Global Health
Study explores COVID-19 vaccine fatigue determinants
A study published in Nature Medicine in March explores the factors associated with so-called “vaccine fatigue”, with a specific focus on the recent campaigns
Quadripartite calls for One Health action for “safer world”
In March 2023 the heads of the Quadripartite organisations working on One Health issued a call for greater global action for a safer world.
COVID-19 vaccine not linked to menstruation changes in study
A study released in iScience suggests that COVID-19 infection was a greater factor than COVID-19 vaccination in observed changes to a patient’s menstrual cycle.
The politics of pandemics: WHO questions data secrecy
After we reported in March 2023 that possibly critical data concerning the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market had been quietly released on GISAID,
Vaccine equity as good as it sounds, study suggests
In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers investigate the socioeconomic benefits of a set of “idealised” vaccine distribution scenarios
A GBS vaccine could save lives and money, say researchers
A study published in PLOS Medicine in March 2023 suggests that the human and financial benefits of a Group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccine would be significant but equitable access would depend on tiered pricing. GBS Streptococcus agalactiae is commonly known as...
LG Chem wins bid to supply essential vaccines for children
South Korean chemical company LG Chem announced in March 2023 that it will supply essential vaccines for infants and young children to “solve global public health issues”. It won a supply contract worth a total of $200 million in a UNICEF bid with vaccines for polio...
Experts call for change in the epidemic ecosystem
Writing in The Lancet in March 2023, public health experts called for “ambitious, transformational change” to the “epidemic countermeasures ecosystem”. The authors, including past interviewee Dr Jerome Kim of IVI, draw on years of collective experience to recommend...
Study suggests sleep key to successful vaccine responses
A study published in Current Biology in March 2023 suggests that getting sufficient sleep in the days surrounding vaccination is key to optimising antibody responses. Although this might seem an obvious assumption, the authors state that “simple behavioural...
Exclusive interview with Dr Mark Feinberg
With just two months until the World Vaccine Congress in Washington we are delighted that some of our wonderful speakers are keen to take part in exclusive interviews for the community. These interviews will be shared in preparation for the event as well as...
Queensland’s quest for an Australian cattle vaccine
Researchers at the University of Queensland are pursuing an experimental vaccine to tackle a venereal disease that “causes cattle infertility and costs the industry hundreds of millions of dollars”. Bovine trichomoniasis protozoa vaccines are available in other...
Maternal vaccination information in New Zealand
A study in Midwifery in February 2023 examines the quality of maternal vaccination information available in pregnancy to patients in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The authors suggest that, although there is no fee to get vaccinated in the country, “less than half of all...
African leaders unite on routine immunisation goals
In February 2023, at a meeting of the African Union in Addis Ababa, African Heads of State agreed on the need to “revamp routine immunisation” across the continent. This comes after the disruptions caused largely by the COVID-19 pandemic, which have been observed...
Montenegro’s “Health Caravan” promotes immunisation
In February 2023 WHO announced a collaboration with Montenegro’s Ministry of Health and Institute of Public Health (IPH) to launch a new initiative: the “Health Caravan”. This is an element of the American Rescue Plan COVID-19 Response Activity in Montenegro, financed...
Dr Jean Kaseya appointed Director General of Africa CDC
Dr Jean Kaseya was announced the new Director General of Africa CDC at the African Union summit in February 2023. He was approved by African heads of state during the meeting in Addis Ababa. Currently, Africa CDC is making the transition from a technical institute of...
French study explores vaccination and housing situation
A paper published in Nature Communications Medicine in February 2023 examines the results of a study investigating how a person’s housing situation might factor into their vaccination status. With limited global data on this relationship, the authors concluded from...
Exclusive interview with the US BIOLOGIC team
Next up in our series of interviews in preparation for the World Vaccine Congress in Washington this April are our speakers from US BIOLOGIC: Dr Jolieke van Oosterwijk and Chris Przybyszewski. We were delighted that they took the time to answer our questions and give...
One Health approaches: the agricultural perspective
In our discussions at the World Vaccine Congress and in published posts we continue to explore the meaning and applications of the concept of One Health. In an article for AgriPulse in February 2023, Ronald B Phillips presented how this can be realised from an...
Gavi appoints Dr Muhammad Ali Pate as CEO
In February 2023 Gavi announced the conclusion of a process that had begun in 2021: appointing a CEO to succeed Dr Seth Berkley. Dr Muhammad Ali Pate was Global Director, Health, Nutrition, and Population (HNP) Global Practice of the World Bank and Director of Global...
Health inequity or vaccine hesitancy: understanding barriers
A report in Nature Human Behaviour in February 2023 examines reporting oversights in examining the factors behind vaccine intentions and uptake. The authors emphasise the importance of language evolution to “reflect social and structural inequities”. “To achieve...
