Category: Vaccine

A patient is given a flu vaccine Oct. 28, 2022, in Lynwood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TND)

It may not be the next pandemic, but scientists are warning its proof were not ready for when the next one comes: the bird flu.

Avian influenza a cousin of the seasonal influenza we deal with every year is not new. Its believed to have been around hundreds of years before the 1918 Spanish avian flu pandemic that killed an estimated 50 to 100 million people worldwide.

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There have been numerous outbreaks of avian influenza in various countries among various animal species over the years, as its not just birds that get infected.

The latest outbreak surfaced in 2020 when a severe variant of the H5N1 avian influenza strain (referred to as H5) started spreading in animals around the world. In February 2022, the virus started causing sporadic outbreaks in backyard and commercial poultry flocks in the U.S.

As of May 2024, more than 90 million chickens and turkeys in 47 states have been killed since the outbreak began, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The virus is typically fatal to birds within days of infection, and farmers have to euthanize flocks to stop the spread.

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Its also infected alpacas, sea lions, house cats, skunks and more during this most recent outbreak.

But up until this year, it had never infected cows.

As of this week, there have been more than 135 dairy herds in a dozen states reported with H5 infections.

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Cows are largely spared of the virus severity; the infection concentrates in the udders of lactating animals, meaning their raw milk is contaminated.

And thats where human H5 infections come in.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, four human cases of the bird flu have been reported in the U.S. from exposure to dairy cattle since March 2024. Three of those four got conjunctivitis, otherwise known as pink eye, and the other had mild respiratory symptoms.

Experts say they were likely exposed when milking cows if milk happened to squirt in their eyes.

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To date, there havent been any signs of human-to-human transmission.

These do appear, at this point, to be dead-end infections, which is reassuring, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. But because of whats happened with other flu pandemics, were always on the lookout for bird flu viruses behaving differently: infecting more poultry; infecting mammalian species, because that gives these bird flu viruses the opportunity to evolve and become more efficient at infecting humans.

Adalja joins a chorus of scientists who are sounding the alarm that this could be another pandemic slowly unfolding.

On its website, the CDC says the current risk to the general public from bird flu viruses is low, and surveillance so far hasnt shown any unusual influenza activity in people. Dairy farmers and other animal workers are at the highest risk, but even when they contract the virus, they experience very mild symptoms. Some might not even notice.

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Experts remind people to never drink unpasteurized milk, which can carry not just the bird flu, but a host of other pathogens and bacteria.

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The Food and Drug Administration released a first-of-its-kind study last month further confirming pasteurization is effective at inactivating H5 in milk. The FDA did find traces of the virus in 20% of dairy products sampled from grocery shelves nationwide, but there were no signs of live infectious virus in those samples.

Not all countries have central pasteurization, so if the outbreak becomes more widespread globally, some experts say it could have concerning implications. Raw milk is legal in several European countries.

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Because the bird flu is not new, the U.S. already has a strategic national stockpile of two different vaccines against it. The federal government also just paid drug manufacturer Moderna $176 million to develop another one, using the same mRNA technology Moderna used for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Shah says theres no recommendation for use of the H5-specific vaccine right now, and the regular flu season shot will not protect against the bird flu.

Still, he says the CDC is monitoring for any changes in the virus: increased severity; human-to-human transmission; infection in people not exposed to livestock, etc. Any of these would be turning points, and he anticipates, if we get to that point, the CDC would recommend vaccination for risk groups (likely farmworkers and their families), and then move out in concentric rings.

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Testing for avian influenza is just like getting tested for regular influenza, meaning we have plenty of tests stockpiled just in case. Adalja says the U.S. has tests that can distinguish between different flu strains.

Adalja and federal agencies agree theres not a need right now for the general public to be tested.

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According to Reuters, state health officials say 99 people have been tested for bird flu in Michigan, Texas, Idaho, Colorado and New Mexico. Several other states with bird flu outbreaks either didnt report their human testing data or said they hadnt tested anyone.

Meanwhile, the CDCs website says between March 2024 and now, there have been at least 1,390 people monitored for H5 (asymptomatic people who may have been exposed) and at least 61 people tested for H5 (symptomatic). Four positive cases have been identified.

