late to eradicate the infection.
In 2022, Professor Hunter said, the outbreak slowed because of a change in behavior as opposed to a vaccine rollout.
Reliance on vaccines would have proved untenable, however, as, according to Reuters, the WHOs appeal for $34 million to fight mpox received no response from donors.
Unlike COVID, the symptoms of mpox are visible to the naked eye.
The disease has an incubation period of three to 17 days, writes the Centre for Disease Control, when the individual may exhibit no symptoms.
Physical symptoms after this incubation include a rashwhich may look like pimples or blisterson the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth or near the genitals.
Other symptoms include fever, chills, exhaustion, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and respiratory symptoms like a sore throat or a cough.
Mpox is both curable and preventable.
Despite global outbreaks in recent years, case numbers across the West have been declining. In the U.S. in July, for example, case numbers have neared zero.
There are currently two vaccines the WHO recommends for mpox.
Western nations such as the U.S. have already vaccinated millions of peopleacross the States, for example, 1.3 million people have had a dose in the past 20 years.
However, the mpox virus is endemic (regularly occurring) in African nations because this is where the animals that carry the disease reside. As a result of these reservoirs of animal populations, the disease continually jumps to humans in these areas.
In these countries, the risk of infection to the public is higher, and access to good public health care is rarer.
Traditionally, outbreaks are viewed through the lens of global health security, saidMichael Marks, professor of medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
If it isnt impacting high-income countries, even if an outbreak is very bad, there will likely be insufficient funding. If we looked at it through the perspective of health as a human right, we would already be providing vaccines and interventions to mpox-affected countries, not to prevent emergencies but because people deserve a right to health care.
Its clear current mpox control strategies arent working and there is an urgent need for more resources including people, money, and vaccines.
The Western response to the mpox outbreak has been mixed.
Danish vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic has confirmed it will donate 40,000 doses of its mpox vaccine to Africa Centres for Disease Control.
With demand for its offering increasing, so, too, has the companys share priceup 16% in the past day at the time of writing.
Pfizer announced encouraging top-line results from substudy B of its pivotal Phase 3 MONeT trial, demonstrating that the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo is both well-tolerated and effective in generating strong neutralizing responses in immunocompromised adults aged 18 and older.1
The RSV vaccine showed strong immunogenicity and safety in immunocompromised adults, study finds. | Image credit: jetcityimage - stock.adobe.com
Immunocompromised adults, such as patients with cancer or autoimmune disorders, have a substantially increased risk of experiencing severe complications from RSV, yet there are currently no vaccines approved for those aged 18 to 59 in the US, said Annaliesa Anderson, PhD, senior vice president and chief scientific officer of Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, in a statement. We are encouraged by the positive top-line data from this study, which provide important evidence that Abrysvo has the potential to address a significant unmet need in this vulnerable population.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes symptoms resembling a cold.2 Currently, the CDC recommends an RSV vaccine for everyone aged 75 and older and for adults aged 60 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV.
The study (NCT05842967) included individuals with conditions such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), end-stage renal disease, autoimmune disorders, and solid organ transplants.1 Approximately 203 immunocompromised adults were enrolled in the study, of which approximately half were aged 18 to 59, and the other half were aged 60 years and older.
Participants received 2 doses of the vaccine, administered 1 month apart. The primary end point was to assess the safety of the vaccine, including any adverse events or reactions. The secondary end point was to evaluate the immunogenicity of the vaccine, specifically measuring the neutralizing antibody response against both RSV-A and RSV-B subtypes.
Safety data were collected throughout the trial, while immunogenicity was assessed by measuring levels of neutralizing antibodies in blood samples taken before and after vaccination.
The vaccine demonstrated a consistent safety profile, with no unexpected adverse effects reported across the diverse participant groups, including those with NSCLC, individuals on hemodialysis due to end-stage renal disease, those with autoimmune inflammatory disorders receiving active immunomodulator therapy, and solid organ transplant recipients.
While the study evaluated doses of the vaccine, the findings indicated that a single dose was sufficient to elicit a strong neutralizing response against both RSV-A and RSV-B subtypes, exhibiting robust immune protection.
Furthermore, Pfizer plans to present these results at an upcoming scientific conference and to submit the data for review by regulatory agencies, which could lead to the approval and availability of the vaccine for immunocompromised adults. Pfizer has also initiated a clinical trial evaluating the vaccine in children aged 2 to 18 years who are at increased risk for RSV.
