Media/Policy Watch

This watch section is intended to alert readers to substantive news, analysis and opinion from the general media and selected think tanks and similar organizations on vaccines, immunization, global public health and related themes. Media Watch is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of themes and issues CVEP is actively tracking. This section will grow from an initial base of newspapers, magazines and blog sources, and is segregated from Journal Watch above which scans the peer-reviewed journal ecology.

We acknowledge the Western/Northern bias in this initial selection of titles and invite suggestions for expanded coverage. We are conservative in our outlook in adding news sources which largely report on primary content we are already covering above. Many electronic media sources have tiered, fee-based subscription models for access. We will provide full-text where content is published without restriction, but most publications require registration and some subscription level.
 
 
The Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new, unique, relevant content]

 
BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
Russia trolls ‘spreading vaccination misinformation’ to create discord
24 August 2018
Social media bots and Russian trolls have been spreading disinformation about vaccines on Twitter to create social discord and distribute malware, US researchers say.
Troll accounts that had attempted to influence the US election had also been tweeting about vaccines, a study says.
Many posted both pro- and anti-vaccination messages to create “false equivalency”, the study found..
 

The Economist
http://www.economist.com/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
Vaccination faltersAnti-vax fears drive a measles outbreak in Europe
Immunity rates in parts of Europe are lower than in some African countries
Print edition | Europe
Aug 25th 2018
 

Financial Times
http://www.ft.com/home/uk
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new, unique, relevant content]
 

Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
Aug 25, 2018,
The Vaccination Debacle
Julian Vigo Contributor
The topic of vaccination invariably provokes polarized debates, often manifesting in Twitter and Facebook. This is the case on my wall at this moment after I posted an article about the recent measles outbreak in Europe which shows 41,000 cases of measles recorded during first six months of 2018 surpassing the annual totals of every year since 2013. This is not chicanery, this is not scare-mongering. This is a fact. And the level of vitriol surrounding this subject is par with debates about gun control while the debate looks more like faith-based debates around Creationism being taught in schools…

Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new, unique, relevant content]

Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new, unique, relevant content]

The Guardian
http://www.guardiannews.com/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
Ebola: medics brace for new cases as DRC outbreak spreads
WHO says 103 confirmed and probable cases in outbreak centred in North Kivu province
Jason Burke, Africa correspondent
Fri 24 Aug 2018
An outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached a pivotal moment and now endangers medical teams fighting to stop the spread of the disease, health workers have said.
Dr Peter Salama, the World Health Organisation’s emergencies chief, said there were 103 confirmed and probable cases in the outbreak, which is centred in the eastern province of North Kivu, and that another wave of cases was expected…
 

New Yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new, unique, relevant content]
 

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
Congo: 2 Who Received Experimental Ebola Treatment Recover
By The Associated Press
Aug. 25, 2018
KINSHASA, Congo — Congo’s health ministry says two of the first 10 people to receive an experimental treatment for the Ebola virus in the latest outbreak have recovered, and monitoring could show what role the treatment played.
The head of the World Health Organization on Saturday congratulated Congo’s government for making several experimental treatments available in this Ebola outbreak, calling it “a global first, and a ray of hope for people with the disease.”
The two people received the mAb114 treatment isolated from a survivor of an Ebola outbreak in 1995. It was the first of five experimental treatments Congo approved for use in the outbreak that was declared on Aug. 1. The others are ZMapp, Remdesivir, Favipiravir and Regn3450 – 3471 – 3479…

Americas
Brazil Health Ministry Says 4 Million Kids Need Vaccinations
Brazil’s health officials say more than 4 million children still need to be vaccinated against measles.
Aug. 24, 2018

UN Warns of a Possible New Cholera Epidemic in Yemen
| 22 August 2018
The United Nations is warning of a possible “third wave” of the cholera epidemic in Yemen, which is already “the largest outbreak on record.” …

Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/home-page?_wsjregion=na,us&_homepage=/home/us
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new, unique, relevant content]

Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
Russian trolls and Twitter bots exploit vaccine controversy
Carolyn Y. Johnson · Aug 23, 2018
Public health experts battling dangerous misinformation about the safety of vaccines have a new foe: Twitter bots and Russian trolls.
Researchers found bots and Russian trolls mentioned vaccines more often than the average Twitter account over a three-year period, but for different reasons. Russian trolls stoked the debate by tweeting pro- and anti-vaccine messages in an apparent attempt to sow division, while bots that spread malicious software appeared to use anti-vaccine messages that inflame strong responses from both sides to attract clicks.
“Apparently only the elite get ‘clean’ #vaccines. And what do we, normal ppl, get?! #VaccinateUS,” a Russian troll account tweeted in one of the messages that stood out to researchers because of the unusual line it drew between vaccine fearmongering and income inequality…

Think Tanks et al
 
Brookings
http://www.brookings.edu/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new relevant content]

Center for Global Development  
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new relevant content]

CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new relevant content]

Council on Foreign Relations
http://www.cfr.org/
Accessed 25 Aug 2018
[No new relevant content]

To Our Readers: Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review resumes publication with this edition following the Editor’s annual leave.

Milestones :: Perspectives
 
Ebola – DRC

WHO
Press conference on the Ebola outbreak in DRC  14 August 2018

WHO calls for free and secure access in responding to Ebola outbreak
BENI/BRAZZAVILLE 12 August 2018 – WHO’s global and African regional leadership saw first-hand the complexities of implementing the Ebola response in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in visits with the Ministry of Health officials to affected areas over the last two days. While this is the country’s 10th Ebola outbreak, it is the first time that the disease has struck a densely populated active conflict zone.
“WHO is calling for free and secure access by all responders to the affected populations,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “All of those participating in the response must be able to move freely and safely in conflict areas to do the work that is needed to bring the outbreak under control. The population must also have access to treatment centers that save lives and stop the spread of disease.”…

Ebola vaccination begins in North Kivu  8 August 2018
The Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo today announced the launch of Ebola vaccinations for high risk populations in North Kivu province.
The vaccinations have begun just one week after the announcement of a second outbreak of Ebola this year in the country. A total of 44 cases have been reported so far, of which 17 have been confirmed.
Work has begun to prepare ring vaccination in the Mangina health area, 30km from the town of Beni.
The provincial health minister and the provincial coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunization were the first to be vaccinated. They were followed by first line health workers from the Mangina health centre, who had been in contact with people who were confirmed cases of Ebola.
“Vaccines are an important tool in the fight against Ebola. This is why it has been a priority to move them rapidly into place to begin protecting our health workers and the affected population,” said Dr Oly Ilunga, Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A total of 3,220 doses of the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine are currently available in the country, while supplementary doses have been requested. While the vaccine goes through the licensing process, an agreement between Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and Merck, the developer of the vaccine, ensures that additional investigational doses of the vaccine are available…

Milestones :: Perspectives
UNICEF
Press release
Children at risk in DRC Ebola outbreak – UNICEF
17/08/2018

Press release
Ebola outbreak in the DRC: UNICEF mobilizes communication specialists in support of the vaccination campaign
10/08/2018

Press release
New Ebola outbreak in the DRC: UNICEF mobilizes staff and supplies to help with the response
03/08/2018

Milestones :: Perspectives

MSF

DRC 2018 Ebola outbreak

MSF Ebola treatment centre opens in Mangina, North Kivu
Project Update 16 Aug 2018
Taking a new step in its response to the current Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) opened a treatment centre on Tuesday 14 August in Mangina, a small town considered to be the epicentre of the outbreak. All patients from the isolation unit where MSF was working to improve biosafety have been transferred to the 12 tents of the new Ebola treatment centre. A total of 37 patients are currently hospitalised – 31 of them have been confirmed by laboratory tests as being infected by the virus, while the others are classified as suspect cases.
“Among our patients, we have several colleagues from the Congolese health system in the area,” says Gwenola Seroux, MSF emergency programmes coordinator. “They were the first to respond and some were exposed to the virus.”…

 
Milestones :: Perspectives
CDC [U.S.]
 
CDC supporting response to new Ebola outbreak in North Kivu/Democratic Republic of the Congo
August 09, 2018
CDC has been responding and coordinating with the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since a new outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu province was reported on July 30, 2018. Early response is critical to contain any viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreaks, but it is especially difficult in remote and resource-challenged areas. For the current outbreak, CDC has deployed experienced Ebola experts to DRC and the World Health Organization to provide guidance on coordination of outbreak response, laboratory testing, disease contact tracing, infection control, and health communication…
CDC will provide additional support as needed to enhance disease tracking, laboratory testing, and developing guidance and tools to conduct public health investigations and implementation of ring vaccination. This work includes tracing people who have been in contact with cases, providing infection control recommendations, supporting vaccination of people at risk, and giving the latest information to the general public, health care workers, international travelers, and public health partners…

Milestones :: Perspectives

Africa CDC

Statement of the Africa CDC Director on the new Ebola Outbreak in Beni, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Addis Ababa, 03 August 2018: The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 01 August 2018 declared a new outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in two Provinces: North Kivu (32 cases) and Ituri (one case). On 28 July 2018, the North Kivu Provincial Health Division notified the Ministry of Health of suspected EVD cases which were subsequently confirmed by laboratory testing at the Institut National de Recherché Biomédical (INRB). This is the tenth outbreak of EVD in the DRC; the ninth outbreak was declared over on 24 July 2018 in the Equateur Province. As of 01 August 2018, a total of 33 cases including 26 deaths were reported with a cases fatality ratio of about 79%.