Whats really of concern for Adalja and other scientists is the testing of cattle themselves, which is up to farmers. The federal government can only test herds before they cross state lines, and state testing efforts are currently inconsistent because, according to experts, some farmers arent quick to want to reveal that their herds might have an outbreak.

Many farm workers are reluctant to be tested and dont want the stigma of testing positive, Adalja said. Theres economic considerations that are constraining their ability. This is occurring in a commodity, and states dont want to have any kind of disruption to the economy.

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Adalja points to the negative effects a stigma like this can have in April, Colombia became the first country to officially restrict imports of U.S. beef due to bird flu in cows. The U.S. Meat Export Federation called the restriction unworkable and misguided, arguing the rest of the United States trading partners are following the science, and havent restricted any imports.

But without accurate reporting to show the full scope of the virus spread, Adalja says this creates a lack of situational awareness about the bird flu in the country.

There are likely more dairy cattle herds that are infected across this country. We also expect that there have been more humans that have been infected, he said. Anecdotally, there have been reports of people with flu-like illness or eye infections that did not get tested. In the initial first case acquired from a cow in the U.S., the family members refused to be tested.

Shah says this is an issue public health officials have always dealt with, and when a virus changes or infects a new animal species, it takes time to build up trust among industry workers to agree to testing.

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Still, as it stands, H5 does not cause severe illness in humans, which raises the question: if only four people have gotten it and had mild symptoms; if it doesnt impact our commercial milk supply; if sick cows generally recover; and if theres no human-to-human transmission, why risk the negative stigma and cause the economy to take a hit?

Scientists point to the H1N1 virus, often called the swine flu, which was declared a pandemic in 2009, and killed more than 280,000 people worldwide. It had previously spread among pigs and birds, but the different viruses combined to create a more severe strain that started infecting people.

Experts say more surveillance of that virus could have helped authorities prepare and possibly save more lives.

The same goes for the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal agencies have admitted their missteps: taking years to declare the virus as airborne; recommending measures to prevent the spread that werent backed by science; implying vaccines would stop transmission; and failing to prepare hospitals and nursing homes adequately.

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A bipartisan group called the COVID Crisis Group published a report on the mistakes made during that pandemic. The primary author, Philip Zelikow, told USA Today, We went into a 21st-century pandemic with a 19th-century system. Weve come out of that pandemic essentially retaining the 19th century structure.

Adalja said many in the public health community agree they dont have a lot of confidence in our current system.

The point is that there will be avian flu viruses in the future that will cause pandemics, just like what happened in 1918, Adalja said. I think what we want to do is think of this bird flu outbreak in cows almost as a trial run and if we cant iron out the differences between agriculture and human health and commerce with a less forgiving virus, its not going to be a good situation."

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Shah says the CDC has learned lessons from COVID-19, and state, county and local health officials are checking in with farmers across the country every day. Yet, theres only so much federal agencies can track and require, which is something Shah says his agency has discussed with the scientific community.

One of the challenges with outbreak response is, unfortunately, you never have all the data you want at the time that you need it in order to move forward. And thats the situation were in right now, he said. We absolutely wish that there was more testing happening. We wish we had better data and what is unfolding in real-time. Thats the goal that were moving to. Unfortunately, testing can be a challenge. Testing fundamentally takes trust.

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Experts: Bird flu is a 'wake-up call' - 13WHAM-TV