Many health care providers and pharmacies prefer the simplicity of having 1 vaccine for both adult vaccinations and maternal vaccination, which only Abrysvo can offer, Pfizers chief US commercial officer, Aamir Malik, said on a call to Fierce Pharma.3 As for the limited Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) policy, Malik said the guidance offers clarity and strengthens the directive for those who are eligible for a vaccine.
According to the statement, these results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the vaccine as an effective and safe option for preventing RSV-related illnesses in high-risk populations, including those with compromised immune systems.1
References
1. Pfizer announces top-line results of Abrysvo for RSV in immunocompromised adults. News release. Pfizer. Published August 2, 2024. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240812622927/en/Pfizer-Announces-Top-Line-Results-of-ABRYSVO%C2%AE-for-RSV-in-Immunocompromised-Adults
2. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) immunizations. CDC. Published July 3, 2024. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html
3. Pfizer, looking to expand RSV vaccine's reach, touts its benefits in immunocompromised adults. Fierce Pharma. Published August 12, 2024. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/pfizer-looks-expand-abryxvos-reach-rsv-vaccine-shows-benefit-immunocompromised-adults
With Covid cases surging this summer, the upcoming rollout of updated vaccines in the fall raises an important question: Will they arrive in time to make a difference?
Covid waves havent followed a seasonal, predictable pattern like the flu, which typically starts spreading in the fall and peaks in late winter and spring. Flu shots, which take two weeks to be fully protective, are generally recommended in September or October.
The new Covid vaccines, which target the KP.2 strain, a descendant of the highly contagious JN.1 variant that emerged last winter, are expected to be distributed in the coming weeks.
Even if the vaccines are available within the next month, immunologists and infectious disease experts dont expect them to have much effect on the current summer wave. The shots will be important, however, as the U.S. heads into the fall and winter, when cases usually rise again.
History tells us that if theres going to be a new, significant major wave of Covid, its more likely to come in the fall than at this time this year, said John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College. In 20/20 hindsight, could it have been done earlier? Its really hard to critique the current plan because its both logical and reasonable.
Youre kind of damned if you do and damned if you dont, he added.
Covid can surge throughout the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data from the four years of Covid shows that it does peak in winter December and January and also in the hot summer months of July and August. In 2024, cases started rising in June and are still high, the CDCs wastewater data tracker shows.
Despite the double waves, the Food and Drug Administration has been following a routine similar to how the annual flu shot is updated. Vaccine experts select the Covid strain in the spring for a vaccination campaign in the fall.
Ideally, public health officials would aim to administer Covid vaccines shortly before each wave to decrease transmission, infection and severe illness, said Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University.
But until the U.S. can get the timing down, perhaps the right thing to do at this time is to give two boosters per year, one in the early summer and one in the fall, she said, adding that the time frame for the fall vaccine rollout is a good but tricky question.
Of course, such boosters have to be well matched to the circulating variant, she said.
In fact, in February, the FDA and CDC did recommend a booster for people at higher risk for the most severe complications of Covid primarily those ages 65 and older. The goal was to offer protection ahead of another likely summer surge. Only about 10% of adults 65 or older got the two-dose 2023-24 booster, and the summer wave happened anyway.
Last fall, when CDC data showed a rise in hospitalizations, some doctors criticized the FDA for waiting too long to roll out the updated Covid vaccines.
Has the FDA considered changing the fall vaccine rollout schedule, now early September?
In an emailed response, an FDA spokesperson directed NBC News to comments CDC epidemiologist Ruth Link-Gelles made at the FDA advisory committee meeting in June. Link-Gelles highlighted the challenges in determining the optimal timing for administering the Covid vaccines.
For flu and RSV, we have years and years of data with very similar trends over time, she said. So you cant quite set your watch to when those seasons are going to start, but you can get very close. For Covid, thats not true at all. Weve seen surges in summer, in August the last few years. So it becomes a little bit of a game to try to play to time Covid vaccine introduction.
Many people, including young healthy adults, most likely wouldnt need more than one Covid shot a year, said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto.
I think its impossible to make a blanket statement for a population of over 300 million people, he said. There are some people who are at risk for severe Covid who have had a long duration between now and their most recent vaccines who may be at greater risk, and maybe in those situations, a vaccine is a reasonable idea before the fall campaign.
How long a person is protected from Covid after an infection can vary based on a number of factors, including the severity of infection, the strain and a person's age and health. Studies have shown protection can last three months or longer.
Dr. Ofer Levy, the director of the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Childrens Hospital, warned against a false sense of security among those who become infected during the summer surge.
Even if someone does get infected, the vaccines will still be important, as natural infection doesnt offer the same level of protection, Levy said.
