The roll-out of the RTS,S and R21 vaccines against malaria marks a turning point in the millennia-old battle against this deadly infection. Both vaccines work by targeting the same protein on the surface of malaria parasites and are expected to have a substantial impact on reducing malaria cases and deaths in children.
Interpreting their efficacy numbers a measure of how much a vaccine protects people against disease under controlled trial conditions can be challenging. This is because these measurements are not directly comparable due to differences in study design and contexts using different approaches to provide the vaccine, measuring the vaccines effect over varying lengths of time or in areas with differing malaria burden.
RTS,S vaccine clinical trials were conducted in many sites and have seven years of follow-up data, which means far more is known about RTS,S efficacy in different settings, and how long the protection it provides lasts for. Efficacy results for the R21 vaccine are based on 12 months of follow-up and fewer study sites.
Heres a summary of what we know about the efficacy of malaria vaccines so far.
The large-scale phase 3 trial of the RTS,S vaccine evaluated its efficacy from 2009 to 2014 across 11 different study sites in seven countries: Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. These sites represent a range of malaria transmission intensities across sub-Saharan Africa . A substantial number of malaria cases were prevented in all countries when children were vaccinated in an age-based approach: the children received three vaccine doses starting from around 5 months of age, plus a fourth dose to prolong protection around age 2.
The RTS,S vaccine reduced the number of malaria cases by half (51%) during the year following vaccination, and this included in study sites in low and high-transmission areas.
A later trial of RTS,S using a different vaccination strategy found that, for countries with highly seasonal patterns of malaria transmission, giving the initial three vaccine doses before the start of the peak rainy season (seasonal administration) was even more efficacious at 72% over the first year. Additional booster doses administered each year just prior to subsequent malaria seasons prolonged the protection.
The phase 3 clinical trial of the R21 vaccine started in 2019, and was conducted in five study sites in four countries Burkina Faso, Mali, Kenya and Tanzania. This trial evaluated an age-based vaccination approach in three of the study sites and seasonal vaccination in two study sites. Similar to RTS,S, when given in an age-based approach, R21 reduced clinical malaria by 66% in the 12 months following vaccination.
Age-based vaccination in the R21 trial included study sites in low to moderate transmission areas but did not include sites with year-round high transmission settings.
Similar to the RTS,S seasonal vaccination trial, when the R21 vaccine was provided just before the malaria season in areas of seasonal transmission, malaria episodes were reduced by 75% in the first year following vaccination.
Of particular importance to countries aiming to roll out the vaccine is the fact that, while both RTS,S and R21 studies have shown that efficacy is improved when using a seasonal approach, running public health campaigns to deliver vaccines seasonally is much more complex to implement in practice compared to an age-based approach where vaccines are given to children through the routine system at childhood immunisation clinics.
Results from the large-scale RTS,S study showed that lower transmission areas tended to have higher efficacy numbers, but the vaccine achieved higher impact in reducing malaria cases in high transmission areas, where the burden is highest.
This is important because neither malaria vaccine provides complete protection against infection . Both vaccines target malaria parasites during the sporozoite stage of their lifecycle the point where they first enter the human body and begin replicating in liver cells.
In areas and time periods with high transmission, the immune system is under a significant assault due to repeated biting from mosquitos, says Dr W. Scott Gordon, Head of Gavis Malaria Vaccine Programme. Each bite can transmit as many as 1,000 sporozoites, so even a very small proportion of those getting through can result in the immunised child still coming down with malaria, and lower measured efficacy from the vaccine.
This is one reason why WHO prioritises the use of malaria vaccines in moderate to high transmission areas, where public health impact is expected to be highest, says Dr Lindsey Wu, Technical Officer at the WHO Global Malaria Programme.
Malaria is most dangerous during the first year of life.
The longer-term follow-up of RTS,S efficacy shows waning of protection over time, which is also shown for other vaccines like COVID-19 vaccines. Children continue to benefit from the RTS,S vaccine over seven years of follow-up.
Even with moderate efficacy, the currently recommended malaria vaccines provide protection to children during the most vulnerable time of their life, says Wu.
We dont know what the duration of protection with R21 is, because it hasnt been studied for long enough yet, said Prof Brian Greenwood, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, who has been involved in phase 3 trials of both vaccines. R21 clinical trials are ongoing.
Not all children who fall sick from malaria develop severe illness, but for those that do, the consequences can be dire, with death sometimes occurring within 2448 hours from the start of symptoms, which usually start within 1015 daysof infection.