North Kivu, the most affected Province, is located about 2500 kilometers from the Equateur Province, where the just end outbreak was located. It is one of the most densely populated Provinces in DRC with a population of about 8 million inhabitants. Beni and surrounding areas, with a population of about 2 million inhabitants, is the epicentre of the outbreak. Uganda and Rwanda border North Kivu on the west with a distance of less than 350 kilometers from the respective capital cities, Kampala and Kigali.

In responding to this outbreak, the African Union Commission, through the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), is taking appropriate measures to support the government-led response including: a) monitoring of the situation through its Emergency Operation Centre; b) coordinating with the Ministry of Health of the DRC and WHO; c)

mobilizing and preparing to re-locate its Emergency Response Team to the current affected area, d) supporting laboratory diagnostic capacity through provision of laboratory supplies for testing of EVD, and e) activating African Union emergency support mechanism through different units of the commission including the Peace Support Operation Division.

The Africa CDC, through its Regional Collaborating Centres in the Eastern and Central Africa, is sensitizing Member States through its information sharing platforms in the respective regions to heighten their surveillance and preparedness efforts. Furthermore, Africa CDC is collaborating with the African Field Epidemiology Network to strengthen cross-border surveillance between Uganda and the DRC.

The African Union will continue to support the efforts of the DRC Government during this outbreak as well as neighboring countries. Africa CDC recognizes the need to support the leadership role of the Government of DRC to establish a comprehensive and well-coordinated response strategy. As such, Africa CDC will continue to work alongside other partners to control this outbreak and mitigate the impact on the health and economic security of the African Continent.

::::::

UNICEF
Press release
Children at risk in DRC Ebola outbreak – UNICEF
17/08/2018

Press release
Ebola outbreak in the DRC: UNICEF mobilizes communication specialists in support of the vaccination campaign
10/08/2018

Press release
New Ebola outbreak in the DRC: UNICEF mobilizes staff and supplies to help with the response
03/08/2018
::::::

MSF
DRC 2018 Ebola outbreak
MSF Ebola treatment centre opens in Mangina, North Kivu
Project Update 16 Aug 2018
Taking a new step in its response to the current Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) opened a treatment centre on Tuesday 14 August in Mangina, a small town considered to be the epicentre of the outbreak. All patients from the isolation unit where MSF was working to improve biosafety have been transferred to the 12 tents of the new Ebola treatment centre. A total of 37 patients are currently hospitalised – 31 of them have been confirmed by laboratory tests as being infected by the virus, while the others are classified as suspect cases.
“Among our patients, we have several colleagues from the Congolese health system in the area,” says Gwenola Seroux, MSF emergency programmes coordinator. “They were the first to respond and some were exposed to the virus.”…

::::::
::::::
 

Milestones :: Perspectives
Gavi

New initiative to bring vaccination to over 8 million people across Africa
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance teams up with The Audacious Project to scale up immunisation across Africa through digitally-empowered community health programs.

Geneva, 15 August 2018 – Millions of people living in remote areas across Liberia, Uganda, and Kenya will get support to access lifesaving vaccines thanks to a new partnership between Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, The Audacious Project, Last Mile Health and Living Goods.

The new partnership will provide a combined US $18 million to Last Mile Health and Living Goods’ Audacious Project to boost the number of community health workers and integrate immunisation information and data-capture into their daily routines. The new funding will help give over 8 million people access to vaccines, while the partnership as a whole aims to deploy 50,000 community health workers to serve 34 million people by 2021.

The health workers will be equipped with smartphones that can capture the immunisation status of every child in real time with a time-stamped GPS identifier, send automated vaccination reminders by SMS and use real-time data to help pinpoint and close immunisation gaps. This system enables governments to optimise the performance of thousands of far-flung health workers in real time.

“One of the toughest jobs in global health is reaching remote communities that live hours or even days away from their nearest skilled healthcare provider,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “With more than 19 million children worldwide still without access to vaccines, this is a challenge we have to tackle. This partnership could make a real difference, giving community health workers the technology and know-how they need to help the hardest-to-reach access lifesaving vaccines.”…

Fingerprint records and digital health cards to help solve global identity crisis
Four companies will receive Gavi support to help scale emerging digital identification technologies in developing countries.

Geneva, 31 July 2018 – Digital health cards, biometric records, text message birth alerts and a mobile digital identity platform that can work entirely offline have all been chosen to be this year’s INFUSE Pacesetters by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Gavi launched INFUSE (Innovation for Uptake, Scale and Equity in Immunisation) at the 2016 World Economic Forum in Davos to help improve vaccine delivery systems by connecting high-impact innovations with the countries that need them most. This year, Gavi sought to identify proven technologies that could accelerate and improve immunisation coverage and delivery by improving the formal identity, registration and verification of children in developing countries.

“We are currently in the middle of a global identity crisis: tens of millions of children – especially those living in most remote, impoverished communities – have no formal record of their existence,” said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “That represents an enormous impediment to Gavi’s mission of ensuring that every child worldwide receives the essential vaccines they need to survive and thrive. This year’s INFUSE Pacesetters are on the cutting edge of technologies that might help us overcome that challenge.”

At a two-day workshop this month in San Francisco, a hub for disruptive technology and innovation, Gavi selected the INFUSE Pacesetters from more than 200 innovations from around the world. They include:
:: Element, Inc: An AI-powered, software-only solution for biometric recognition that runs offline on mobile devices.
:: Ona Open Smart Register Platform (OpenSRP): A digital health card technology allowing frontline health workers to electronically register and track health services.
:: iCivil Africa: A mobile solution that sends the details of every new-born baby’s birth to a government health worker via coded SMS.
:: Simprints: A biometric innovation that solves challenges to immunisation coverage by linking children to health records through their fingerprints…

Featured Journal Content
 Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume 96, Number 8, August 2018, 513-588

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/96/8/en/
RESEARCH
A post-conflict vaccination campaign, Central African Republic
– Nicolas Peyraud, Michel Quéré, Geraldine Duc, Corinne Chèvre, Theo Wanteu, Souheil Reache, Thierry Dumont, Robin Nesbitt, Ellen Dahl, Etienne Gignoux, Manuel Albela, Anna Righetti, Marie-Claude Bottineau, Jean-Clément Cabrol, Micaela Sarafini, Samuel Nzalapan, Pauline Lechevalier, Clotilde Rambaud & Monica Rull
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.17.204321
Abstract
Objective
To rapidly increase childhood immunization through a preventive, multi-antigen, vaccination campaign in Mambéré-Kadéï prefecture, Central African Republic, where a conflict from 2012 to 2015 reduced vaccination coverage.
Methods
The three-round campaign took place between December 2015 and June 2016 using: (i) oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV); (ii) combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) and hepatitis B (DTP–Hib–hepatitis B) vaccine; (iii) pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV); (iv) measles vaccine; and (v) yellow fever vaccine. Administrative data were collected on vaccines administered by age group and vaccination coverage surveys were carried out before and after the campaign.
Findings
Overall, 294,054 vaccine doses were administered. Vaccination coverage for children aged 6 weeks to 59 months increased to over 85% for the first doses of OPV, DTP–Hib–hepatitis B vaccine and PCV and, in children aged 9 weeks to 59 months, to over 70% for the first measles vaccine dose. In children aged 6 weeks to 23 months, coverage of the second doses of OPV, DTP–Hib–hepatitis B vaccine and PCV was over 58% and coverage of the third doses of OPV and DTP–Hib–hepatitis B vaccine was over 20%. Moreover, 61% (5804/9589) of children aged 12 to 23 months had received two PCV doses and 90% (25933/28764) aged 24 to 59 months had received one dose.
Conclusion
A preventive, multi-antigen, vaccination campaign was effective in rapidly increasing immunization coverage in a post-conflict setting. To sustain high coverage, routine immunization must be reinforced.

Emergencies
 
POLIO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
Polio this week as of 14 August 2018 [GPEI]
:: Take a look at how the Papua New Guinea Government, the World Health Organization, and partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are responding to the country’s recent outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus.