Does natural infection give you some protection? Yes, you better believe it does, Levy said."However, its not the same level of protection offered by vaccines.
Weill Cornell's Moore says the FDA is right to stick to the fall schedule.
Im not trying to trivialize whats going on at the moment, but if theres going to be a bigger surge, its going to be later in the year, Moore said.
The 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, is investigating how the base clinic administered ineffective doses of MMR and chicken pox vaccines between May and June 2024. (Public Health Command - Pacific )
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa The 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base is investigating how the base clinic administered potentially ineffective vaccines to patients from May 3 through July 29, according to the wing medical group.
The affected vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella and chicken pox pose no health risks, according to a post Thursday evening by the 18th Medical Group on its official Facebook page.
The vaccines were temporarily stored at colder than recommended temperatures, rendering them ineffective, but not harmful, 18th Wing spokesman 1st Lt. Robert H. Dabbs said in an email Friday to Stars and Stripes.
The medical group immunizations staff will contact affected patients with information on corrective actions, according to the Facebook post.
Defense Logistics Agency Vaccine Storage and Transport Specialists and Defense Health Agency Immunizations Medical Directors were consulted to determine what effects the colder storage temperatures would have if any on the vaccines, Dabbs wrote. The experts concluded that the vaccines are safe, but potentially ineffective.
He declined to say how many of the vaccines were administered or the age range of the patients who received the vaccinations. It would be inappropriate to provide further details on patient information, he said.
The clinic will be closed while the 18th Wing conducts its investigation, the post states. It directed patients with urgent needs to U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa at Camp Foster.
Dabbs declined to say how long the clinic would be closed.
Anyone who received an MMR or Varicella vaccine between May 3 and July 29 should call the 18th Medical Group Patient Advocate at DSN 315-630-4146 if they are not contacted by medical staff by Thursday, the post states. The clinic limited comments on its post to encourage patients to call the clinic directly, Dabbs said.
In January, the Kadena clinic gave incorrect vaccines to four pediatric patients, according to a post on the medical group Facebook page. The post did not say which vaccines were incorrectly administered or whether any of the affected children had adverse reactions.
Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Vaxart Inc. VXRT, an American biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of oral recombinant vaccines.
The analysts bullish view is centered around optimism associated with attractive opportunities for Vaxarts differentiated oral vaccine platform and key programs, such as the norovirus vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine.
Oppenheimer initiated with an Outperform rating and a price target of $4, representing significant potential upside.
VXRT is uniquely positioned as a leading company developing oral vaccines against COVID-19, supported by one of the largest BARDA-funded Project NextGen Awards, the analyst writes.
We think oral vaccines hold unique properties that may complement intramuscular vaccines to fulfill global healthcare promise, the analyst adds.
Also Read: Vaxart Bags $453M Worth BARDA-Funded Project, Seeks To Raise $40M Via Equity Offering.
Although norovirus poses significant global health and economic challenges, there is currently no approved vaccine.
With an estimated market potential of $5 billion-10 billion due to the unmet need, a norovirus vaccine could follow a path similar to RSV vaccines that have gained ACIP recommendations.
Vaxart is developing a VP-1-based bivalent oral vaccine for norovirus. Oppenheimer sees strong potential in this area, citing the lack of approved vaccines despite the viruss significant health and economic impact.
The analyst suggests that Vaxarts oral tablet could offer better immunity than traditional intramuscular vaccines, which have faced challenges. They also view Vaxart as a leader in norovirus vaccine development, positioning it for potential commercial success.
Price Action: VXRT stock is up 21% at $0.715 at the last check on Thursday.
Read Next:
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Madeleine R. Valier, MPH1; David Yankey, PhD1; Laurie D. Elam-Evans, PhD1; Michael Chen, PhD1; Holly A. Hill, MD, PhD1; Yi Mu, PhD1; Cassandra Pingali, MS, MPH1; Juan A. Gomez, MS1,2; Bayo C. Arthur, MPH1; Tamara Surtees, MPH1; Samuel B. Graitcer, MD1; Nicole F. Dowling, PhD1; Shannon Stokley, DrPH1; Georgina Peacock, MD1; James A. Singleton, PhD1 (View author affiliations)
What is already known about this topic?
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program covers the cost of vaccines for eligible children to help ensure that all U.S. children are protected from life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases.
What is added by this report?
Among VFC-eligible children, coverage with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine was high and stable during 2012 through 2022, but there is room for improvement to increase coverage with other routinely recommended vaccines. Among children born in 2020, vaccination coverage was 414 percentage points lower among children who were eligible versus non-eligible for the VFC program.