Pilot introductions of the RTS,S vaccine, through the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, vaccinated more than 2 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi from 2019 to 2023. The evaluation of the large-scale roll-out measured a substantial reduction in severe malaria, and 13% drop in deaths from all causes among children age-eligible for vaccination.
While clinical trials are useful for measuring vaccine efficacy, it was through the pilot implementation of RTS,S, where the vaccine was rolled out into a larger population through routine health systems, that we were really able to measure effectiveness in a real-world setting and say this had high public health impact, says Wu.
For R21, the overall levels of severe malaria and death in the phase 3 trial were too low to measure the effect that the malaria vaccine had on these outcomes.
So, where does this leave us?
The bottom line is that there are now two safe and effective malaria vaccines available in Africa that will ensure millions more children will have access to this malaria prevention.
With more than 600,000 deaths from malaria each year the vast majority among African children under the age of five wide roll-out of both vaccines is expected to save tens of thousands of lives each year.
Health experts said vaccinations should be at the top of the back to class check list.
TOLEDO, Ohio It's required for all kids in Ohio to get up to date on immunizations before school starts.
If your child needs their shots updated, you are in luck. Appointments are now open with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.
The Shots 4 Tots n Teens clinics are held up to 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, and everyone in need is encouraged to attend no matter their cir'cumstances.
"My suggestion is to start early with planning for back to school," said Angie Bauman, the executive director of nursing with the Lucas County Health Department. "We know that the rush comes in August and September even into the beginning of October and it makes it really hard to get those kids in for appointments. So, starting earlier makes a big difference."
Bauman said deadlines around the school year can make the process more stressful which is why they encourage families to make appointments make a plan come early and come prepared.
"We don't want people coming up against deadlines and not be able to get into their doctor's office," said Bauman. "Or having to come here and have a long wait to be seen, it really is more convenient to schedule it when it's convenient for parents and families so they can come in on their own time without feeling the rush and get it done in a more relaxed environment."
Clinics are held on site at both the Health Department and at local libraries. Clinic dates and times are subject to changes.
The Heather Downs library and Holland branch libraries host walk-ins.
The shot clinics serve all students from babies all the way up to age 18. There are also opportunities for adults to get vaccinated.
Before you attend any shot clinic it is recommended to have a copy of your child's shot records.
You can find more information about different vaccines HERE.
COLUMBIA Ahead of the 2024-25 school year, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) reminds parents to make sure their children are up to date with all required vaccines and to familiarize themselves with the updated School and Childcare Exclusion ListChildren enrolled in school and childcare are required to be current on certain vaccinations at the start of each school year. This helps protect the health of children, teachers and school staff who are in group settings every day, as vaccines are one of the most-successful public health interventions for reducing disease spread and safeguarding against vaccine-preventable illnesses and complications.
Vaccines are a safe and effective way of protecting our children from diseases like chicken pox, whooping cough, mumps and measles, said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DPH Deputy Director for Health Promotion and Services and Chief Medical Officer. Appointment slots will fill up quickly before the school year starts, so parents are urged to schedule an appointment as early as possible to ensure your child is up to date on required and recommended vaccinations and they dont miss school for not meeting requirements.
To find a vaccine provider near you, visit DPHs Find a Vaccines for Children Provider tool. Appointments for immunizations can also be made at many of DPHs county health departments by calling 1-855-472-3432 or online using Web Chat.
Current vaccination requirements for the 2024-25 school year are available on the DPH website. Updates for this school year include:
None of these are newly required vaccines; the changes reflect the fact that more grade levels are being added.
While COVID-19 and flu vaccines are not required, DPH and the CDC continue to recommend that everyone 6 months and older receive their COVID-19 and flu vaccination to protect themselves and others. Flu vaccines for the current season typically become available in late September in many pharmacies, and an updated COVID-19 vaccine is also expected in the fall.
During the past school year, there were 294 outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases reported from school and childcare settings, 290 of which were due to COVID-19 or influenza. The low number of other vaccine-preventable outbreaks shows the effectiveness of the vaccines required for attendance in schools and childcare settings. However, there were 1,023 individual cases of vaccine-preventable diseases other than COVID-19 and influenza reported statewide, indicating the risk these diseases pose to the entire community.
Although deaths and complications are not always reportable, we know these are avoidable consequences from these diseases, said Dr. Linda Bell, DPH Health Programs Branch Director and State Epidemiologist.
To help protect children from unnecessary exposure to contagious or infectious diseases, South Carolina requires that children and staff with certain diseases and conditions stay home from school or childcare while contagious.