US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Tuesday said its chief scientific officer Mikael Dolsten, a key figure behind the development of the company's Covid-19 vaccine, would step down. Dolsten will be stepping down after over a 15-year career at the company. The drugmaker said it would start identifying a successor for Dolsten, a process which is expected to last several months. Dolsten joined Pfizer as part of the Wyeth acquisition in 2009, when he was named president of Worldwide Research and Development with the responsibility to lead all of Pfizer's research as well as development of all its treatments through mid-stage studies. Last year, Albert Bourla, Chief Executive Officer of US-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, encountered a series of tough questions about the efficacy of its Covid vaccine on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting, but he repeatedly ignored the queries. Couple of Rebel News reporters named Ezra Levant and Avi Yemini were seen asking a lot of uncomfortable questions to the Pfizer CEO. Among the questions, he asked the CEO why the manufacturer kept the fact secret that its vaccine did not stop transmission of the virus. Rebel News posted a six-minute-long video of the confrontation on Twitter. In the video, the journalist grilled him about why Pfizer kept a secret about vaccines not stopping Covid transmission. "You (Pfizer) said it was 100% effective, then 90%, then 80%, then 70%, but we now know that the vaccines do not stop transmission. Why do you keep that secret?" the reporters asked. The Pfizer chief time and again ducked these questions, only to say "Thank you very much" and "Have a nice day". The reporters, however, kept on following the Pfizer chief even though he did not solicit a response. In another question, he was asked whether it was time to apologize to the world and to give refunds to the countries that bought vaccines that did not yield results. Are you not ashamed of what youve done in the last couple of years?" Yemini asked. A few weeks ago, the state of Kansas in the US filed a lawsuit against Pfizer, alleging that the pharmaceutical company engaged in deceptive practices regarding its Covid-19 vaccine. The lawsuit, filed in the District Court of Thomas County, accuses Pfizer of violating the Kansas Consumer Protection Act by making false claims about the vaccine's effectiveness while concealing potential risks. According to Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, "Pfizer made multiple misleading statements to deceive the public about its vaccine at a time when Americans needed the truth." The lawsuit alleges that Pfizer hid evidence linking the vaccine to pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, as well as heart inflammation (myocarditis and pericarditis) shortly after the vaccine's rollout in early 2021. Pfizer denied the allegations, stating, "The representations made by Pfizer about its Covid-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based."

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Pfizer's key scientist Mikael Dolsten, who developed Covid vaccine, to step down - The Times of India

Colorado health officials have confirmed a human case of the plague, the rare bacterial infection infamously known for killing tens of millions in 14th century Europe. Today, its easily treated with antibiotics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are seven human cases of plague per year in the U.S., and in February, Oregon officials reported it in a person who likely got it from their sick cat.

Surprised to hear the plague is still around? Heres what to know.

The bubonic plague is the most common form of the bacterial infection, which spreads naturally among rodents like prairie dogs and rats.

There are two other forms of the plague: septicemic plague (which spreads through the whole body) and pneumonic plague (which infects the lungs).

Bubonic plague causes painfully swollen lymph nodes that are most commonly found in the groin, armpit and neck, called buboes. It will often advance and turn into the other two forms of plague if untreated.

Other symptoms of the plague include sudden high fever and chills, headaches, and pain in the abdomen, legs and arms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The bacteria is transmitted through the bites of infected fleas, which spread it between rodents, pets and humans.

People can also get plague through touching infected bodily fluids, so health experts recommend taking extra care when handling dead or sick animals. The plague can also spread through the respiratory droplets of a patient who has pneumonic plague.

Pneumonic plague is the most deadly and easiest to spread, with a nearly 100% fatality rate untreated, said Lisa Morici, a microbiologist and immunologist at the Tulane University School of Medicine.

In the U.S., most cases happen in rural areas of northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon and far western Nevada, according to the CDC.

Worldwide, plague is found the most in Congo, Madagascar and Peru, according to the World Health Organization.

The plague was never eradicated, but weve gotten better at preventing its spread and treating it in humans.

When treated early with antibiotics, the plague can be cured. The key is to get to a doctor fast -- otherwise the plague can be deadly.

And, as the old adage goes, prevention is better than a cure.

Keeping areas around the home clear of debris and other things that can attract rodents can lower the risk of infection, as can making sure pets are up to date on flea treatments. When hunting, camping or otherwise spending time outdoors, the CDC recommends using a bug spray with DEET to keep fleas and other disease-spreading pests away.

Yes, but the WHO only recommends it for people who are at high risk of infection, like laboratory and health care workers. Theres no plague vaccine available in the U.S.

Morici said there is need for more research, because while the vaccines used in other parts of the world work against bubonic plague, there isnt strong evidence to show they protect against the pneumonic form of plague.

Testing a plague vaccine would be ethically and logistically difficult, she said.

Because the bubonic form is quite treatable with antibiotics and also quite rare you dont see thousands and thousands of cases of plague a year theres just not a huge market for a plague vaccine at this point in time, Morici said.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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The plague rarely affects humans, though the US sees about 7 cases a year. Heres why - The Associated Press

Adults ages 75 and older should get a single dose of an adult RSV vaccine. People ages 60 to 74 who have health complications should also get vaccinated. Photo: Getty Images.