What are the implications for public health practice?
The VFC program plays a vital role in increasing and sustaining vaccination coverage. Increased efforts must promote awareness of, confidence in, and receipt of all recommended vaccines among those eligible for the VFC program.
Introduction: The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program was established in 1994 to provide recommended vaccines at no cost to eligible children and help ensure that all U.S. children are protected from life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases.
Methods: CDC analyzed data from the 20122022 National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child) to assess trends in vaccination coverage with 1 dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR), 23 doses of rotavirus vaccine, and a combined 7-vaccine series, by VFC program eligibility status, and to examine differences in coverage among VFC-eligible children by sociodemographic characteristics. VFC eligibility was defined as meeting at least one of the following criteria: 1) American Indian or Alaska Native; 2) insured by Medicaid, Indian Health Service (IHS), or uninsured; or 3) ever received at least one vaccination at an IHS-operated center, Tribal health center, or urban Indian health care facility.
Results: Overall, approximately 52.2% of U.S. children were VFC eligible. Among VFC-eligible children born during 20112020, coverage by age 24 months was stable for 1 MMR dose (88.0%89.9%) and the combined 7-vaccine series (61.4%65.3%). Rotavirus vaccination coverage by age 8 months was 64.8%71.1%, increasing by an average of 0.7 percentage points annually. Among all children born in 2020, coverage was 3.8 (1 MMR dose), 11.5 (23 doses of rotavirus vaccine), and 13.8 (combined 7-vaccine series) percentage points lower among VFC-eligible than among nonVFC-eligible children.
Conclusions and implications for public health practice: Although the VFC program has played a vital role in increasing and maintaining high levels of childhood vaccination coverage for 30 years, gaps remain. Enhanced efforts must ensure that parents and guardians of VFC-eligible children are aware of, have confidence in, and are able to obtain all recommended vaccines for their children.
Congress established the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program in 1994 to provide routine vaccines at no cost to eligible children. Since introduction of the VFC program, vaccination of children born during 19942023 will have prevented approximately 508 million illnesses and 1,129,000 deaths, saving nearly $2.7 trillion in societal costs (1). In 2023, VFC distributed approximately 74 million pediatric vaccine doses to participating health care provider locations (CDC, unpublished data, 2024). The VFC program is one of the nations primary health platforms created to promote health equity and improve the health of children.
VFC funds are allocated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to CDC, and Medicaid providers can receive payment from Medicaid for vaccine administration services provided to Medicaid-eligible children.* CDC provides funding to 61 state, local, and territorial immunization programs to implement and oversee the VFC program (2). Persons aged 18 years who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) are eligible to receive vaccines from VFC program providers at no cost. This report 1) describes characteristics of children eligible for the VFC program; 2) examines trends in routine vaccination coverage among VFC-eligible children; and 3) identifies gaps in vaccination coverage among VFC-eligible children compared with children who are not VFC-eligible.
NIS-Child is a nationally representative household survey that monitors coverage with Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)recommended vaccines among children aged 1935 months in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and some U.S. territories using a random-digitdial telephone sampling frame.** Parents and guardians (parents) of eligible children are interviewed to obtain child, maternal, and household information and to obtain consent to contact the childs vaccine providers. With consent, parent-identified providers receive mailed immunization history questionnaires and are asked to provide information on vaccination types, doses, and dates administered and administrative data.
The overall household response rates for 20122022 NIS-Child surveys ranged from 21.1% to 42.5%. Adequate provider data were available for 49.4% to 63.9% of children aged 1935 months with a completed household interview, resulting in a sample size of 152,915 children.
VFC-eligible children were defined as meeting one of these criteria: 1) AI/AN; 2) enrolled in Medicaid or the Indian Health Service (IHS) or uninsured; or 3) ever received at least one vaccination at an IHS-operated center, Tribal health center, or urban Indian health care facility. Birth cohorts were constructed to assess coverage with 1 dose of MMR, 23 doses of rotavirus vaccine,*** the combined 7-vaccine series, and other routinely recommended vaccines among children born during 20112020. Kaplan-Meier techniques were used to estimate vaccination coverage with all vaccines by age 24 months, with a few exceptions. Percentage point differences in vaccination coverage between VFC-eligible and nonVFC-eligible children (i.e., coverage among VFC-eligible children minus coverage among nonVFC-eligible children) were analyzed using Z-tests to assess the gap in coverage by VFC program eligibility status. Weighted linear regression models assessed the average annual percentage point change (AAPPC) in vaccination coverage among children born during 20112020. Estimates of vaccination coverage with 1 dose MMR, rotavirus, and the combined 7-vaccine series were stratified by the childs race and ethnicity, health insurance status, urbanicity,**** and household income. Analyses were conducted using SAS-callable SUDAAN (version 11.0.3, RTI International) with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. This activity was reviewed by CDC, deemed not research, and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.