Summary of new viruses this week:
Afghanistan – one new case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) and one new WPV1 positive environmental sample.
Pakistan – four new WPV1 positive environmental samples.
Nigeria – one new case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).
Papua New Guinea – one new case of cVDPV1
::::::
::::::

WHO Grade 3 Emergencies  [to 18 Aug 2018]
Iraq  
: Special health situation report from Mosulpdf, 543kb  27 July 2017
…WHO organized a 5-day polio data quality self-assessment training workshop in Erbil to support the five directorates of health of Erbil, Suleimaniya, Duhok, Kirkuk and Ninewa in the area of quality data collection and analysis…
Nigeria 
:: Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 – Nigeria
Disease outbreak news   8 August 2018
On 5 June 2018, a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreak was confirmed in Sokoto State, Nigeria. From 30 January through 23 May 2018, ten environmental samples collected from two collection sites all tested positive for genetically-related VDPV2 viruses. No associated cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) have been detected with this cVDPV2.
Nigeria is also affected by an ongoing separate cVDPV2 outbreak. A cluster of cVDPV2 was detected in Yobe State from a stool sample from an AFP case with onset on 16 June 2018, and an environmental sample collected on 31 May 2018. The same cVDPV2 was detected in Gombe State from an environmental sample collected on 9 April 2018. Previously, the same cVDPV2 was detected in Jigawa State from an AFP case with onset of paralysis on 15 April 2018 and six environmental samples collected from 10 January through 2 May 2018…
 
South Sudan  – No new announcements identified
The Syrian Arab Republic – No new announcements identified
Yemen  – No new announcements identified
 
::::::
 
WHO Grade 2 Emergencies  [to 18 Aug 2018]
[Several emergency pages were not available at inquiry]
Cameroon  – No new announcements identified
Central African Republic  – No new announcements identified.
Democratic Republic of the Congo  – No new announcements identified
Ethiopia  – No new announcements identified.
Libya – No new announcements identified.
Myanmar  – No new announcements identified
Niger  – No new announcements identified.
Ukraine – No new announcements identified.

::::::
::::::
 
UN OCHA – L3 Emergencies
The UN and its humanitarian partners are currently responding to three ‘L3’ emergencies. This is the global humanitarian system’s classification for the response to the most severe, large-scale humanitarian crises. 
Yemen
:: Yemen Humanitarian Update Covering 30 July – 9 August 2018 | Issue 23
Published on 09 Aug 2018

Syrian Arab Republic   – No new announcements identified.
::::::

UN OCHA – Corporate Emergencies
When the USG/ERC declares a Corporate Emergency Response, all OCHA offices, branches and sections provide their full support to response activities both at HQ and in the field.
Ethiopia 
:: Ethiopia Humanitarian Bulletin Issue 61 | 30 July-12 August 2018  Published on 12 Aug 2018
Government continues peace and reconciliation process to return IDPs in Gedeo and Guji zones

Somalia   – No new announcements identified.
::::::
::::::
 
Editor’s Note:
We will cluster these recent emergencies as below and continue to monitor the WHO webpages for updates and key developments.

EBOLA/EVD  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.who.int/ebola/en/
Current situation: DRC 2018
:: Press conference on the Ebola outbreak in DRC  14 August 2018
:: WHO calls for free and secure access in responding to Ebola outbreak  12 August 2018
:: Ebola vaccination begins in North Kivu  8 August 2018
:: Dr Peter Salama, briefs on the latest Ebola outbreak in the DRC  3 August 2018
:: Cluster of presumptive Ebola cases in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
1 August 2018
:: National response plan North Kivu Province  10 August 2018
 [See Milestones/Perspectives above for more detail]

MERS-CoV [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://who.int/emergencies/mers-cov/en/
:: MERS-CoV global summary and assessment of risk – August 2018  pdf, 570kb
…Risk assessment
WHO continues to work with ministries of health in all affected and at-risk countries and with international partners to better understand transmission patterns and risk factors of MERS-CoV infection in community and health care settings and to develop improved measures to prevent human infections. WHO’s global risk assessment of MERS remains unchanged from the last publication, on 21 July 2017.
The continued occurrence of health care-associated outbreaks is deeply concerning and is the result of low awareness and early suspicion of MERS-CoV infections. The non-specificity of MERS symptoms complicates surveillance activities for the virus, often resulting in early missed cases, including the index case, in outbreaks and thereby providing the opportunity for human-to-human transmission in health care settings…
 
Yellow Fever  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/yellowfev/en/
:: CDC and WHO launch trial version of a new ELISA: A kit, simpler and faster to perform
31 July 2018
One of the basic tests needed for laboratory confirmation of yellow fever is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, known as ELISA which has now got a new version. The trial of the test is comprised in a kit making it faster and simpler to perform.

Zika virus  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/zika/en/
– No new announcements identified.

WHO & Regional Offices [to 18 Aug 2018]
See Ebola announcements in Milestones above for WHO announcements
::::::
 
Weekly Epidemiological Record, 17 August 2018, vol. 93, 33 (pp. 417–428)
:: Results of the 2017 global WHO survey on yaws
:: Results of the 2017 global WHO survey on mycetoma
Weekly Epidemiological Record, 10 August 2018, vol. 93, 32 (pp. 409–416)
:: Yellow fever in Africa and the Americas, 2017
:: Monthly report on dracunculiasis cases, January-June 2018
Weekly Epidemiological Record, 3 August 2018, vol. 93, 31 (pp. 397–408)
:: Progress towards poliomyelitis eradication in Afghanistan, January 2017–May 2018
:: Performance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance and incidence of poliomyelitis, 2018
 

::::::
 
WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements

WHO African Region AFRO
Selected Featured News
:: WHO Director General and Regional Director for Africa laud Uganda on Ebola outbreak operational readiness   15 August 2018
:: Elaboration of the first comprehensive Multi Year Plan on Immunization for Mauritius
14 August 2018
:: WHO supports Government to protect over 150,000 population at risk of Yellow fever in Katsina state.  13 August 2018
:: WHO calls for free and secure access in responding to Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo  12 August 2018
:: Ethiopia launches an integrated measles, vitamin A, and deworming campaign for displaced people in Gedeo Zone  07 August 2018
:: Frontline workers in Nigeria break down gender related barriers to reach children with vaccines   01 August 2018

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
– No new announcements identified.
 

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
– No new announcements identified.
 

WHO European Region EURO
:: World Humanitarian Day: Health workers build new lives serving their fellow citizens far from home 17-08-2018:: Research demonstrates higher alcohol taxes help reduce alcohol consumption 15-08-2018
:: Annual meeting of ministers to set health priorities in Europe 14-08-2018

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: Third health worker killed in Gaza demonstrations  12 August 2018
:: WHO delivers trauma kits to Gaza  9 August 2018

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: Polio case confirmed in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea 13 August 2018
Risk of further spread of polio within the country is high

 
CDC/ACIP [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html

Latest News
August 09, 2018
CDC supporting response to new Ebola outbreak in North Kivu/Democratic Republic of the Congo
 
Babies with Zika-related Health Problems Continue to Need Attention
Tuesday, August 7, 2018

CDC Hosts International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases August 26-29, 2018

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

CEID 2018 is the 10th annual conference. It brings together about 1,500 global scientists and public health professionals to exchange innovative research and ideas on emerging infectious diseases and ways to prevent them.

Major topics to be presented include surveillance and outbreak response, antimicrobial resistance, genomic and molecular epidemiology, emerging vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, foodborne and waterborne illnesses, healthcare-associated infections, influenza and other respiratory infections, disease elimination and eradication, and challenges posed by disease threats in the United States and internationally.

The full agenda is available at http://www.iceid.org.

Africa CDC   [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://au.int/en/africacdc

August 03, 2018
Statement of the Africa CDC Director on the new Ebola Outbreak in Beni, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo

[See Milestones/Perspectives above for more detail]

China CDC 

http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/

No new digest content identified.

Announcements
 
AERAS  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.aeras.org/pressreleases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
BMGF – Gates Foundation  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases
No new digest content identified.

Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute    [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://www.gatesmri.org/
The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is a non-profit biotech organization. Our mission is to develop products to fight malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases—three major causes of mortality, poverty, and inequality in developing countries. The world has unprecedented scientific tools at its disposal; now is the time to use them to save the lives of the world’s poorest people
No new digest content identified.

