Global Health
Study highlights facial palsy link to COVID-19 vaccines
A study in Emerging Infectious Diseases explores the association between COVID-19 vaccination and facial palsy (FP) in South Korea. The authors
GSK’s Arexvy offers protection for 3 RSV seasons
GSK announced in October 2024 that data from the AreSVI-006 (Adult Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Phase III trial of Arexvy indicate that a single dose
Adult vaccination in the EU: report finds disparities
A report from Coalition for Life Course Immunisation (CLCI) considers the financial and policy frameworks of various National Immunisation Programmes
Gavi celebrates life-saving efforts in 2023 Progress Report
Gavi shared the 2023 Annual Progress Report in October 2024, highlighting that more than 1.3 million future deaths were averted in 2023 through
DRC begins mpox vaccination drive with donated doses
WHO Africa reported in October 2024 that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has started a vaccination campaign as part of outbreak
Study: cost-effectiveness of RSV vaccination in Canada
A study in CMAJ in September 2024 evaluates the cost-effectiveness of different age cut-offs for RSV adult vaccination programmes, with or without a focus on people with higher disease risk. The authors compared alternative age-, medical risk-, and age- and medical...
Use of suppressive bluetongue vaccines permitted in UK
The UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced in September 2024 that the Secretary of State has permitted the use of three unauthorised bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines in the United Kingdom. The vaccines can be used with an...
Partnership to protect pigs awarded government funding
The Vaccine Group (TVG) announced in September 2024 that its partnership with the University of Plymouth and the University of Cambridge has been awarded “significant” government funding to develop a vaccine to stop the development and spread of Streptococcus suis....
Phase 1 of Gaza polio vaccination conducted “successfully”
WHO announced in September 2024 that the first phase of a polio vaccination campaign has been “successfully” completed in Gaza. Over 187,000 children under ten years were vaccinated with novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in central Gaza between 1st and 3rd...
First mpox vaccine doses arrive in DRC from Bavarian Nordic
Bavarian Nordic announced in September 2024 that the first doses of its mpox vaccine, MVA-BN (JYNNEOS), have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to support response efforts. Further shipments are planned within the next few days, contributing to a total...
WHO and Africa CDC: mpox preparedness and response plan
In response to the mpox outbreak, declared a PHEIC by WHO and a PHECS by Africa CDC, the two organisations announced that they are co-leading a “coordinated, continent-wide response”. The Mpox Continental Preparedness and Response Plan for Africa describes “essential...
Study: structural inequities to vaccine access in India
A study in Vaccine in August 2024 explores the role of “structural and historical inequities” in shaping access to COVID-19 vaccines for the transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) and disability communities in the Indian context. The authors take a participatory...
Lassa vaccine in West Africa would save lives and money
Research in Nature Medicine in August 2024 presents the importance of a safe and effective Lassa vaccine deployed across 15 countries of continental West Africa. The authors find that vaccination against Lassa fever could save nearly 3,300 lives over 10 years and...
Exploring myocarditis after infection or vaccination
A study in JAMA Network in August 2024 explores the link between myocarditis and COVID-19 infection or vaccination. The nationwide cohort study considered 4,635 patients hospitalised for myocarditis in France during the first 1.5 years after the introduction of...
WHO launches mpox strategic plan after PHEIC declared
In August 2024 WHO launched a Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) to address the mpox public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), declared on 14th August. The plan, subject to input from Member States, is intended to stop outbreaks of...
Ebola epidemic study finds vaccine “highly” protective
A paper in The Lancet Infectious Diseases in August 2024 presents the results of an observational study during the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The researchers evaluated the effectiveness of the only WHO prequalified vaccine...
WHO calls for action to protect children with vaccines
At WHO South-East Asia Regional Director Saima Wazed’s inaugural address to the 15th Meeting of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (SEAR-ITAG) she called on countries to aim for a “big catch-up" of vaccinations in children. Ms Wazed...
Africa CDC report highlights threat of AMR on continent
A report shared by Africa CDC in August 2024 finds that the threat presented by treatment-resistant diseases has increased in Africa, with children and other vulnerable groups at greatest risk. African Union AMR Landmark Report: Voicing African Priorities on the...
Economic cost: putting a price on HPV vaccine programmes
In Vaccine X researchers from PATH address a “dearth” of evidence on determinants of vaccine delivery costs for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine with an analysis to identify “programmatic and operational factors” that are associated with cost variations. The...
Cryptosporidiosis: vaccine approved for protection of cattle
MSD Animal Health announced in August 2024 that it has received Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) approval for the first vaccine in Great Britain to protect cattle against the parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidiosis is “one of the most...