Among children aged 1935 months who were born during 20112020, 52.2% were VFC eligible (Table 1). Among VFC-eligible children born in 2020, 93.4% were Medicaid-insured, 7.4% were AI/AN, 43.7% lived in households with income below the federal poverty level, and 48.1% lived in a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) principal city. The proportion of VFC-eligible children who were uninsured decreased from 8.1% of those born in 2011 to 3.1% of those born in 2020.
Among VFC-eligible children born during 20112020, coverage by age 24 months with 1 dose of MMR and the combined 7-vaccine series was stable (88.0%89.9% and 61.4%65.3%, respectively) (Figure) (Table 2). Rotavirus vaccination coverage by age 8 months was 64.8%71.1%, increasing on average by 0.7 percentage points annually. Among VFC-eligible children born in 2020, coverage with 1 dose of MMR, rotavirus vaccine, and the combined 7-vaccine series was 89.6%, 71.0%, and 61.4%, respectively.
Among the vaccines included in the combined 7-vaccine series, coverage among VFC-eligible children born in 2020 was approximately 90% for first doses of vaccines (1 dose of varicella vaccine and 1 dose of MMR) and for series administered earlier in life (3 doses of poliovirus vaccine and 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine) (Supplementary Table, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/159296). Coverage was 73.6%76.7% with series requiring multiple doses by age 24 months, with some doses recommended after age 12 months (i.e., 4 doses of diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis vaccine; 4 doses pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; and the full series of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine).
Among VFC-eligible children born in 2020, coverage with 1 dose of MMR, rotavirus vaccine, and the combined 7-vaccine series among those who were uninsured was 18.934.7 percentage points lower than that among Medicaid-insured children (Table 3). Compared with coverage among children living at or above the poverty level, coverage with rotavirus vaccine and the combined 7-vaccine series among those living below the poverty level was 9.39.9 percentage points lower. By race and ethnicity, rotavirus vaccination coverage among AI/AN and Hispanic or Latino children was 6.98.9 percentage points higher than that among non-Hispanic White (White) children.
Among all children born during 20112020, coverage with 1 dose of MMR, rotavirus vaccine, and the combined 7-vaccine series was lower among VFC-eligible children than among nonVFC-eligible children (Figure) (Table 2). During this period, the gap in coverage between VFC-eligible and nonVFC-eligible children increased for 1 dose of MMR (AAPPC=0.2) and the combined 7-vaccine series (AAPPC=0.6). Among children born in 2020, coverage with 1 dose of MMR, rotavirus vaccine, and the combined 7-vaccine series was 3.8, 11.5, and 13.8 percentage points, respectively, lower among VFC-eligible than among nonVFC-eligible children.
Among children born in 2020, all three vaccination coverage measures were lower among VFC-eligible children than among nonVFC-eligible children who were 1) White (17.9 to 6.2 percentage points), 2) living at or above the poverty level (11.2 to 4.6 percentage points), and 3) living in MSA principal cities (12.8 to 3.3 percentage points) and MSA nonprincipal cities (15.4 to 4.1 percentage points) (Table 3). Statistically significant gaps in coverage by sociodemographic characteristics were narrower for 1 dose of MMR (6.2 to 3.3 percentage points) and wider for rotavirus vaccine (17.9 to 7.7 percentage points) and the combined 7-vaccine series (17.1 to 9.7 percentage points).
More than one half of U.S. children (52.6%) born in 2020 were eligible for the VFC program, underscoring the vast scope of this program 30 years after it was enacted into law. Coverage among VFC-eligible children born during 20112020 with 1 dose of MMR remained high and stable, indicating that efforts to achieve and maintain measles elimination status in the United States have been supported through the VFC program. No differences in 1-dose MMR coverage among VFC-eligible children born in 2020 were found by race and ethnicity, poverty status, and urban-rural residency, demonstrating continued success in providing equitable access to vaccination through the VFC program (3). Increased coverage with rotavirus vaccine among VFC-eligible children born during 20112020 signals progress toward achieving high coverage with all routinely recommended immunizations.