Federal health experts have issued new guidelines for adult RSV vaccines, and some people may be confused since this years advice is a little different than last years.

So, who should get an RSV vaccine? How are the newest guidelines different from last years RSV vaccine recommendations, and how often do older adults need to get an RSV vaccine?

To better understand RSV vaccines for adults, we consulted with Dr. Michelle Barron, UCHealthssenior medical director of infection prevention and control.

Barron said its excellent that there are now RSV vaccines for at-risk older adults. The vaccines were first approved in 2023, and if youve already gotten a single dose of an RSV vaccine, you dont need to worry about getting another dose now.

You should be good. At this point in time, a single shot is considered a lifetime dose, so you should not get another one, Barron said. The new guidelines only apply to people who didnt get an RSV vaccine last year and are wondering if they would benefit from getting one this year.

Health experts are encouraging people who could get sickest from RSV to get the new vaccines. People ages 75 and older and those ages 60 and older who have serious health conditions are most at risk if they get RSV and should consider getting the vaccine, Barron said.

Its wonderful anytime we can prevent a disease from becoming severe, and preventing hospitalizations is definitely worthwhile, said Barron, who is alsoa professorat theUniversity of Colorado School of Medicineon theAnschutz Medical Campus.

For both medical providers and patients, the fine print about RSV vaccines can be confusing. So we went over the most frequently asked questions with Barron.

RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Parents of young children may think of RSV by its more common name: croup. Along with older adults, RSV or croup can be very dangerous for newborns and young children. And parents whove nursed sick children through a case of croup can attest to the alarming barking seal sound that children make when theyre coughing or gasping for air.

No. RSV can be very dangerous for babies, young children and some older adults. But many other people likely have had RSV and didnt realize it.

Thats because RSV in older children and healthy adults can manifest with basic cold symptoms or those of bronchitis.

For most people, this is not a big deal, Barron said. But in patients who are immunosuppressed because theyve had a transplant or are undergoing chemotherapy or have really bad underlying lung disease, RSV can get them into a trouble and put them in the hospital. So its something we have to pay attention to.

No. There is not an RSV vaccine for infants and children. Especially vulnerable newborns like those born prematurely can receive a new injected medication called nirsevimab. Its a type of monoclonal antibody that babies can receive if theyre born during RSV season. Learn more about monoclonal antibodies for RSV.

Yes. For pregnant women who are due to deliver babies during the winter months when RSV most commonly peaks medical experts recommend one dose of an RSV vaccine at 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Medical advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who are part of the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted on June 26 to revise guidance related to adult RSV vaccines. Leaders at the CDC then adopted these new guidelines.

Here are the newest recommendations for RSV vaccines for adults:

In addition, experts encourage people who are immunocompromised, such as transplant recipients, to get the RSV vaccine. And people living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities should also get a single dose of the RSV vaccine since the virus can spread quickly and cause serious illness to people living in elder care facilities.

Older people who get RSV infections tend to end up in the hospital and can have complications once theyre hospitalized, Barron said. The new guidelines make sense in that theyre trying to target the people who are at highest risk.

People who have questions about whether they should get an RSV vaccine should talk with their doctors.

Last years guidelines for RSV vaccines encouraged shared decision making for people ages 60 and older. Those guidelines spurred confusion both for medical providers and patients who werent certain who should get an RSV vaccine.

In addition, RSV vaccines are relatively expensive. For people without insurance, they can cost about $400 per dose, and a very small percentage of people can experience a serious side effect called Guillain-Barr syndrome.

When medical experts reviewed RSV vaccines this year, they decided to focus on the people who needed them most: those ages 75 and older and those who are dealing with serious underlying health conditions.

Dr. Oliver Brooks is the chief medical officer for Watts HealthCare Corporation in Los Angeles and is a member of the CDC advisory committee for vaccines.

During a recent meeting of the advisers, Brooks said it makes sense to change guidance when new information emerges.

We shouldnt vaccinate people who dont need the vaccine, Brooks said of the new RSV guidance. Sometimes we change our minds based on data.