Each year, DPH also publishes the School and Childcare Exclusion List, which explains how long ill children and staff should stay out of school or childcare, and what is needed before the child/student or employee is permitted to return. The updated 2024-2025 list is available online in both English and Spanish.
We dont want children to miss school because of illness, but its important to protect every child in the classroom by requiring those who are sick to stay home until it is safe to return, Traxler said. A very important step for keeping kids in school is preventing infections, and making sure your child receives immunizations and washes his or her hands often. These protective measures also help protect the entire community from disease spread.
A month after a CDC panel narrowed its recommendations for who should receive vaccines to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Airfinity has put numbers to the impact, reducing the projected market value in the United States by 64% by the end of the decade.
The London-based healthcare analytics company has sliced the RSV market value for seniors in the US from $4.7 billion to $1.7 billion in 2030.
Last year, when RSV vaccines debuted, the CDC recommended that people age 60 and older should receive a shot. But in a surprise move four weeks ago, the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to recommend a single lifetime dose for those age 75 and older.
As for people ages 60-74, RSV vaccines were recommended only for those who have underlying conditions that leave them vulnerable to severe disease. Additionally, the experts delayed an expected recommendation for RSV shots for people ages 50-59 with underlying conditions.
Last year, the market size for RSV shots for older adults in the US was $2.4 billion. With the new recommendations, Airfinity projects the market size to slide this year to $2.2 billion.
The analysts say the new recommendations reduce the eligible population in the US by 44% to 46 million. Under the previous recommendation, Airfinity saw sales from older adults reaching $3.7 billion in 2024.
The ACIPs skittishness on RSV vaccines came following reports of theirpotential linkto the rare neurological disorder Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS). Earlier this year, health officials flagged a preliminary statistical analysis that discovered 23 of the 9.5 million older adults who received an RSV vaccine developed GBS.
The ACIP recommendations will likely stunt revenue growth in the US market unless new data can support the benefit of booster shots, Isabella Huettner, Airfinitys RSV analyst, said in a statement.
Airfinity projected that the new CDC recommendations amount to $300 million in lost revenue for GSK. In early June, the FDA expanded the label for GSKs vaccine Arexvy to people ages 50-59 with underlying conditions. The company used a valuable priority review voucher to speed the agencys decision. But the approval carries little weight until the CDC expands its recommendation to the age group.
GSK, which has projected peak sales of its RSV vaccine to reach 3 billion pounds ($3.8 billion), saw a 7% tumble in its share price when the new ACIP recommendations were released. Last year, Arexvy racked up $1.6 billion in sales, compared to $890 million for Pfizers RSV vaccine Abrysvo.
Meanwhile, with a May approval for its RSV vaccine, Moderna has entered the market. In June, the companys shares dropped 11% when it reported 50% efficacy for mRESVIA after 18 months. That compares to 79% and 78% efficacy for Arexvy and Abrysvo, respectively, after two years.
Moderna has two advantages with its shot however as it has not been linked to GBS and it comes in a pre-filled syringewhich is more attractive to physicians.
Much still has to be decided related to RSV vaccines. Airfinity pointed out that future dosing recommendations could change as long-term efficacy and safety data emerge. With recommendations for a booster every two to three years, the U.S. market could increase in annual value to between $5.2 billion and $6.6 billion, Airfinity projects.
Based on current data, GSK appears to be most likely to capture the majority of the market in the long term, due to promising efficacy and durability, Huettner added. And, while the safety concerns remain until more data become available, GSK appears to have lower Guillain-Barr Syndrome rates than Pfizer.
This will be another telling year for RSV uptake as GSK, Pfizer and Moderna launch their shots for the first time in the UK, Canada and the major markets in Europe.
On Monday, the USDA will start distributing the bait first by vehicle inEast Palestine, Hubbard, Lisbon, Warren, and Youngstown. During the second week of August, USDA staff will use a helicopter to disperse bait in Cortland, East Liverpool, Salem, Steubenville, Warren, and Youngstown.The department will utilize an airplane to distribute baits from August 17th to 22nd in portions ofColumbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties.
En espaol
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most people are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.
People 5 and older should get one dose of the updated vaccine, regardless of how many and which vaccines they previously received. Children 6 months to 4 years old may need more than one shot, depending on their age and vaccination status, according toCDC recommendations.
You will need two shots given three weeks apart for a full primary series. You may get a single dose if youve been previously vaccinated and have not received an updated Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine isno longer availablein the U.S.
The CDC recommends that adults 65 and older get a dose of the 2023/2024 vaccine for added protection, as long as its been at least four months since the last shot.
People with compromised immune systems may receive additional doses, depending on their vaccination history. More information is available at theCDCs website.