Children born during 20182020 might have experienced health care disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, previous analyses found no differences in overall vaccination coverage by age 24 months among children who were due for vaccination before the pandemic compared with those who were due for vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic, including among children who were Medicaid-insured, uninsured, or AI/AN (4,5).
Coverage with the combined 7-vaccine series was 61.4% among VFC-eligible children born in 2020, highlighting room for improvement. By individual vaccine measures, coverage with first doses of vaccines and series administered earlier in life was high but was lower for multidose series vaccines, with additional doses administered at age >12 months. These patterns suggest potential barriers associated with receiving multidose series and for vaccinating VFC-eligible children during the second year of life. Provider reminder-recall systems and simultaneous administration of childhood vaccines at well-child visits have been established as effective strategies that can reduce missed vaccination opportunities and increase coverage (6,7).
Additional opportunities to improve coverage were identified among certain sociodemographic groups. Coverage was lower among uninsured children than among Medicaid-insured children, consistent with findings on vaccination coverage among uninsured adolescents and adults (8,9). Uninsured children are more likely to live in households with incomes below the poverty level, to have had no provider health care visits in the past year, and to be less likely to complete multidose vaccination series (8,10,11). The proportion of uninsured children was small and decreased from approximately 8.1% in 2011 to 3.1% in 2020. Efforts to further reduce the proportion of uninsured children, including increasing access to Medicaid, can facilitate connection to the health care system (12) and subsequently increase vaccination coverage (13).
Lower coverage with rotavirus vaccine and the combined 7-vaccine series was found among VFC-eligible children living below the poverty level compared with coverage among VFC-eligible children living at or above poverty. Although the VFC program provides vaccine at no cost, office visit fees or fees for nonvaccine services received during the visit (2) beyond vaccination cost might present potential barriers for low-income households, in addition to other barriers involving health care providers, parents, and the health care delivery system (14,15). Establishment of a place to receive ongoing routine care has been associated with increased likelihood of children in low-income households and VFC-eligible children being up to date with recommended vaccines (14,16).
Compared with coverage among nonVFC-eligible children, coverage overall was lower among VFC-eligible children, consistent with an earlier analysis of vaccination coverage among VFC-eligible children (17). High, yet lower 1-dose MMR coverage among VFC-eligible children compared with nonVFC-eligible children is concerning, because small pockets of low coverage have resulted in measles outbreaks (18,19). Despite improvements in rotavirus vaccination coverage among VFC-eligible children, coverage in this group was significantly lower than coverage among nonVFC-eligible children. Increased efforts are needed to ensure that parents of VFC-eligible children are aware of, have confidence in, and are able to obtain all recommended vaccines for their children.
The findings in this report are subject to at least six limitations. First, overall household response rates for NIS-Child were low (range=21.1%42.5%), and 49.4%63.9% of children with completed household interviews had provider-reported vaccination records. Selection bias resulting from low household response rates might have occurred if the characteristics of participants and nonparticipants differed systematically. Data were weighted to account for nonresponse and households without telephones, but some bias might remain, which could affect the generalizability of results. Second, total survey error assessments***** indicate that NIS-Child data might underestimate actual coverage with some vaccines; thus, actual vaccination coverage might be higher than reported. Third, the definition of VFC eligibility status used for this study might have resulted in underestimation of the actual VFC-eligible population because the operationalized definition includes Medicaid-enrolled but not Medicaid-eligible children. If Medicaid-eligible children differ from those who are Medicaid-enrolled, comparisons by VFC eligibility status could be higher or lower. Fourth, underinsured children who received vaccines at a federally qualified health center, a rural health center, or a deputized provider were excluded from the VFC-eligible group because of difficulty ascertaining information on the underinsured through NIS. This exclusion could result in potential misclassification of underinsured children as nonVFC-eligible. Fifth, health insurance status was determined at time of interview and might have varied during the childs vaccination history, which could result in misclassification of VFC eligibility status. Sixth, this study was cross-sectional; therefore, underlying causes of observed differences in coverage over time or by VFC eligibility status could not be determined.
The VFC program has supported high and increasing childhood vaccination coverage for 30 years and is one of public healths primary platforms for equity and ensuring that all children can access vaccines. Despite successes, the need to increase coverage with all routine vaccines and to reach children living in lower-income households and who lack insurance continues. Health care provider interventions to improve coverage include encouraging providers to make strong vaccine recommendations for their patients, strengthening family-provider relationships, providing parental education about vaccine benefits, using reminder-recall systems, reducing missed opportunities for vaccination, offering simultaneous administration of childhood vaccines, and administering catch-up vaccinations to all inadequately vaccinated children (6,7).