Barron concurred.

RSV is not going to have a big impact on everybody. So, from an economic perspective and as it relates to the potential for side effects, not offering this vaccine to the universe at large is probably the best answer for now, Barron said.

She emphasized that its normal for viruses to evolve. So, its wise for health experts and policy makers to keep evaluating and reevaluating proper recommendations for RSV and other vaccines.

We may need to change the recommendations again based on what we learn five years from now, Barron said. Well continue to evaluate as we go along.

The best time to get an RSV vaccine is in the late summer or early fall before RSV starts to spread widely during the winter respiratory virus season.

No. For now, medical experts advise people who qualify for RSV vaccines to get a single dose.

Barron said medical experts will continue to monitor the long-term effectiveness of the new RSV vaccines. If the effect of the vaccine wanes over time as is typical for other vaccines, like those for flu and COVID-19 its possible that federal health authorities will recommend booster doses of RSV sometime in the future.

No. There were no shortages of the (adult) RSV vaccine, Barron said.

There were some shortages of the monoclonal antibodies that help prevent RSV in infants and young children, and some people may have mixed up those treatments with the adult RSV vaccines.

The monoclonal antibody is not a vaccine. But since its for prevention of RSV, some people may have bunched the two together, Barron said.

People who need an RSV vaccine this fall shouldnt have any trouble getting it, Barron said.

Yes. Its safe to get multiple vaccines at the same time.

Barron is a big fan of convenience. She encourages her patients not to worry too much about the exact timing of their vaccines. If youre already seeing your doctor this fall, go ahead and get your vaccines at that time. (Learn all about the new 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine that people should get this fall.)

RSV is probably much more common that we know. Thats because its unusual to test for RSV unless a child or adult gets so sick that they need to be hospitalized.

We know that kids are disproportionately affected by RSV, and most parents will get it if their kids get the croup, Barron said.

But if you come in to see your doctor, and you say, I have a cold or bronchitis, we might give you something for it, but were not typically going to test for RSV. So thats the end of the story, she said.

Its more common these days to test for RSV, especially for anyone who needs hospital care. But additional data in the future may provide a more complete picture of how widespread RSV infections area.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first RSV vaccine in May of 2023. Its called Arexvy, and the drug manufacturer is GlaxoSmithKline.

FDA officials approved a second RSV drug last year. Pfizer created a drug called Abryzvo. Its currently the only RSV vaccine which is approved for use during pregnancy.

Theres also a third vaccine aimed at fighting RSV. Its called mResvia, is made by Moderna and received FDA approval in May of 2024.

In older adults, RSV can cause serious illness, hospitalization and deaths. For people in high-risk groups, the new RSV vaccines can keep people healthy or if a person gets RSV, the symptoms likely will be milder.

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Federal health experts adopt new guidelines for adult RSV vaccines. Who should get them? - UCHealth Today

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Immunoinformatics and structural aided approach to develop multi-epitope based subunit vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis - Nature.com

Nearly 13 million Americans, including teens and adults, become infected with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) each year. Unvaccinated individuals who are sexually active will more likely get HPV at some point in their life. Although most HPV infections go away on their own, some don't and may cause cancer.

Let's look at three truths and three myths about the HPV vaccination.

Children ages 11 and 12 should receive the vaccination. Up to age 26, you can still get vaccinated and be protected against cancers caused by HPV infections. You can get the vaccine up to age 45. However, it may not be as effective if you have already been exposed to HPV.

When vaccinating a young person, the point is not to promote sexual activity. Like other vaccinations, the HPV vaccination is given as part of the course of regular immunizations. It protects a child from contracting a serious illness in the future.

HPV is highly contagious; it spreads primarily through skin-to-skin contact. So, its extremely important for you to get vaccinated before becoming sexually active. HPV can be passed through one sexual encounter and may not show symptoms, so you may not realize you have it. Most likely, you'd learn you have it following a diagnosis of HPV-related cancer or genital warts.

HPV can cause the following types of cancer:

The fact is the HPV vaccination received strict safety testing through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before its approval in 2006. Since that time, with careful monitoring and research, the vaccination continues to prove its safe.

There are around 200 strains of HPV, and 13 of those can cause cancer, so the vaccination is necessary for both men and women.

