Category: Vaccine

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.

Continued here:

As mpox strain clade 1b reaches Europe, expert warns of delayed Western response - Fortune

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.

More:

Air Force clinic on Okinawa shuts down to investigate potentially ineffective vaccines - Stars and Stripes

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.

See more here:

Covid vaccines this fall: Will they arrive in time to combat the surge? - NBC News

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.

MMWR and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report are service marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of the date of publication.

All HTML versions of MMWR articles are generated from final proofs through an automated process. This conversion might result in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Users are referred to the electronic PDF version (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr) and/or the original MMWR paper copy for printable versions of official text, figures, and tables.

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Vital Signs: Trends and Disparities in Childhood Vaccination... - CDC

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.

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Oral Vaccine Focused Penny Stock Vaxart Is 'Uniquely Positioned', Analyst Sees Almost 83% Upside - Benzinga

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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Pharmalittle: We're reading about a Covid-flu shot setback, mpox vaccine supplies, and more - STAT

Amid a surge in new coronavirus cases in the country, the Ministry of Health and Population is preparing to roll out a Covid vaccine across the seven provinces.

Officials said that elderly people, those with compromised immunity, and children between five and 11 years will be jabbed with the monovalent coronavirus vaccine supplied by the COVAX facility last month.

Most of the provincial health offices have already placed demands for the vaccine, said Dr Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Immunisation Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. We will start supplying vaccine doses to provinces within a week.

The monovalent or single component vaccine is designed for the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 of SARS-CoV-2.

Lately, Nepal has witnessed a rise in coronavirus cases.

The World Health Organisations report on integrated influenza and other respiratory virus surveillance for week 31 of 2024 shows a SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate of 13.68 percent in Nepal.

Also, the latest data from the National Public Health Laboratory indicates a sharp increase in cases. Of the 5,373 tests conducted since January, 341 came out positive for Covid. The test positivity rate is 6.3 percent, which is concerning, according to experts.

Doctors say that the number of people suffering from fever, sore throat, body aches, and common cold has risen.

The COVAX facility, the United Nations-backed international vaccine-sharing scheme, supplied Nepal with 1.6 million monovalent vaccine doses in the first week of July.

Officials said that around 100,000 children with underlying conditionscancer, HIV, and others will be administered the vaccine.

Along with these children, pregnant women, people with compromised immunity, those with chronic diseases, and people over the age of 55 have been designated as vulnerable groups, officials said.

Since the end of the second wave of Covid in 2021, health authorities across Nepal have stopped active case finding, including contact tracing and free testing. Hospitals now only conduct tests for those seeking polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for travel abroad or for seriously ill patients with respiratory conditions.

Multiple doctors the Post spoke with said that the circulation of coronavirus has never stopped and is unlikely to stop in the near future.

Infectious disease experts and virologists urge the public to take precautions to protect the elderly and people with comorbidities from the deadly virus.

They warn that even if most people may not show severe symptoms from Covid infection, the elderly and people with underlying conditions remain at high risk.

We saw elderly people requiring intensive care during the previous surge in April, said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of the Clinical Research Unit at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital. Its time to return to the basicswashing hands, wearing face masks, avoiding crowdsto save at-risk groups like the elderly and those with underlying conditions.

Over 12,000 people died, and hundreds of thousands were infected in the first, second and third waves of the Covid pandemic.

Meanwhile, the National Public Health Laboratory said that an Omicron sub-variant of the coronavirus is responsible for the surge in new infections of late. According to the latest update issued by the laboratory, the Omicron variant has been found in all 42 swab samples in the whole genome sequencing.

Whole-genome sequencing is a comprehensive method of analysing the entire DNA sequence of an organisms genes. Researchers believe this approach could be instrumental in tracking the viruss severity and properties.

This time, however, the laboratory has not provided information about the specific Omicron sub-variant.

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Monovalent Covid vaccine set for nationwide rollout within a week - The Kathmandu Post

New York National Guard / Flickr cc

A new study in JAMA Network Open shows that state COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers (HCWs) issued in 17 states in 2021 were associated with increased vaccine uptake.

The authors found that states with vaccines mandates had a nearly 4% increase in vaccination rates compared with non-mandate states, with even bigger gains in states with no test-out options.