Vaccines are administered at retail pharmacies, including Walgreens, Walmart and CVS, clinics and other locations, such as doctors offices. Use the federal governments website Vaccines.gov to search for vaccination sites by ZIP code. Get the same information by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or by calling 800-232-0233. You can check with your primary care physicians office to see if COVID-19 vaccinations are offered. If you are a veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers COVID-19 vaccinations at VA facilities. Sign up online or call 800-827-1000 to make an appointment.
More information about COVID-19 vaccines is available on the Georgia Department of Public Health's website. Or you can visit the health departments Facebook page or call 404-657-2700. The health department allows you to check your state immunization record online.
The federal government is no longer covering the cost of the vaccines, but most people with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance will not have to pay.
Children 18 and younger may qualify to receive no-cost or low-cost vaccines through the federal Vaccines for Children Program.
Its safe and effective to receive an updated Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine at least two months after your last dose no matter which brand youve received, including Johnson & Johnson.
MarsBars/Getty Images
The updated vaccines only target one strain of the omicron variant, called XBB.1.5, and are recommended by the CDC to protect against more recently circulating strains of the virus. The bivalent boosters, released in 2022, targeted the original strain of the virus and two omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5. The Novavax booster targeted only the original strain of the virus.
Vaccine manufacturers are once again working to update the vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. The redesigned shots, which should be available in the fall, will target a strain of the virus that is causing a significant share of infections this summer.
Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Bring a drivers license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state of residency, along with your health insurance card.
The CDC no longer distributes vaccine cards, andthey are not required to receive a vaccine. If youve lost your vaccine card, you can call the site where you were vaccinated to request a new one or a copy of your vaccination record.
You also can request your immunization record on the Georgia Department of Public Healths website, or contact your countys public health department.
Its common to experience mild to moderate side effects after getting vaccinated, such as soreness in the arm, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, nausea, fever or chills but these are temporary and normal signs that your body is building protection, the CDC says.
A small number of vaccine recipients have experienced adverse reactions to the shots.
According to the CDC, it is safe to receive the flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously, although you are a little more likely to experience side effects, such as a headache and fatigue. Adults 75 or older (and those 60 to 74 with certain underlying health conditions) who are encouraged to get the RSV vaccine may receive that at the same time as the others, but some health experts suggestspacing them out. If you had the RSV vaccine last year, you dont need another one this year.
Contact your health care provider for more information.
The U.S. government no longer distributes COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities. That means nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings are responsible for coordinating COVID-19 vaccination programs for their residents and staff. Most long-term care facilities have partnerships with pharmacies or health departments to provide vaccines for flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.
Long-term care facilities that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid dollars are also required byfederal lawto educate residents, their representatives and staff about COVID-19 vaccines and offer a COVID-19 vaccine to residents, resident representatives and staff.
All vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from the disease. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, and infections can still occur postvaccination.
Be aware that scammers often purport to offer COVID-19 vaccines and treatments and try to charge for them. The AARP Fraud Watch Network is tracking the latest scams.
Georgia residents who believe theyve encountered a COVID-19 scam can report it to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General by calling 800-447-8477 or by submitting a complaint online.
Editors note: This guide was last published Oct. 6, 2023, and has been updated with new information.
Natalie Missakian covers federal and state policy, and writes AARPs Fighting for You Every Day blog. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Haven Register and daily newspapers in Ohio. She has also written for the AARP Bulletin, the Hartford Business Journal and other publications.
29 July 2024 Responsible Seafood Advocate
UVAXX has successfully developed the first vaccine to protect barramundi, also called Asian sea bass, from the Scale Drop Disease Virus (SDDV).
SDDV has led to severe losses for fish farmers, particularly in Southeast Asia. This virus makes fish lose their scales, develop skin lesions and can cause high death rates, sometimes up to 70 percent among both young and adult fish. UVAXX, a subsidiary of Barramundi Group and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), says the new vaccine could be a game-changer for the industry.
Through our 12 years of experience working with farmers to provide veterinary services and fish health solutions, we have witnessed the severity and devastation caused by SDDV, wrote representatives in a LinkedIn post. Until today, there are no commercially available solutions. We are proud to be on track to be the first to bring the solution to market.
The vaccine is designed to protect fish from SDDV by using specific virus components, called epitopes, that stimulate the fishs immune system. This approach is intended to boost the fishs natural defenses against the virus.
