Global Health
Global Polio Eradication Initiative faces challenges
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced the “difficult decision” to extend the timelines needed to achieve polio eradication.
“Promising” Rift Valley vaccine enters Phase II in Kenya
Phase II trials of a “promising” human vaccine candidate against Rift Valley fever are beginning in Kenya with CEPI support. CEPI reported in October 2024
EIB Global supports Akagera Medicines with €2 million
In October 2024 the European Investment Bank (EIB Global) announced €2 million financing for early-stage vaccine development in Rwanda by Akagera Medicines
Study: TCV protects children against typhoid but declines
A study in The Lancet in October 2024 finds that a single dose of typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) offers safe and effective protection against typhoid two
AMR report: vaccines could reduce antibiotics needed by 22%
A WHO report in October 2024 suggests that vaccines against 24 pathogens could reduce the number of antibiotics needed by 22% every year.
Study explores waning MMR immunity and measles outbreaks
A study in The Lancet Public Health in September 2024 evaluates the measles dynamics in England between 2010 and 2019 to understand the effects of waning of vaccine-induced immunity. The researchers find that, although the MMR vaccine remains “highly protective”...
$4.2 million grant supports CMV vaccine development
A $4.2 million Programme Project Grant renewal from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in September 2024 will fund efforts by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine to develop a cytomegalovirus (CMV)...
IAVI and Africa CDC sign MoU to protect against disease
In September 2024 Africa CDC and IAVI announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the continent’s capacity to fight disease, pandemic readiness, and supply resilience. This will involve expanding capabilities for locally driven research,...
Thought leader: CEPI steps up with new Biosecurity Strategy
At the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in September 2024, CEPI launched a new Biosecurity Strategy to bolster global health security and emphasise its commitment to addressing emerging epidemic threats. The strategy draws on the latest technologies and...
Study shows PCPs struggle to change patient vaccine beliefs
A study in Patient Education and Counselling explores the experiences of primary care physicians (PCPs) with vaccine-hesitant patients in the hope that specific challenges can be addressed to support efforts to increase vaccine acceptance. All the PCPs who...
WHO: progress on pandemic agreement negotiations
In September 2024, WHO described “significant progress” on government-led negotiations on a pandemic agreement after another round of discussions. These discussions took place at the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) between 9th and 20th...
EMA expansion of MVA-BN has implications for global response
In September 2024, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced its recommendation to extend the indication of the smallpox and mpox vaccine Imvanex to adolescents from 12 to 17 years of age. Imvanex, Bavarian Nordic’s MVA-BN, is authorised in the EU for the...
NHS urges childhood vaccination as data show low coverage
A statistical report from UKHSA and NHS England in September 2024 reveals a drop in childhood vaccination coverage in England in 2023-2024. The report uses data from the COVER (cover of vaccination evaluated rapidly) programme, which collates information for children...
Polio campaign in Gaza reaches around 560,000 children
The first round of an emergency polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip reached around 560,000 children under ten between 1st and 12th September 2024. WHO reported that the campaign delivered novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to 558,963 children after the...
WHO and partners launch AAM for mpox countermeasures
In September 2024 WHO announced the establishment of an access and allocation mechanism for mpox medical countermeasures, including vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests. The Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) is intended to increase access to these essential...
HPV vaccines: Angola arms itself against cervical cancer
WHO Africa announced in September 2024 that more than 1,400,000 doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have arrived in Angola as part of the national strategy for prevention and protection against cervical cancer. HPV is recognised as the “leading cause of more...
“Deliberate ignorance” predicted vaccine refusal in study
A paper in npj vaccines in September 2024 explores the significance of “biased processing” of information relating to vaccines in addressing vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although vaccine hesitancy is influenced by various factors, the research...
COVID-19 in LAC region: up to 2.61 million deaths averted
A study in Open Forum Infectious Diseases in September 2024 estimates the number of deaths averted through vaccination in Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LAC) during the first year and a half of vaccination efforts. The study spans January 2021 to May 2022 and...
Bavarian Nordic shares mpox vaccine supply update
Bavarian Nordic issued an update on its supply and manufacturing activities in support of mpox response efforts in September 2024. The company manufacturers the approved non-replicating smallpox and mpox vaccine MVA-BN (marketed as JYNNEOS, IMVAMUNE, and IMVANEX). The...
HPV vaccine GARDASIL 9 meets endpoints in Phase III trial
In September 2024, Merck (MSD) announced positive top-line results from its pivotal Phase III trial evaluating the company’s 9-valent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, GARDASIL 9, in young males in Japan. The trial met its primary and secondary endpoints, proving...