The study included 31,142 HCWs sampled across 45 states, including 16 states with vaccine mandates issued in mid-2021. The outcomes measured were increases in the proportions of vaccinated HCWs and those who completed or intended to complete the vaccination series 2 weeks after mandate announcement relative to baseline proportions of 88% and 86% vaccinated HCWs, respectively.

The authors found a mandate-associated 3.46 percentage point (pp) (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29 to 6.63 pp) increase in the proportion of HCWs ever vaccinated against COVID-19 and a 3.64 pp (95% CI, 0.72 to 6.57 pp) increase in the proportion that completed or intended to complete the primary vaccination series 2 weeks after a mandate announcement in states with mandates.

A stratified analysis showed that, in states with a no test-out option and among HCWs aged 25 to 49 years, vaccination increased 3.32% to 7.09% compared to baseline proportions. There were no significant uptake increases in states that offered both vaccine mandates and a test-out option.

In an editorial on the study, John B. Lynch, MD, PhD, of the University of Washington in Seattle, said vaccine mandates are often unpopular and can be politicized, so understanding just how much benefit they yield is important for policy makers.

Researchers are gaining more information on the specific tools that can be used for employer vaccine mandate policies, including not having a test-out option.

"Importantly, researchers are gaining more information on the specific tools that can be used for employer vaccine mandate policies, including not having a test-out option," he said.

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COVID vaccine mandates linked to increased uptake among healthcare workers - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images

2 hours wey don pass

Di European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control don advise travellers make dem consider to take mpox vaccine if dem dey plan to visit kontris for Africa wia di disease dey worry.

World Health Organization say East Africa kontris like DR Congo, wia di disease bin first come from, and odas like Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda wey bin never get di disease before, all of dem don recently report new cases, although di numbers dey go down.

Di European centre for disease control update im recommendation sake of dis latest WHO announcement say dem don discover new strain of di virus.

WHO say di risk of di virus spreading dey low, even as dem just declare mpox wey dem bin sabi before as monkeypox as global emergency.

Mpox na disease wey pesin fit catch wen e get contact wit who get di disease, including through sex.

WHO Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) don recommend two dose of Mpox vaccines wey WHO-listed regulatory authorities also don approve.

Di virus wey dey cause mpox, na di same virus dey also cause small pox. Diafore, di JYNNEOS two dose vaccine, wey dem develop, dey protect against both mpox and small pox.

According to di US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, pipo need to take di two dose of JYNNEOS, wey pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic dey manufacture.

To get di best di best protection, dem must to take di second dose four weeks afta dem take di first one.

So far, di Nigeria goment never officially announce any special healthcare facilities wia pesin fit go collect di mpox vaccine, but pipo fit discuss wit dia doctors for advise on wia to go.

Like every oda vaccines, di mpox vaccine fit make some pipo get some side effects wen dem collect di vaccine.

Some of di common side effects wey pesin fit get from collecting di JYNNEOS vaccine na:

You fit manage any one of dis side effects if e happun to you.

But, if you collect di vaccine, come dey feel like say you get allergic reactions like say you no fit breath, you wan collapse, or you dey breath up up, make you dey waka go hospital kia kia.

Oda symptoms wey be say if you notice any of dem you need to go hospital sharpaly na, chest pain, irregular breathing, pressure or discomfort or you dey notice new or unexpected side effects.

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Is there a vaccine for mpox? - Wetin you need to know about am - BBC.com

Patients keep asking Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, the same question: Is it time to get another Covid shot?

The virus is circulating at high levels across the country. That might suggest its prime time for another dose of protection. But updated vaccines that target newer variants of the virus are expected to arrive this fall.

Experts said the right time for your next Covid shot will depend on your health status and what youre hoping to get from the vaccines.

Doctors say that many people may want to wait for the updated vaccines, which have been retooled to better protect against the current dominant strains of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone ages 6 months or older receive an updated shot when they become available.

An upcoming vaccine from the biotechnology company Novavax will target JN.1, a coronavirus variant that accounted for the bulk of cases in the United States this winter. The Pfizer and Moderna shots coming this fall will target KP.2, a newer offshoot of JN.1 thats been circulating this summer. The variants responsible for the largest share of cases in the United States right now, KP.3 and KP.3.1.1, are closely related to KP.2 and JN.1.

The vaccines that are currently available, by contrast, target older Omicron variants that fizzled out as JN.1 took hold this past winter.

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Should You Get Another Covid Shot Now? - The New York Times