CARB-X   [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://carb-x.org/
CARB-X is a non-profit public-private partnership dedicated to accelerating antibacterial research to tackle the global rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.
07.31.2018
CARB-X funds SciBac to develop a microbe drug that kills C. difficile superbugs
(BOSTON, MA) – July 31, 2018 – CARB-X is awarding SciBac of San Francisco, CA, USA, $0.68 million in non-dilutive funding, with the possibility of up to $3.08 million more in two additional stages if certain project milestones are met, to develop a novel biotherapeutic to fight deadly Clostridium difficile infections (CDI). SciBac’s SCB-102 project, if it succeeds, has the potential to effectively treat and prevent C. difficile infections.
“The world urgently needs antibiotic alternatives, like those that SciBac is developing, as well as other life-saving products to treat and prevent deadly infections,” said Kevin Outterson, Executive Director of CARB-X. “The microbiome is providing exciting new approaches to the prevention and treatment of life-threatening infections. The projects in the Powered by CARB-X portfolio are in the early stages of development, but if successful, they offer tremendous potential in the global fight against superbugs.”…

 
CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://cepi.net/
16TH AUG 2018
CEPI Awards Contract Worth up to $36 million to Profectus BioSciences and Emergent BioSolutions to Develop Lassa Virus Vaccine
Posted on by Mario Christodoulou
OSLO (Norway), BALTIMORE and GAITHERSBURG, Md (USA)
CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) today announced a new collaboration with Profectus BioSciences, Inc. and Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) under which they will receive up to USD$36 million to advance the development and manufacture of a vaccine against the Lassa virus—an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 cases of Lassa virus infection occur each year.
Under the terms of the Framework Partnering Agreement for the collaboration among the three parties, Profectus will receive development funding from CEPI for advancing its Lassa virus vaccine. CEPI will provide $4.3 million to support the first phase of the project, with options to invest up to a total of $36 million over five years, including procurement of the vaccine for stockpiling purposes. Emergent will provide technical and manufacturing support for the CEPI-funded program. Through a separate agreement with Profectus, Emergent has an exclusive option to license and to assume control of development activities for the Lassa-virus vaccine from Profectus. The global non-profit organization PATH will also be working with the consortium under a separate agreement with CEPI to work on clinical development. This is CEPI’s second award to the collaboration following an award in May, 2018, for the development of a Nipah virus vaccine…

EDCTP    [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.edctp.org/
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as well as other poverty-related and neglected infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on phase II and III clinical trials
3 August 2018
NIFTY study on yellow fever vaccine dosing will improve epidemic preparedness
The EDCTP-funded NIFTY study, led by Professor Philip Bejon (University of Oxford, UK, and KEMRI-Wellcome Trust research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya), held its kick-off meeting in Kilifi from 02-03 August 2018. The NIFTY consortium prepares for a ‘Non-Inferiority of Fractional Doses Trial for Yellow…

2 August 2018
EDCTP seeks several new members for its Scientific Advisory Committee as of January 2019
EDCTP is calling on high-level experts from across multiple fields and sectors to apply to become members of its Scientific Advisory Committee from January 2019. EDCTP is looking for up to seven new members. The Scientific Advisory Committee is the principal advisory…

Emory Vaccine Center    [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
No new digest content identified.

European Medicines Agency  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/
Press release  01/08/2018
Brexit preparedness: EMA to further temporarily scale back and suspend activities
Next phase of business continuity plan aimed at securing essential public and animal health activities
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will launch the next phase of its business continuity plan on 1 October 2018 at the latest. This will allow the Agency to safeguard core activities related to the evaluation and supervision of medicines, while it has to intensify its preparations for the physical move to Amsterdam in March 2019 and cope with significant staff loss.

The temporary cuts in activities are required because it has also become clear that the Agency will lose more staff than initially anticipated. Staff who will not relocate to Amsterdam have already started to leave the Agency and this trend is expected to accelerate. In addition, due to the employment rules in the Netherlands, 135 short-term contract staff will no longer be able to work for EMA. Overall, EMA expects a staff loss of about 30%, with a high degree of uncertainty regarding mid-term staff retention.

EMA has put in place supporting measures to facilitate the relocation of staff to Amsterdam and additional support is provided by the Dutch government. Other mitigating actions, such as a comprehensive staff recruitment programme, are already underway. However, in the short- to mid-term EMA will have to reprioritise its resources to fully maintain its core activities related to the evaluation and supervision of medicines to the level of quality and within the timelines expected…
 
 
European Vaccine Initiative  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/news-events
No new digest content identified.
 
 
FDA [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
August 16, 2018 –
FDA approves first generic version of EpiPen

August 16, 2018 –
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on advancing the science and regulation of live microbiome-based products used to prevent, treat, or cure diseases in humans
August 10, 2018 –
FDA approves new treatment for a rare genetic disorder, Fabry disease
August 10, 2018 –
FDA approves first-of-its kind targeted RNA-based therapy to treat a rare disease
August 08, 2018 –
FDA approves treatment for two rare types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
August 08, 2018 –
FDA approves first generic drug under new pathway aimed at enhancing market competition for sole source drugs
 
Fondation Merieux  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
No new digest content identified.
 
Gavi [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.gavi.org/library/news/press-releases/
15 August 2018
New initiative to bring vaccination to over 8 million people across Africa
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance teams up with The Audacious Project to scale up immunisation across Africa through digitally-empowered community health programs.
[See Milestones/Perspectives above for more detail]
 
31 July 2018
Fingerprint records and digital health cards to help solve global identity crisis
Four companies will receive Gavi support to help scale emerging digital identification technologies in developing countries.
[See Milestones/Perspectives above for more detail]
 
 
GHIT Fund   [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press
GHIT was set up in 2012 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that devastate the world’s poorest people. Other funders include six Japanese pharmaceutical
No new digest content identified.
Global Fund [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/?topic=&type=NEWS;&country=
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Hilleman Laboratories   [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Human Vaccines Project   [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
IAVI  [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://www.iavi.org/
AUGUST 02, 2018
IAVI and the Public Health Agency of Canada Enter into License Agreement for Technology to Enable Lassa Fever Vaccine Development
NEW YORK –– The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) today announced that it has entered into a non-exclusive license agreement with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) toward advancing development, regulatory approval, and supply of a new vaccine candidate against Lassa fever virus, an ongoing public health threat in West Africa.
Through this agreement, IAVI obtained technology for a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) Lassa fever vaccine candidate, rVSV∆G-LASV-GPC. Developed by scientists at the PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory and based on the same platform used to produce Merck’s successful Ebola Zaire virus vaccine, this candidate provided high-level protection from Lassa fever virus in previously conducted animal studies.
With support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the IAVI-led Lassa fever vaccine development program will further develop this candidate and create a stockpile to address future outbreaks. An estimated 100,000 to 300,000 Lassa fever cases are diagnosed annually, resulting in approximately 5,000 deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Lassa fever as one of the top emerging pathogens likely to cause severe outbreaks in the near future.
In addition to its core HIV vaccine effort, IAVI seeks to maximize its impact on global public health by working with partners to address other urgent unmet public health needs – including vaccines for other infectious diseases – where its technologies and experience in vaccine and monoclonal antibody discovery and development can add unique value…
 
IFFIm
http://www.iffim.org/library/news/press-releases/
No new digest content identified.

IVAC  [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
August 2018
Press Release: Rotavirus vaccine cuts infant diarrhea deaths by a third in Malawi
A major new study has shown that rotavirus vaccination reduced infant diarrhea deaths by one-third in rural Malawi, a region with high levels of child deaths. The study led by scientists at the University of Liverpool, UCL, the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and partners in Malawi provides […]

 
 
IVI   [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.ivi.int/
No new digest content identified.

 
 
JEE Alliance  [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.msf.org/
Selected Press Releases/Statements
Tuberculosis
MSF applauds World Health Organization’s recommendation of improved tuberculosis treatment options
Press Release 17 Aug 2018
MSF calls on Johnson & Johnson to make key drug bedaquiline affordable for all people who need it.
Geneva – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today welcomed the new World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for improved treatment for people with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), prioritising the use of several oral drugs, including the newer drug bedaquiline, and minimising the use of drugs that must be injected.
The newly recommended 18- to 20-month treatment regimen can help improve cure rates, decrease mortality and have far fewer side effects. For these recommendations to be put in place and for many more people with DR-TB to receive treatment, MSF today called on the US pharmaceutical corporation Johnson and Johnson (J&J), which produces bedaquiline, to take immediate steps to make the drug affordable for all who need it, in particular in low- and middle-income countries and high DR-TB burden countries…
Rohingya refugee crisis
Crisis update – August 2018
Crisis Update 16 Aug 2018
DRC 2018 Ebola outbreak
MSF Ebola treatment centre opens in Mangina, North Kivu
Project Update 16 Aug 2018
Lebanon
One year after the battle, medical needs remain high in Arsal
Project Update 16 Aug 2018
Chad
Treating severely malnourished children in N’Djamena
Project Update 10 Aug 2018
DRC 2018 Ebola outbreak
MSF responds to new Ebola outbreak, the tenth in DRC
Project Update 8 Aug 2018
DRC 2018 Ebola outbreak
New Ebola outbreak declared in North Kivu
Project Update 7 Aug 2018
 
NIH  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
August 16, 2018
NIH begins clinical trial of live, attenuated Zika vaccine
— Combination Zika-Dengue vaccine planned.
Vaccinations have begun in a first-in-human trial of an experimental live, attenuated Zika virus vaccine developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. The trial will enroll a total of 28 healthy, non-pregnant adults ages 18 to 50 at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Immunization Research in Baltimore, Maryland, and at the Vaccine Testing Center at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont in Burlington. NIAID is sponsoring the trial…
NIH study shows how MERS coronavirus evolves to infect different species
August 14, 2018 — Evidence suggests that MERS and SARS originated in bats.
During HIV infection, antibody can block B cells from fighting pathogens
August 13, 2018 — NIH scientists suspect process aims to curb immune-system hyperactivity.