Enactment of the VFC program 30 years ago was a historic step in improving childrens lives and advancing public health. The data presented in this report demonstrate long-term program results for multiple birth cohorts of children. As new vaccines are added and immunization schedules become increasingly complex, maintenance and evolution of the VFC program could help sustain and further increase vaccination coverage. Realizing this will require efforts to promote participation in the VFC program by providers serving VFC-eligible children. CDC encourages providers to assess vaccination needs for all children at every health care visit and strongly recommend needed vaccines, and address patient barriers and promote confidence in vaccination.
1Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC; 2Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Abbreviations: AI/AN=American Indian or Alaska Native; CHIP=Childrens Health Insurance Program; MSA=metropolitan statistical area; NA=not applicable; NH/OPI=Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; VFC=Vaccines for Children. * Child identified as AI/AN; insured by Medicaid or Indian Health Service; uninsured; or received at least one vaccine at an Indian Health Serviceoperated center, Tribal health facility, or urban Indian health care facility. Includes children identified as AI/AN with private insurance, CHIP, military, or another form of insurance, alone or in combination with another plan. Includes children with CHIP, military, or other insurance, alone or in combination with private insurance. The childs race and ethnicity was reported by their parent or guardian. Children identified as AI/AN, Asian, Black or African American, NH/OPI, White, or multiple races were reported by the parent or guardian as non-Hispanic. Children identified as having multiple races had more than one race category selected. Children identified as Hispanic or Latino might be of any race. Children identified as AI/AN, alone or in combination with another race or ethnicity, might not be mutually exclusive from other racial and ethnic groups shown. ** Estimate suppressed because it did not meet standards for data reliability (95% CI >20, relative SE >30, or sample size <30).
Abbreviations: AI/AN = American Indian or Alaska Native; MMR = measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; VFC = Vaccines for Children.
* Coverage with 1 dose of MMR and the combined 7-vaccine series assessed before the day the child turns 24 months. Rotavirus vaccination coverage assessed by age 8 months, 0 days. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate vaccination coverage to account for children whose vaccination history was ascertained before age 24 months.
Includes children who might have received measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella combination vaccine.
At least two doses of Rotarix monovalent rotavirus vaccine, or 3 doses of RotaTeq pentavalent rotavirus vaccine. If any dose in the series is either RotaTeq or unknown, it was assumed a 3-dose series was needed. Maximum age for receipt of the final dose is age 8 mos, 0 days.
The combined 7-vaccine series (4:3:1:3*:3:1:4) includes 4 doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine, 3 doses of poliovirus vaccine, 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, the full series of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (3 or 4 doses, depending on product type), 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine, 1 dose of varicella vaccine, and 4 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
** Child is identified as AI/AN; insured by Medicaid or Indian Health Service; uninsured; or received at least one vaccine at an Indian Health Serviceoperated center, Tribal health facility, or urban Indian health care facility.
Defined as coverage among VFC-eligible children coverage among nonVFC eligible children.
Abbreviations: AAPPC=average annual percentage point change in coverage; AI/AN=American Indian or Alaska Native; MMR=measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; VFC=Vaccines for Children. * Coverage with 1 dose MMR and the combined 7-vaccine series were assessed by age 24 months (before the day the child turns 24 months). Rotavirus vaccine series was assessed by age 8 months, 0 days. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate vaccination coverage to account for children whose vaccination history was ascertained before age 24 months. Includes children who might have received measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella combination vaccine. Two or more doses of Rotarix monovalent rotavirus vaccine, or 3 doses of RotaTeq pentavalent rotavirus vaccine. (If any dose in the series is either RotaTeq or unknown, it was assumed a 3-dose series was needed. The maximum age for receipt of the final rotavirus vaccine dose is 8 months, 0 days. The combined 7-vaccine series (4:3:1:3*:3:1:4) includes 4 doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine, 3 doses of poliovirus vaccine, 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, the full series of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (3 or 4 doses, depending on product type), 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine, 1 dose of varicella vaccine, and 4 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. ** Child is identified as AI/AN; insured by Medicaid or Indian Health Service; uninsured; or received at least one vaccine at an Indian Health Serviceoperated center, Tribal health facility, or urban Indian health care facility. Statistically significant (p<0.05) percentage point difference in coverage (VFC-eligible nonVFC-eligible). Data for the 2020 birth year are considered preliminary and are from survey years 2021 and 2022. Data from survey year 2023 were not available in time to include in this report. Slope of line created by fitting a linear regression model to the coverage estimates from birth years 20112020. *** AAPPC is statistically significantly different from zero (p<0.05).