Derived from pathogen proteins, the epitopes are the targets of specific arm of the immune system such as antibodies that neutralize viral particles, and killer cells to directly eliminate infected cells and regulate the immune responses, said Professor Renia Laurent Claude Stphane, A*STAR senior fellow in a press release. In many ways, this epitope-based vaccine design is novel for the aquaculture sector and we are energized and committed to identify more use cases of this technology together with UVAXX.
UVAXX reports that the vaccine has a 75 percent effectiveness rate and will be incorporated into standard practices at hatcheries and fish farms. With no existing commercial solutions for SDDV, the team at UVAXX and A*STAR is set to be the first to offer this new remedy.
Efficacious vaccines remain the most critical tool for enabling a paradigm shift in aquaculture disease management from a reactive to a preventative approach and transforming farm production unit economics, wrote representatives on LinkedIn.
Before taking the vaccine to market, the next phase is to run large-scale field trials with local farms, evaluate the vaccines safety and effectiveness, set up the manufacturing process and obtain regulatory approval.
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CANTON St. Lawrence County is preparing for its annual oral rabies vaccine (ORV) distribution, an essential initiative. ORV baits will be distributed by air throughout St. Lawrence County from August 2 through August 6.
Bait distribution in New York is part of a nationwide, cooperative effort by USDA to prevent the westward spread of rabies in the eastern US. This will distribute approximately 622,800 oral rabies vaccine bait in the St. Lawrence Valley Region.
The bait resembles a fast-food ketchup package, includes a vaccine wrapped in a plastic packet that is dipped in fish oil and coated with fish-meal crumbles to attract target wildlife. The vaccine has been proven safe when given to more than 60 species of mammals and birds.
Residents who come in contact with wildlife vaccine packets can call the NYSDOH Rabies Information Line (888) 574-6656 with questions or concerns.
For more information, call the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department at (315) 386-2325.
Always notify your medical provider or SLCPHD if you are bitten by a pet or a wild animal. Additionally, keep your pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, and make sure your home is bat proof.
SLCPHD will be hosting free rabies vaccination clinics throughout the remainder of the year.
The clinic dates and locations are listed at
https://stlawco.gov/Departments/PublicHealth/RabiesControl.
(Precision Vaccinations News)
GSK plc today announced that the European Medicines Agencys Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended expanding the approval of GSKs respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Arexvy for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV from adults aged 60 and above to include adults aged 50-59 years at increased risk for RSV disease.
GSK said in a press release on July 29, 2024, that todays positive opinionis the first time that CHMP has recommended an indication for adults aged 50-59 for an RSV vaccine. The European Commissions final decision is expected by September 2024.
The U.S. FDA approved Arexvy for adults aged 50-59 at increased risk of RSV in June 2024.
Since June 2023,Arexvy has been approved in Europe for adults aged 60 and over to prevent RSV-LRTD.
GSK has also filed regulatory submissions to expand the use of its RSV vaccine to adults aged 50-59 at increased risk in Japan and other geographies, with regulatory decisions undergoing review.
Trials evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine in adults aged 18-49 at increased risk due to certain underlying medical conditions and in immunocompromised adults aged 18 and over are expected to read out in H2 2024.
Adults with underlying medical conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart failure,and diabetes, are at increased risk for severe consequences from an RSV infection. RSV can exacerbate these conditions and lead to pneumonia, hospitalization, or death.
In the United States, three approved RSV vaccines are available in July 2024.
SAVANNAH, Ga (WSAV) Many students across the Coastal Empire are heading back to the classrooms, and there are certain immunization requirements needed before hitting the books.
To keep students healthy during the school year, the state of Georgia requires students to get certain vaccines against diseases.
News 3 met with Memorial Health Pediatrician Dr. Ashley Cheek, who stressed the importance of keeping students shot record up to date.
Most of the schools are cracking down and not allowing entry without these shots being updated, so checks are really important, Dr. Cheek said.
The measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) are a few required vaccines.
According to Dr. Cheek, a lot of vaccines and boosters are recommended and performed once children turn 4-years-old.
Another thing that is important is that an 11-year-old well-child check is important because it also updates the tetanus shot provides the opportunity for the meningococcal vaccine and the hpv vaccine. Hpv vaccines help prevent cancer.
Dr. Cheek emphasized how important annual check-ups are and it helps with last minute stress before the first bell of the school year rings.
If your first-time student is getting ready for pre-k there is the hearing, dental and eyesight check certification too.
Traditionally, its annual, Dr. Cheek said. As long as they come in with their annual visits on time, theyll be able to have everything updated.
For a list of required Georgia vaccines, visit here. For a list of required vaccines in South Carolina, visit here.