Experts highlight Ebola vaccine progress and suggest next steps

August 13, 2018 — Despite promising advances, important scientific questions remain unanswered in the effort to develop a safe and effective Ebola vaccine, according to members of an international Ebola research consortium. In a Viewpoint published in The Lancet, the experts review the current field of Ebola vaccine candidates and clinical trials and highlight key gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed by future research.
NIH researchers discover highly infectious vehicle for transmission of viruses among humans
August 8, 2018 — Membrane-bound virus clusters provide promising target for the treatment of gastroenteritis, other diseases.

PATH  [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
No new digest content identified.

Sabin Vaccine Institute  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
UNAIDS [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.unaids.org/en

14 August 2018
Cities in Philippines pledge to lower HIV infections and improve their track record

9 August 2018
Youth voices count and safe spaces do too

3 August 2018
Progress, but still miles to go, to increase HIV prevention and treatment in Central African Republic

1 August 2018
Thailand brings PrEP to scale

UNICEF  [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements

Press release
Children at risk in DRC Ebola outbreak – UNICEF
17/08/2018

Press release
Ebola outbreak in the DRC: UNICEF mobilizes communication specialists in support of the vaccination campaign
10/08/2018

Press release
New Ebola outbreak in the DRC: UNICEF mobilizes staff and supplies to help with the response
03/08/2018

Statement
Drinking water systems under repeated attack in Yemen
UNICEF calls for immediate halt to attacks on water facilities and civilian infrastructure
01/08/2018

Press release
3 in 5 babies not breastfed in the first hour of life
Breastfeeding within an hour after birth is critical for saving newborn lives
30/07/2018

Press release
Rohingya refugee children face onset of deadly monsoon rains
01/08/2018
 
Vaccine Confidence Project  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
Confidence Commentary
Breaking down Barriers, Building Bridges
Heidi Larson | 28 Jul, 2018
The theme of this year’s AIDS2018—International AIDS Conference, was on the theme of “Breaking down Barriers, Building Bridges.”  The opening plenary session included a presentation by AIDS physician, Dr. David Malebranche. As I listened to his presentation, there were moments that resonated with the tensions and debates around vaccines.
Here are some excerpts. The relevance to what is driving wavering vaccine confidence should be clear…
 
Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
Webinar registration open
Registration is now open for the next “Current Issues in Vaccines” webinar. Dr. Offit will speak about the following topics during the event scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, at noon ET
 
 
Wellcome Trust  [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
Explainer  / Published: 26 July 2018
Human Cell Atlas: we’re funding scientists at six UK research institutes
Wellcome is committing £7 million to the Human Cell Atlas, a global endeavour to map every single cell type in the human body. Dr Katrina Gold, from the Genetics and Molecular Sciences team, explains why Wellcome is backing this ambitious project.

Published: 8 August 2018
How we judge research outputs when making funding decisions
Robert Kiley, Head of Open Research, and Jim Smith, Director of Science, discuss the steps Wellcome is taking to fulfil the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
When we published our open access policy over a decade ago, we made it clear that what counts when we make funding decisions is the intrinsic merit of the work and not the journal or publisher.
Despite significant progress in making our research open access, we know many researchers remain unconvinced that it’s the work that counts and not where it’s published. We’re worried about this and so we’re continuing our efforts to promote best practice in research assessment.
What we’re doing
Funding for DORA
We were one of the first funders to sign the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (opens in a new tab) (DORA), publicly committing that we will consider all research outputs and look at a broader range of qualitative measures of impact, such as influence on policy and practice. In partnership with other funders and publishers, we are providing funding to DORA to help promote the broad adoption of these principles and to collect evidence of good practice…

Published: 1 August 2018
Professor Bongani Mayosi (1967–2018): a tribute
This week we heard the deeply sad news that Professor Bongani Mayosi has died. Wellcome’s Director of Science Jim Smith pays tribute to a world-renowned scientist.
Bongani was a highly regarded clinical research scientist from South Africa who made a huge contribution to the inception of the H3Africa (opens in a new tab) initiative, which is jointly funded by Wellcome and the US National Institutes of Health.
In his most recent role as Dean at the University of Cape Town, Bongani led the faculty of health sciences. He was also an adviser on policy and strategy for health research to the South African Ministry of Health…

Published: 31 July 2018
Putting research at heart of response to epidemics like Ebola saves lives
With the recent outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared officially over, Michael Regnier looks at how Wellcome’s support has helped the people of DRC – and the rest of the world – to be better prepared for the next one.
 
 
The Wistar Institute   [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Release  Aug. 7, 2018
Wistar Receives Support of More Than $5.5M from Private Foundations and Funding Agencies
PHILADELPHIA — (Aug. 7, 2018) — In the first half of 2018, The Wistar Institute, an international biomedical research leader in cancer, immunology and infectious diseases, received funds of more than $5.5 million in grants and awards from local foundations, and national and international funding agencies to support research, education and training at the Institute.

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)   [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2018/
No new digest content identified.

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BIO    [to 18 Aug 2018]
https://www.bio.org/insights/press-release
Aug 10 2018
BIO Releases Statement on NGA’s Report on Prescription Drug Costs
Washington, DC (August 10, 2018) – Tom Dilenge, president of advocacy, law & public policy at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), issued the following statement today after the National Governors Association (NGA) released a report outlining “potential state strategies” to address prescription drug costs…
DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network  [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
14 August 2018
DCVMN welcomes Butantan’s new Directorate
Sao Paulo, 15th June 2018 – Institute Butantan’s Director, Prof. Dimas Tadeu Covas, invited DCVMN Executive Secretary, Dr. Sonia Pagliusi, to meet the new Directorate and visit the new facility to be dedicated to the manufacture of second generation dengue vaccines.
Founded in 1901, the Butantan Institute is one of Brazil’s most prestigious scientific institutions. Butantan generates scientific knowledge and research to develop and produce immunotherapies and biopharmaceuticals of public health interest and seeks to stimulate advances in innovative health technology.
A second generation dengue vaccine candidate is set to progress into Phase 3 clinical studies in 17,000 subjects. Sponsored by the Brazilian government, these studies represent an investment of approximately US $100 million…
 
IFPMA   [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
No new digest content identified.
 
PhRMA    [to 18 Aug 2018]
http://www.phrma.org/press-room
No new digest content identified.

Industry Watch   [to 18 Aug 2018]
:: BioNTech Signs Collaboration Agreement with Pfizer to Develop mRNA-based Vaccines for Prevention of Influenza

Mainz, Germany, and NEW YORK, August 16, 2018 – BioNTech AG, a rapidly growing biotechnology company focused on precise immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious disease, today announced that it has entered into a multi-year research and development (R&D) collaboration with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) to develop mRNA-based vaccines for prevention of influenza (flu).

Under the terms of the agreement, BioNTech and Pfizer will jointly conduct research and development activities to help advance mRNA-based flu vaccines. Pfizer will assume sole responsibility for further clinical development and commercialization of mRNA-based flu vaccines, following BioNTech’s completion of a first in human clinical study.

BioNTech will receive $120 million in upfront, equity and near-term research payments and up to an additional $305 million in potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments. In addition, BioNTech will receive up to double-digit tiered royalty payments associated with worldwide sales if the program reaches commercialization.

BioNTech is an industry leader in mRNA vaccine approaches with validated science, innovative manufacturing expertise and a broad understanding of the clinical applications of this technology.

“Today’s agreement with Pfizer is one of a number of steps that we are taking to rapidly build a sustainable R&D presence in infectious disease, combining our deep understanding of the immune system to treat disease with the cutting-edge technologies and significant infrastructure that we have built-up over many years to develop immunotherapy treatments,” said Prof. Dr. Ugur Sahin, Co-Founder and CEO of BioNTech. “A significant presence in infectious disease supports our goal of building a global immunotherapy company that provides more effective and precise immune-mediated approaches for the prevention and treatment of serious illnesses, such as the prevention of flu and the treatment of cancer.”