Abbreviations: AI/AN=American Indian or Alaska Native; CHIP=Childrens Health Insurance Program; MMR=measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; MSA=metropolitan statistical area; NA=not applicable; PP=percentage point; Ref=referent group; VFC = Vaccines for Children. * Coverage with 1 dose MMR and the combined 7-vaccine series were assessed by age 24 months (before the day the child turns 24 months). Rotavirus vaccine series was assessed by age 8 months 0 days. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate vaccination coverage to account for children whose vaccination history was ascertained before age 24 months. Data for the 2020 birth year are considered preliminary and are from survey years 2021 and 2022. Data from survey year 2023 were not available in time to include in this report. Child is identified as AI/AN; insured by Medicaid or Indian Health Service; uninsured; or received at least one vaccine at an Indian Health Serviceoperated center, Tribal health facility, or urban Indian health care facility. Includes children who might have received measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella combination vaccine. ** Includes 2 doses of Rotarix monovalent rotavirus vaccine, or 3 doses of RotaTeq pentavalent rotavirus vaccine. If any dose in the series is either RotaTeq or unknown, it was assumed a 3-dose series was needed. The maximum age for the final rotavirus dose is 8 months, 0 days. The combined 7-vaccine series (4:3:1:3*:3:1:4) includes 4 doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine, 3 doses of poliovirus vaccine, 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, the full series of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (3 or 4 doses, depending on product type), 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine, 1 dose of varicella vaccine, and 4 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. PP difference in coverage=coverage among VFC-eligible children coverage among nonVFC-eligible children. PP difference in coverage is statistically significant (p<0.05). *** Estimates with 95% CIs >20 might not be reliable. Statistically significant difference in coverage (p<0.05) compared with Ref. Includes children identified as AI/AN with private insurance, CHIP, military, or another form of insurance, alone or in combination with another plan. The childs race and ethnicity was reported by their parent or guardian. Children identified as AI/AN, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, White, or multiple races were reported by the parent or guardian as non-Hispanic. Children identified as having multiple races had more than one race category selected. Children identified as Hispanic or Latino might be of any race. Children identified as AI/AN, alone or in combination with another race or ethnicity, might not be mutually exclusive from other racial and ethnic groups shown. Estimates for Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander children were suppressed because of small sample size. **** Comparisons by race and ethnicity for AI/AN children, in combination with another race or ethnicity, and White children were possible as these racial and ethnic groups were mutually exclusive among children born in 2020.
Suggested citation for this article: Valier MR, Yankey D, Elam-Evans LD, et al. Vital Signs: Trends and Disparities in Childhood Vaccination Coverage by Vaccines for Children Program Eligibility National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 20122022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 13 August 2024. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7333e1.
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And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is fairly modest. We hope to hang with a couple of our short people, spend time with our Pharmalot ancestor, and promenade with the official mascots. We also hope to hold another listening party, where the rotation will likely feature this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? Summer is winding down, but there is still time to enjoy the great outdoors or plan a quick getaway to somewhere exotic or simply different. You could hit the proverbial pause button to curl up with a good book or stream a few moving pictures. Or perhaps this is a chance to plan the rest of your life. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon.
Pfizer and BioNTech disclosed that their combined mRNA vaccine candidate against influenza and Covid-19 showed a lower immune response against one type of influenza, influenza B, in a Phase 3 trial, a setback for the vaccine, STAT says. The combination vaccine met its goal in generating an immune response against influenza A and against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid. But the companies are considering adjustments aimed at improving immune responses against influenza B. A Phase 2 study of a second-generation formulation of the combination vaccine did result in an immune response against influenza B that was similar to an approved vaccine, as well as a more pronounced response to influenza A than the approved flu vaccine.
Bavarian Nordic, one of the few companies with an approved mpox vaccine, says it will be able to meet the immunization needs of African nations in the throes of an mpox outbreak, STAT tells us.By the end of this year, we could manufacture another 2 million doses. And by the end of next year, its 10 million in total, said Bavarian Nordic chief executive officer Paul Chaplin. The vaccine developer has about 300,000 doses ready for shipping immediately. The World Health Organization declared the fast-spreading outbreak a global public health emergency on Wednesday. The Africa Centres for Disease Control deemed the potentially deadly virus that has swept across at least six countries a continent-wide emergency a day earlier.
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