Since 2006, HPV infections and cervical precancers have dropped significantly.

Like with most vaccines you receive, the side effects are mild and go away in a day or two. They could include:

Actually, not getting the vaccination could cause fertility problems. If you get cancer caused by HPV and receive treatment, such as a hysterectomy, chemotherapy or radiation you may not be able to have children. Additionally, treating cervical precancer sometimes causes preterm delivery.

Ask your primary care physicianabout the importance of the HPV vaccination for your child, as well as for yourself.

See the original post:

3 common misconceptions and 3 essential truths about the HPV vaccine - MercyOne

Hi, this is Will covering for Irwin for another edition of Inklings, where we explore all things aid and aid-adjacent unfolding in humanitarian hubs, on the front lines of emergency response, or in the dark corners of online aid punditry.

Its also available as an email newsletter.Subscribe here.

Today: Publication of a damning polio vaccine report is mysteriously postponed, the UKs new Labour government appears to be demoting foreign aid, and feeding the UN reform beast.

Polio switch paralysis: A report slated to shed light on how3,300 children were paralysed as a result of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) changing a vaccine recipe has been kicked into the long grass. The publication of the final version of an official investigation into what went wrong was due in the first week of June but has been repeatedly pushed back. A GPEI spokesperson told The New Humanitarian it was still being finalised, however another source said the final report was ready some time ago.

And now a draft version of the report, which revealed the damning findings,has disappeared from the website of the GPEI, a body made up of the biggest players in global health: the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi (the vaccine alliance). The draft was taken down once a public consultation period was over, the spokesperson said, and the final report should eventually take its place.

Luckily, The New Humanitarian previously downloaded a copy, which can beviewed here. It found a decision to remove the type 2 poliovirus one of three polio strains from oral vaccines given to children from 2016 was an unqualified failure that went on for years. The move, dubbed the switch, was supposed to help end outbreaks of the vaccine-derived type 2 virus. But the reverse happened, the strain spread unabated as thousands of unprotected children were infected. Some of them will never walk again the precise numbers are unknown because the data has not been published.

Other key details are missing from the draft report. It took direct aim at GPEIs leadership, which it said showed an inability or unwillingness of programme leadership to recognise the seriousness of the evolving problem and take corrective action, but did not explain what happened or why.

In 1997, after a landslide UK Labour Party election victory, the government set about creating the Department for International Development (DFID), led by a Secretary of State, Clare Short. But now, the new government led by Keir Starmer has downgraded the position of the politician in charge of humanitarian issues even more than the previous Conservative government, which was no fan of aid, having closed DFID and slashed the budget.

A weekend of confusion followed the UKs 4 July election, in which NGO workers were left unsure if there would even be anyone in the new government responsible for aid. But on 8 July, former Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds wasconfirmed as the Minister of State responsible for International Development a demotion from the titles attached to her Conservative predecessor, Andrew Mitchell (Minister for development and deputy foreign secretary). The move was a surprise to aid workers who spent 10 months building relationships with the team of Lisa Nandy, who held the role in opposition. The move makes my life harder, said one.

Worse, Dodds appears to be sharing the job with the role of Minister for Women and Equalities, at the Department for Education and the aid position formerly one of the most prominent international roles in government is not even mentioned onher official government page. This suggests that they think it is a part time role on development or a part time role on women and equalities, said one UK aid sector leader. Either way this is not a strong signal that they truly want to renew the UKs leadership on development, but rather keep the portfolio a subordinate of [Foreign Secretary David] Lammys.

The person wondered: why arent INGOs condemning this more strongly?

Perhaps because after 13 years of Conservative government, as a third aid worker noted, I think the general feeling is that it could be a lot lot worse.

A new analysis on the quality of climate finance claims its real value is much less than reported by as much as $88 billion in 2022. Concerned about how much climate finance is dominated by loans and is of dubious relevance to climate purposes, Oxfam researchers devised a new measurement: Climate-Specific Net Assistance, displayed in the graph above in green. They say this measurement more accurately represents the financial effort of rich countries on climate finance, which is always among the most sensitive issues in COP talks. Read the full methodologyhere.