Kathrin Jansen, Senior Vice President and Head of Pfizer’s Vaccine Research and Development Unit said, “Innovative vaccine approaches are urgently needed to provide improved protection against seasonal flu, and to respond rapidly and in quantity to pandemic influenza threats. mRNA vaccines offer a novel approach to code for any protein or multiple proteins, and the potential to manufacture higher potency flu vaccines more rapidly and at a lower cost than contemporary flu vaccines. BioNTech is one of the industry leaders in mRNA technology and we are looking forward to working closely with them to help bring cutting-edge mRNA influenza vaccines to the market to improve people’s lives.”

:: Emergent BioSolutions to Acquire Specialty Vaccines Company PaxVax
…Adds two revenue-generating FDA-licensed vaccines that protect against cholera and typhoid fever, both with dual-market potential
…Broadens development pipeline with an adenovirus 4/7 vaccine funded by the DoD for military requirements as well as other programs addressing emerging infectious diseases for both commercial and government markets
…Expands sales capabilities with the addition of global specialty salesforce and marketing and distribution partners focused on the travelers market
…Establishes international manufacturing footprint and provides opportunities for growth of CDMO business with European-based cGMP biologics facilities
…All-cash transaction of $270 million
…Expected to generate revenues of $70 million to $90 million in 2019 and be accretive by year-end 2019
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire PaxVax, a company focused on specialty vaccines that protect against existing and emerging infectious diseases, for an all-cash consideration of $270 million. PaxVax is majority owned by an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.
Upon the closing of the transaction, Emergent will acquire:
:: Vivotif® (Typhoid Vaccine Live Oral Ty21a), the only oral vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of typhoid fever, a potentially severe and life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium S. Typhi. Vivotif is licensed for sale in 27 countries.
:: Vaxchora® (Cholera Vaccine Live Oral), the only FDA-licensed vaccine for the prevention of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1, a potentially serious intestinal disease
:: An Adenovirus 4/7 vaccine candidate being developed for military personnel under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and additional clinical-stage vaccine candidates targeting Chikungunya and other emerging infectious diseases
:: European-based cGMP biologics manufacturing facilities
:: Approximately 250 employees including those in research and development (R&D), manufacturing, and commercial operations with a specialty salesforce
“The acquisition of PaxVax solidifies our position as a global leader in the public health threats market, expands our portfolio of only-in-class products, advances our growth strategy, and progresses us towards the achievement of our 2020 financial and operational goals,” said Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi, CEO of Emergent BioSolutions. “Importantly, we believe this acquisition will contribute incremental 2019 revenues of $70 million to $90 million and be accretive by the end of 2019. We look forward to continuing to drive growth in the business by building on the successes of PaxVax in the travelers market, leveraging our core competencies in government contracting and manufacturing, and advancing the development pipeline while remaining disciplined in our approach to R&D.”
:: Ology Bioservices Wins $8.4 Million Defense Department Award to Produce Anti-Ebola Medical Countermeasure
August 17, 2018
Ology Bioservices, Inc., a biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced today that it was awarded an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to support the Joint Project Manager Medical Countermeasure Systems (JPM-MCS), a component of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO CBRND) for advanced biologics manufacturing services—specifically, to manufacture an anti-Ebola monoclonal antibody (mAb). The award was made possible through collaborative funding between JPEO CBRND and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).       The antibody, designated mAb114, was developed at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC), part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) with the National Institutes of Health, in part through funding previously provided by DARPA. The VRC is a collaborator with JPM-MCS, DARPA, and Ology Bioservices on this program. Including optional work, the agreement has a value of $8.4 million…

Reports/Research/Analysis/Commentary/Conferences/Meetings/Book Watch/Tenders

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review has expanded its coverage of new reports, books, research and analysis published independent of the journal channel covered in Journal Watch below. Our interests span immunization and vaccines, as well as global public health, health governance, and associated themes. If you would like to suggest content to be included in this service, please contact David Curry at: david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org

No new digest content identified.

Journal Watch

   Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review continues its weekly scanning of key peer-reviewed journals to identify and cite articles, commentary and editorials, books reviews and other content supporting our focus on vaccine ethics and policy. Journal Watch is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of themes and issues the Center is actively tracking. We selectively provide full text of some editorial and comment articles that are specifically relevant to our work. Successful access to some of the links provided may require subscription or other access arrangement unique to the publisher.

If you would like to suggest other journal titles to include in this service, please contact David Curry at: david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org

American Journal of Infection Control
August 2018 Volume 46, Issue 8, p851-960, e65-e74
http://www.ajicjournal.org/current

Brief Reports
Influenza vaccine availability at urgent care centers in the state of Arizona
Norman L. Beatty, Kelly M. Hager, Kyle R. McKeown, Francisco Mora, Kathryn R. Matthias, David E. Nix, Mayar Al Mohajer
p946–948
Published online: March 30, 2018

American Journal of Infection Control
August 2018 Volume 46, Issue 8, p851-960, e65-e74
http://www.ajicjournal.org/current

A collaborative program to increase adult pneumococcal vaccination rates among a high-risk patient population receiving care at urgent care clinics
Nicholas Lehman, Carrie F. Koenigsfeld, Geoffrey C. Wall, Catherine Renner, Danielle Hahn, Brian Sheesley, Lisa A. Veach, Adam Bjornson
p952–953
Published online: April 13, 2018

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 18 Aug 2018)

Research article
Views and perceptions about locally manufactured medicines in Ethiopia: a qualitative study of physicians, patients and regulatory authorities
Because of their cost, the use of locally produced, bioequivalent, generic drugs is universally recommended. In Ethiopia. while the government is committed to raising the market share and use of locally produc…
Authors: Chalachew Alemayehu, Geoff Mitchell, Jane Nikles, Abraham Aseffa and Alexandra Clavarino
Citation: BMC Health Services Research 2018 18:624
Published on: 8 August 2018

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 18 Aug 2018)

Research article
Assessment of select electronic health information systems that support immunization data capture – Kenya, 2017
Although electronic health information systems (EHIS) with immunization components exist in Kenya, questions and concerns remain about their use and alignment with the Kenya Ministry of Health’s (MOH) National…
Authors: Apophia Namageyo-Funa, Millicent Aketch, Collins Tabu, Adam MacNeil and Peter Bloland
Citation: BMC Health Services Research 2018 18:621
Published on: 8 August 2018

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 18 Aug 2018)

Vaccination demonstration zone successfully controls rabies in Guangxi Province, China
Guangxi is the province most seriously affected by rabies virus (RABV) in China. Those most affected by RABV each year are people in rural areas, where dogs are the main cause of human infection with the virus.
Authors: Xian-Kai Wei, Yi Xiong, Xiao-Ning Li, Min Zheng, Yan Pan, Xiao-Xia He, Jing-Jing Liang, Cheng Liu, Yi-Zhi Zhong, Lian-Bin Zou, Lie-Feng Zheng, Jian-Gang Guo, Chang-Ting Li, Sheng-Bin Huang, Jia-Zhong Gan, Zhen-Mu Meng…
Citation: BMC Infectious Diseases 2018 18:386
Published on: 10 August 2018

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 18 Aug 2018)

Research article
A review of documents prepared by international organizations about influenza pandemics, including the 2009 pandemic: a bibliometric analysis
World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC) and other international organizations released a series of documents to fight against the influenza pandemic.
Authors: Feng Liang, Peng Guan, Wei Wu, Jing Liu, Ning Zhang, Bao-Sen Zhou and De-Sheng Huang
Citation: BMC Infectious Diseases 2018 18:383
Published on: 8 August 2018

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 18 Aug 2018)

Research article
Serologic response to pneumococcal vaccination in children experiencing recurrent invasive pneumococcal disease
Some children are prone to recurrent invasive pneumococcal disease (rIPD) and of these, some respond insufficiently to standard pneumococcal vaccination. Little is known about how to handle these children and …
Authors: Helene A. S. Ingels, Bjørn Kantsø and Hans-Christian Slotved
Citation: BMC Infectious Diseases 2018 18:366
Published on: 6 August 2018
 

BMC Medicine
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/content
(Accessed 18 Aug 2018)

Research article
Simultaneously characterizing the comparative economics of routine female adolescent nonavalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and assortativity of sexual mixing in Hong Kong Chinese: a modeling analysis
Although routine vaccination of females before sexual debut against human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be cost-effective around the world, its cost-benefit has rarely been examined. We evaluate both …
Authors: Horace C. W. Choi, Mark Jit, Gabriel M. Leung, Kwok-Leung Tsui and Joseph T. Wu
Citation: BMC Medicine 2018 16:127
Published on: 17 August 2018

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 18 Aug 2018)

Research article
Is early measles vaccination associated with stronger survival benefits than later measles vaccination?
Measles vaccine (MV) may protect against non-measles mortality. We tested whether survival depended on age of measles vaccination.
Authors: Jesper Sloth Hansen, Sanne Marie Thysen, Amabelia Rodrigues, Cesario Martins and Ane Bærent Fisker
Citation: BMC Public Health 2018 18:984
Published on: 7 August 2018

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 18 Aug 2018)

Research article
Incomplete immunization among children aged 12–23 months in Togo: a multilevel analysis of individual and contextual factors
Inadequate immunization coverage remains a public health problem in Africa. In Togo, only 62% of children under one year of age were fully immunized in 2013. This study aimed to estimate the immunization cover…
Authors: Didier K. Ekouevi, Fifonsi A. Gbeasor-Komlanvi, Issifou Yaya, Wendpouiré I. Zida-Compaore, Amevegbé Boko, Essèboe Sewu, Anani Lacle, Nicolas Ndibu, Yaovi Toke and Dadja E. Landoh
Citation: BMC Public Health 2018 18:952
Published on: 2 August 2018

BMJ Open
August 2018 – Volume 8 – 8
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/current

(17 August, 2018)
Digital health app development standards: a systematic review protocol
There is currently a lack of clear and accepted standards for the development (planning, requirement analysis and research, design and application testing) of apps for medical and healthcare use which poses different risks to developers, providers, patients and the public. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of the current standards, frameworks, best practices and guidelines for the development of digital health apps. This review is a critical ’stepping stone’ for further work on producing appropriate standards that can help mitigate risks (eg, clinical, privacy and economic risks).
Michelle Helena Van Velthoven, James Smith, Glenn Wells, David Brindley
 

JAMA
August 14, 2018, Vol 320, No. 6, Pages 519-612
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/issue.aspx

 
Viewpoint
Potential Child Health Consequences of the Federal Policy Separating Immigrant Children From Their Parents
Howard A. Zucker, MD, JD; Danielle Greene, DrPH
JAMA. 2018;320(6):541-542. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.10905
This Viewpoint discusses how the separation of immigrating children from their parents can result in deleterious long-term physical and psychological effects.

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume 96, Number 8, August 2018, 513-588
http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/96/8/en/

RESEARCH
A post-conflict vaccination campaign, Central African Republic
– Nicolas Peyraud, Michel Quéré, Geraldine Duc, Corinne Chèvre, Theo Wanteu, Souheil Reache, Thierry Dumont, Robin Nesbitt, Ellen Dahl, Etienne Gignoux, Manuel Albela, Anna Righetti, Marie-Claude Bottineau, Jean-Clément Cabrol, Micaela Sarafini, Samuel Nzalapan, Pauline Lechevalier, Clotilde Rambaud & Monica Rull
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.17.204321
Abstract
Objective
To rapidly increase childhood immunization through a preventive, multi-antigen, vaccination campaign in Mambéré-Kadéï prefecture, Central African Republic, where a conflict from 2012 to 2015 reduced vaccination coverage.
Methods
The three-round campaign took place between December 2015 and June 2016 using: (i) oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV); (ii) combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) and hepatitis B (DTP–Hib–hepatitis B) vaccine; (iii) pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV); (iv) measles vaccine; and (v) yellow fever vaccine. Administrative data were collected on vaccines administered by age group and vaccination coverage surveys were carried out before and after the campaign.
Findings
Overall, 294,054 vaccine doses were administered. Vaccination coverage for children aged 6 weeks to 59 months increased to over 85% for the first doses of OPV, DTP–Hib–hepatitis B vaccine and PCV and, in children aged 9 weeks to 59 months, to over 70% for the first measles vaccine dose. In children aged 6 weeks to 23 months, coverage of the second doses of OPV, DTP–Hib–hepatitis B vaccine and PCV was over 58% and coverage of the third doses of OPV and DTP–Hib–hepatitis B vaccine was over 20%. Moreover, 61% (5804/9589) of children aged 12 to 23 months had received two PCV doses and 90% (25933/28764) aged 24 to 59 months had received one dose.
Conclusion
A preventive, multi-antigen, vaccination campaign was effective in rapidly increasing immunization coverage in a post-conflict setting. To sustain high coverage, routine immunization must be reinforced.

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume 96, Number 8, August 2018, 513-588
http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/96/8/en/

Establishing thresholds and parameters for pandemic influenza severity assessment, Australia
– Kaitlyn Vette, Christina Bareja, Robert Clark & Aparna Lal
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.18.211508
Abstract
Objective
To implement the World Health Organization’s pandemic influenza severity assessment tool in Australia, using multiple sources of data to establish thresholds and measure influenza severity indicators.
Methods
We used data from four reliable sources: sentinel general practitioner surveillance, hospital surveillance, a public health hotline and an influenza-like illness survey system. We measured three influenza severity indicators (transmissibility, impact and disease seriousness) defined using pandemic influenza severity assessment guidelines. We used the moving epidemic method and a seriousness indicator-specific method to set thresholds for indicator parameters using 2012–2016 data. We then applied the thresholds to data from the 2017 influenza season.
Findings
We were able to measure and produce thresholds for each severity indicator. At least one laboratory-confirmed influenza parameter was used to measure each indicator. When thresholds were applied to the 2017 season, there was good agreement across all data sources in measuring activity for each indicator. The season was characterized as having high transmissibility and extraordinary impact. Seriousness was characterized as moderate overall and in all age groups except those aged ≥ 65 years for whom it was high. This matched the description of the season produced by the Australian national influenza surveillance committee, based on expert opinion and historical ranges.
Conclusion
The pandemic influenza severity assessment and moving epidemic method provide a robust and flexible method to enable an evidence-based assessment of seasonal influenza severity across diverse data sources. This is useful for national assessment and will contribute to global monitoring and response to circulating influenza with pandemic potential.
 

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Volume 12 – Issue 3 – June 2018
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/latest-issue

Commentary
The Forgotten Need of Disaster Relief
Leonardo Tamariz, Cynthia Cely, Ana Palacio
https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2017.67
Published online: 18 September 2017, pp. 284-286
Abstract
Disasters in countries with limited resources can put the emergency preparedness of the country to the test. The first major task after a disaster is to take care of the wounded. In countries where the epidemiological transition has occurred, chronic disease can place a major strain on public health preparedness after a disaster. The purpose of this field report is to alert public health practitioners of an infrequently reported public health problem: the impact of natural disasters on adherence to chronic medications. In our experience, the most common complaint in the weeks that followed the 2016 earthquake was not having access to their chronic medications. (Disaster Med Public Health)

The European Journal of Public Health
Volume 28, Issue 4, 1 August 2018
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/issue/28/4

Editorials
Reflecting on Alma Ata 1978: forty years on
Kairat Davletov; Talgat Nurgozhin; Martin McKee
European Journal of Public Health, Volume 28, Issue 4, 1 August 2018, Pages 587, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky094
Extract
The Alma Ata declaration was a product of its time. It came about from a recognition that, in an increasingly prosperous world, many people were being left behind. In the world’s poorest countries, tens of thousands of people were dying every year from entirely avoidable conditions, lacking access to even the most basic health services. At the same time, those in the richest countries were benefiting from pharmaceutical and technological advances that would have been undreamed of even a decade earlier.
Forty years on, much of what it said is now taken for granted, such as health being a human right, that inequality of health status between rich and…

The European Journal of Public Health
Volume 28, Issue 4, 1 August 2018
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/issue/28/4

Infectious diseases
Good practices and challenges in addressing poliomyelitis and measles in the European Union
John Kinsman; Svenja Stöven; Fredrik Elgh; Pilar Murillo; Michael Sulzner
European Journal of Public Health, Volume 28, Issue 4, 1 August 2018, Pages 730–734, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky056

The European Journal of Public Health
Volume 28, Issue 4, 1 August 2018
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/issue/28/4

Association between vaccination coverage decline and influenza incidence rise among Italian elderly
Lamberto Manzoli; Giovanni Gabutti; Roberta Siliquini; Maria Elena Flacco; Paolo Villari …
European Journal of Public Health, Volume 28, Issue 4, 1 August 2018, Pages 740–742, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky053

Global Public Health
Volume 13, 2017   Issue 10
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rgph20/current

Article
The ‘indirect costs’ of underfunding foreign partners in global health research: A case study
Johanna T. Crane, Irene Andia Biraro, Tamer M. Fouad, Yap Boum II & David R. Bangsberg
Pages: 1422-1429
Published online: 16 Sep 2017

Global Public Health
Volume 13, 2017   Issue 10
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rgph20/current

Article
Compulsory licensing of pharmaceuticals reconsidered: Current situation and implications for access to medicines
Kyung-Bok Son & Tae-Jin Lee
Pages: 1430-1440
Published online: 28 Nov 2017
ABSTRACT
To examine patterns and trends in attempts, distinguished from issuance, to issue compulsory licensing of pharmaceuticals and to assess related implications in the era of high-cost medicines. Documents from various civil society organisations were primarily used to search attempts, as well as published literature. The identified attempts were analysed by pharmaceutical level, national level, claimers, and the outcomes of the attempts. There have been 108 attempts to issue compulsory licensing for 40 pharmaceuticals in 27 countries since 1995. Most of the attempts were in Asian, Latin American, and African countries and mainly for HIV/AIDS medicines. Moreover, when the claimer was the government, the likelihood of approval and positive outcomes increased. Compulsory licensing, which was devised to cope with the HIV/AIDS pandemic in low-income countries, became a practical measure in several Asian and Latin American countries, even for non-HIV/AIDS medicines. Resurgent compulsory licensing in 2012 and 2014, influenced by the global justice movement, might represent a policy window in the near future as the Doha Declaration did in the 2000s. In this context, various experiences should be circulated and analysed at the global level to better understand the circumstances under which successful issuance has been achieved at the country level.