10 (and counting):The number of days the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has been without a leader. The former head of OCHA,Martin Griffiths, stepped down on 30 June but has not yet been replaced, even as humanitarian crises continue unabated. TNH enquiries to OCHA asking when the replacement will come have so far gone unanswered.

Also: Indias scorching heatwave cost the lives of 25 polling officials during the countrys recent election, which saw record temperatures envelop the country, including 47 degrees Celsius in Dehli, The Hindureported.

NCQG:NewCollectiveQuantifiedGoal. The new climate finance target that governments must agree on this November at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. It will supersede the current target of $100 billion a year from Global North to South, which many experts say is insufficient for meeting the challenges of climate change.

DRFIP:DisasterRiskFinancing andInsuranceProgram. One of the ways being considered to fill the coffers of thefund for loss and damage being discussed this week at the second meeting of the board in Songdo, South Korea.

There's more comfort than there should be with the idea that we should have a UN reform process which recommends another UN reform process and so on and so on. Once this dynamic establishes itself where you have this cycle of conferences and consultations there is a small economy that builds around that, where theres work to be found as NGOs and consultants in feeding the beast.

Fred Carver, managing director at Strategy for Humanity, gives some background to the forthcoming Summit for the Future, a big UN conference, which he says is the product of a previous big UN conference, like the one before that

Have any tips, recommendations, or indecipherable acronyms to share with the Inklingsnewsletter? Get in touch: [emailprotected]

Read more:

Inklings | Wheres the missing report on polio vaccine paralysis? - The New Humanitarian

(Precision Vaccinations News)

Colossal today announced that the first elephant in captivity at the Houston Zoo has been administered an experimental herpesvirus mRNA vaccine.The Houston Zoo approved the vaccine and has inoculatedTess, a 40-year-old Asian elephant.

On July 9, 2024, Colossal stated the elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is the number one killer of Asian elephant calves living under managed care in North America and Europe and significantly impacts free-ranging populations of Asian elephants as well.

Recent EEHV-related deaths in several African elephants in the U.S. have raised concerns about EEHV in this elephant species.

Following encouraging results from the initial vaccine trials, the mRNA vaccine will be offered to more facilities, especially those with vulnerable young elephants.

Colossal supported our efforts to work on an mRNA solution approach, shared Dr. Paul Ling, Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Virology at Baylor College of Medicine, in a press release.

It quickly became evident that the mRNA solution was going to be feasible, so we prioritized implementing that approach. We are much further along today than we would have been without Colossals scientific support, research teams, and funding.

In the next three to five years, Dr. Ling hopes this vaccine will be applied to the broad population of elephants under human care worldwide. Following that, the team would look to applications with animals in the wild.

This represents a massive step forward for the protection of elephants globally and a huge step forward for science.

According to the Houston Zoo, Tess, mother to Tucker (19), Tupelo (13), Tilly (6), and Teddy (3) and grandmother to Winnie (3), is currently doing well post-vaccination.

Upon the successful outcome of this first vaccination, the Houston Zoo plans to vaccinate additional animals under its care.

As of July 9, 2024, the U.S. FDA has not approved a herpes vaccine for humans.

Read more:

Houston's 40-Year Old Elephant Receives mRNA Herpesvirus Vaccine - Precision Vaccinations

Researchers across various universities are developing a new vaccine and delivery system to prevent bovine tuberculosis (TB) in free-roaming white-tailed deera primary reservoir for the disease. The development is a mucosal, oral, probiotic-based vaccine that may contribute to the eradication of bovine TB in any wildlife species.1

Controlling bovine TB in animals with vaccination is a primary approach to preventing or mitigating the spread of a disease across animal populations and intohuman populations, Srinand Sreevatsan, BVSc, MVSc, MPH, PhD, associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University (MSU) and lead of the research team, said in a news release by MSU.1 Here in Michigan, the rise in bovine TB-infected deer and cattle herds has led to a state of urgency due to restrictions associated with animal trade and movement.