Globalization and Health
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/
[Accessed 18 Aug 2018]

Research
Strengthening health research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa: mapping the 2012–2017 landscape of externally funded international postgraduate training at institutions in the region
The objective was to guide key stakeholders on future directions of external funding of international postgraduate training (Master’s and PhD) of health research students at institutions in sub-Saharan Africa by mapping the numbers and characteristics of students, the location of institutions, and sources of external support.
Authors: Terra Morel, Dermot Maher, Thomas Nyirenda and Ole F. Olesen
Citation: Globalization and Health 2018 14:77
Published on: 31 July 2018

Health Affairs
Vol. 37 , No. 8  August 2018
https://www.healthaffairs.org/toc/hlthaff/current
Medicaid, Markets & More

Research Article  Ethics
Encouraging Participation And Transparency In Biobank Research
Kayte Spector-Bagdady, Raymond G. De Vries, Michele G. Gornick, Andrew G. Shuman …
Abstract
Medical biobanks often struggle to obtain sustainable funding. Commercialization of specimens is one solution, but disclosure of commercial interests to potential contributors can be dissuasive. Recent revisions to the federal human subjects research regulations will soon mandate such commercialization disclosure in some circumstances, which raises questions about implications for practice. In this nationally representative, probability-based survey sample of the US adult population, we found that 67 percent of participants agreed that clear notification of potential commercialization of biospecimens is warranted, but only 23 percent were comfortable with such use. Sixty-two percent believed that profits should be used only to support future research, and 41 percent supported sharing profits with the public. We also considered other factors related to disclosure in our analysis and argue for a “disclosure plus” standard: informing potential contributors that their biospecimens might be accessed by commercial organizations and explaining how profits would be used to both enhance transparency and facilitate contributors’ altruistic motivations.

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 18 Aug 2018]

Research
The reporting of funding in health policy and systems research: a cross-sectional study
Major research-reporting statements, such as PRISMA and CONSORT, require authors to provide information about funding. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the reporting of funding in health policy …
Authors: Assem M. Khamis, Lama Bou-Karroum, Maram B. Hakoum, Mounir Al-Gibbawi, Joseph R. Habib, Fadi El-Jardali and Elie A. Akl
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems 2018 16:83
Published on: 17 August 2018

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 18 Aug 2018]

Research
Public involvement in health research systems: a governance framework
Growing interest in public involvement in health research has led to organisational and policy change. Additionally, an emerging body of policy-oriented scholarship has begun to identify the organisational and…
Authors: Fiona Alice Miller, Sarah J. Patton, Mark Dobrow and Whitney Berta
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems 2018 16:79
Published on: 6 August 2018

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 18 Aug 2018]

Commentary
Developing the latest framework to measure and incentivise pharmaceutical industry contributions to health research and development
Major pharmaceutical companies contribute important expertise to health research and development (R&D), particularly in their ability to develop and bring pharmaceuticals to market. The Access to Medicine Index…
Authors: Clarke B. Cole, Stine Trolle and Danny J. Edwards
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems 2018 16:73
Published on: 2 August 2018

Infectious Diseases of Poverty
http://www.idpjournal.com/content
[Accessed 18 Aug 2018]

Research Article
Climate drivers of vector-borne diseases in Africa and their relevance to control programmes
Climate-based disease forecasting has been proposed as a potential tool in climate change adaptation for the health sector. Here we explore the relevance of climate data, drivers and predictions for vector-bor…
Authors: Madeleine C. Thomson, Ángel G. Muñoz, Remi Cousin and Joy Shumake-Guillemot
Citation: Infectious Diseases of Poverty 2018 7:81
Published on: 10 August 2018

International Journal of Infectious Diseases
August 2018 Volume 73, p1-118
https://www.ijidonline.com/issue/S1201-9712(18)X0007-1

Reviews
Antimicrobial resistance in the context of the Syrian conflict: Drivers before and after the onset of conflict and key recommendations
Aula Abbara, Timothy M. Rawson, Nabil Karah, Wael El-Amin, James Hatcher, Bachir Tajaldin, Osman Dar, Omar Dewachi, Ghassan Abu Sitta, Bernt Eric Uhlin, Annie Sparrow
p1–6
Published online: May 21, 2018

JAMA
August 14, 2018, Vol 320, No. 6, Pages 519-612
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/issue.aspx

Biotech Innovations
August 14, 2018
New Nonprofit Biotech From Bill and Melinda Gates
Jennifer Abbasi
JAMA. 2018;320(6):539. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.11253
A new nonprofit biotech organization funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will take on infectious diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest populations: malaria, tuberculosis, and enteric and diarrheal diseases in children. Together these diseases cause 5 deaths every minute, according to the new organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute.
Officially open since January, the institute—known as Gates MRI—recently announced details about its mission. Penny M. Heaton, MD, will serve as the institute’s chief executive officer. Heaton previously directed the foundation’s vaccine development program. Immunizations are on the docket at the new institute, too, which aims to speed the development of novel vaccine, drug, and biologic candidates for its target diseases.
Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the institute will focus on translational medicine, moving research from late preclinical studies to proof-of-concept phase 1 trials. Later-stage development will involve partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, nonprofit product developers, and low- and middle-income country manufacturers.
According to the announcement, Gates MRI researchers’ first project will test if a booster shot of the bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which is usually given to infants but wanes in efficacy over time, protects at-risk adolescents from tuberculosis.

JAMA
August 14, 2018, Vol 320, No. 6, Pages 519-612
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/issue.aspx

JAMA
August 7, 2018, Vol 320, No. 5, Pages 419-516
Return of Research Results to Study Participants – Uncharted and Untested
Charlene A. Wong, MD, MSHP; Adrian F. Hernandez, MD, MHS; Robert M. Califf, MD
JAMA. 2018;320(5):435-436. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.7898
Research data may be of great utility to study participants and their clinicians in understanding and managing the health of patients who participate in research, depending on the clinical context and nature of results. In addition, increasing amounts of digital data are generated by commercial health products, such as accelerometers and smart watches, and in clinical care. With increasing digitization and data availability, researchers, clinicians, developers, and patients encounter the issue of how to consume, analyze, and make sense of those data. The return of individual results in the context of research studies provides a useful, structured environment to develop an empirical framework, and lessons learned may be applicable to other cases of health information consumerism.

Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (JPIDS)
Volume 7, Issue 3, September 2018
https://academic.oup.com/jpids/issue

On Vaccination
The Influenza Vaccine Mess
Stanley A Plotkin
Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Volume 7, Issue 3, 17 August 2018, Pages 178–180, https://doi.org/10.1093/jpids/piy057
Extract
By and large, we think of vaccines as highly efficacious, as has been shown in placebo-controlled trials and also by the decreasing incidence of the disease against which a vaccine has been developed. Not so with inactivated influenza vaccine, which we recommend each year for both children and adults but without expecting high efficacy. Indeed, we hope only for moderate efficacy under the conditions of a circulating influenza virus that has not changed substantially from the related strain that was included in the vaccine [1]. Moreover, the failure rate is augmented by the fact that current vaccines are aimed…

Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (JPIDS)
Volume 7, Issue 3, September 2018
https://academic.oup.com/jpids/issue

Randomized Trial of 2 Versus 1 Dose of Measles Vaccine: Effect on Hospital Admission of Children After 9 Months of Age
Marie Brønd; Cesario L Martins; Stine Byberg; Christine S Benn; Hilton Whittle …
Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Volume 7, Issue 3, 17 August 2018, Pages 226–233, https://doi.org/10.1093/jpids/pix042
Within a randomized trial of measles vaccine (MV) given at 4½ and 9 months versus at 9 months only, boosting with MV reduced the risk of hospital admissions among children between 9 and 18 months of age who had not received vitamin A at birth.