The mucosal vaccine was designed to withstand the intestinal mucosal barrier, which works to prevent pathogens from entering the body. Prior to the new vaccine, the development of oral vaccines had been hindered due to the inhospitable environment of the gut, according to the release.1 Sreevatsan and his teammates, Srinivas Dhandayuthapani, PhD, at the Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and Gireesh Rajashekara, DVM, PhD, at the Ohio State University, Center for Food Animal Health, used Bacillus subtilis spores, a probiotic naturally found in fermented foods and soil, as well as in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and ruminants, such as deer.1,2 B subtilis is capable of withstanding the acidic environment of the gut and its protective mucosal barrier. It can also survive the conditions of the outdoors food bait it will be left in for deer to ingest, according to the news release.1

Using probiotic spores to deliver antigens is a very exciting development, said Sreevatsan.1 We clone the bovine TB antigen encoding genes in the genetic machinery ofBacillus subtilis, and program it to express those antigens when they make spores.

The current vaccine used to protect against TBthe Bacillus Calmette-Gurin (BCG) vaccineis not effective in its prevention of illness in ruminants, including cattle, white tail deer, and other animals.1 Moreover, according to MSU, the BCG vaccine does not protect against the spread of bovine TB.1

Theres a need for a vaccine that can be delivered to deer as well as cattle, he continued.1 We require a low-cost vaccine and delivery system that will work with animals in the wild, and one that will actually provide a robust immune response.

The new bovine TB vaccine project, which received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, has the potential of being engineered to protect other wildlife animals against any infectious disease, such as the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, due to the flexible nature of the vaccines delivery mechanismwhich is similar to a nanoparticle delivery system.1

With this platform, we are producing a machinery of specialist suppliers that isnt limited to bovine TB antigens. Were very optimistic about its ability to deliver vaccines for any infectious disease, said Sreevatsan.1

References

Read more:

New vaccine for bovine tuberculosis uses probiotics to survive the gut - DVM 360

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have taken a leap forward in understanding how we might fight back against the potentially deadly MRSAbacterium. They have shown in an animal model that targeting a key suppressive immune molecule (IL-10) during the delivery of a vaccine improves the ability of the vaccine to protect against infection.

The bacteriumStaphylococcus aureusis one of the leading causes of community- and hospital-acquired bacterial infection, and is associated with over one million deaths worldwide each year. Unfortunately, antibiotics are becoming increasingly less effective against this bacterium with the antibiotic-resistant form, MRSA,responsible for the highest number of deaths in high-income countries that are attributable to antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections.

As a result, scientists are keenly focused on finding solutions to turn the tide in fightingS. aureus-related infections. One hugely appealing option is a vaccine but, while some progress has been made on that front in recent years, a number of major hurdles remain. One of these appears to be the bacterium's ability to dampen the immune response by turning on one of the natural breaks that exists within the immune system, an important immune-suppressive molecule known as Interleukin-10 (IL-10), which acts to reduce inflammation in the body.

The interesting thing aboutS. aureusis that in addition to being a deadly pathogen, forms of this bacteria live in and on our bodies without causing harm. During these asymptomatic interactions the bacterium is, however, shaping the immune response meaning that when a vaccine against S. aureus is administered the immune system struggles to respond appropriately.

Here, in the work just published in leading journalJCI Insight,the researchers showed in the animal model that if they immunized subjects with a vaccine that primed their immune systems to respond to infection in tandem with antibodies that neutralized IL-10, the immune response (via specialized T cells) was improved and bacterial clearance was likewise improved following subsequent infection.

The research team was led byRachel McLoughlin, Professor in Immunology in Trinity College Dublin's School of Biochemistry and Immunology. Rachel, who is based in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, said: "Taken in combination, our results offer significant promise for what would be a novel strategy for improving the efficacy of vaccines developed with the aim of suppressingS. aureusinfection.

"Our work also strongly suggests that prior exposures to this bacterium may create a situation whereby our immune system no longer sees it as a threat and thus does not respond appropriately to a vaccine due to the creation of this immune-suppressed state. Again, this underlines why immunization delivered with something that helps neutralise IL-10 offers renewed hope for effective vaccines againstS. aureus."

Source:

Journal reference:

Kelly, A. M., et al. (2024). IL-10 inhibition during immunization improves vaccine-induced protection against Staphylococcus aureus infection.JCI Insight. doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.178216.

Read more here:

Trinity College Dublin researchers uncover key to enhancing MRSA vaccine efficacy - News-Medical.Net