Monthly Archives: February 2020

Big Data in the Assessment of Pediatric Medication Safety

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Pediatrics
February 01, 2020; Volume 145,Issue 2
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/145/2

 

Special Article
Big Data in the Assessment of Pediatric Medication Safety
Ann W. McMahon, William O. Cooper, Jeffrey S. Brown, Bruce Carleton, Finale Doshi-Velez, Isaac Kohane, Jennifer L. Goldman, Mark A. Hoffman, Rishikesan Kamaleswaran, Michiyo Sakiyama, Shohko Sekine, Miriam C.J.M. Sturkenboom, Mark A. Turner, Robert M. Califf
Pediatrics, Feb 2020, 145 (2) e20190562

Emerging priorities for HIV service delivery

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PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 15 Feb 2020)

 

Emerging priorities for HIV service delivery
Nathan Ford, Elvin Geng, Tom Ellman, Catherine Orrell, Peter Ehrenkranz, Izukanji Sikazwe, Andreas Jahn, Miriam Rabkin, Stephen Ayisi Addo, Anna Grimsrud, Sydney Rosen, Isaac Zulu, William Reidy, Thabo Lejone, Tsitsi Apollo, Charles Holmes, Ana Francisca Kolling, Rosina Phate Lesihla, Huu Hai Nguyen, Baker Bakashaba, Lastone Chitembo, Ghion Tiriste, Meg Doherty, Helen Bygrave
Policy Forum | published 14 Feb 2020 PLOS Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003028

Opinion: Sustainable development must account for pandemic risk

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PNAS – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/
[Accessed 15 Feb 2020]

 

Front Matter
Opinion: Sustainable development must account for pandemic risk
Moreno Di Marco, Michelle L. Baker, Peter Daszak, Paul De Barro, Evan A. Eskew, Cecile M. Godde, Tom D. Harwood, Mario Herrero, Andrew J. Hoskins, Erica Johnson, William B. Karesh, Catherine Machalaba, Javier Navarro Garcia, Dean Paini, Rebecca Pirzl, Mark Stafford Smith, Carlos Zambrana-Torrelio, and Simon Ferrier
PNAS first published February 14, 2020.

Veridical data science

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PNAS – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/
[Accessed 15 Feb 2020]

 

Veridical data science
Inaugural Article
Bin Yu and Karl Kumbier
PNAS first published February 13, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1901326117
Significance
Predictability, computability, and stability (PCS) are three core principles of data science. They embed the scientific principles of prediction and replication in data-driven decision making while recognizing the central role of computation. Based on these principles, we propose the PCS framework, including workflow and documentation (in R Markdown or Jupyter Notebook). The PCS framework aims at responsible, reliable, reproducible, and transparent analysis across fields of science, social science, engineering, business, and government. It can be used as a recommendation system for scientific hypothesis generation and experimental design. In particular, we propose (basic) PCS inference for reliability measures on data results, extending statistical inference to a much broader scope as current data science practice entails.
Abstract
Building and expanding on principles of statistics, machine learning, and scientific inquiry, we propose the predictability, computability, and stability (PCS) framework for veridical data science. Our framework, composed of both a workflow and documentation, aims to provide responsible, reliable, reproducible, and transparent results across the data science life cycle. The PCS workflow uses predictability as a reality check and considers the importance of computation in data collection/storage and algorithm design. It augments predictability and computability with an overarching stability principle. Stability expands on statistical uncertainty considerations to assess how human judgment calls impact data results through data and model/algorithm perturbations. As part of the PCS workflow, we develop PCS inference procedures, namely PCS perturbation intervals and PCS hypothesis testing, to investigate the stability of data results relative to problem formulation, data cleaning, modeling decisions, and interpretations. We illustrate PCS inference through neuroscience and genomics projects of our own and others. Moreover, we demonstrate its favorable performance over existing methods in terms of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves in high-dimensional, sparse linear model simulations, including a wide range of misspecified models. Finally, we propose PCS documentation based on R Markdown or Jupyter Notebook, with publicly available, reproducible codes and narratives to back up human choices made throughout an analysis. The PCS workflow and documentation are demonstrated in a genomics case study available on Zenodo.

Factors associated with adolescent HPV vaccination in the U.S.: A systematic review of reviews and multilevel framework to inform intervention development

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Preventive Medicine
Volume 131 February 2020
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/preventive-medicine/vol/131/suppl/C

 

Review article Abstract only
Factors associated with adolescent HPV vaccination in the U.S.: A systematic review of reviews and multilevel framework to inform intervention development
Serena A. Rodriguez, Patricia Dolan Mullen, Diana M. Lopez, Lara S. Savas, Maria E. Fernández
Article 105968

The Prioritization of Island Nations as Refuges from Extreme Pandemics

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Risk Analysis
Volume 40, Issue 2 Pages: 215-438 February 2020
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15396924/current

 

Original Research Articles
The Prioritization of Island Nations as Refuges from Extreme Pandemics
Matt Boyd, Nick Wilson
Pages: 227-239
First Published: 23 September 2019
Abstract
In this conceptual article with illustrative data, we suggest that it is useful to rank island nations as potential refuges for ensuring long‐term human survival in the face of catastrophic pandemics (or other relevant existential threats). Prioritization could identify the several island nations that are most suitable for targeting social and political preparations and further investment in resiliency. We outline a prioritization methodology and as an initial demonstration, we then provide example rankings by considering 20 sovereign island states (all with populations greater than 250,000 and no land borders). Results describe each nation in nine resilience‐relevant domains covering location, population, resources, and society according to published data

Why Have Immunization Efforts in Pakistan Failed to Achieve Global Standards of Vaccination Uptake and Infectious Disease Control?

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Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
https://www.dovepress.com/risk-management-and-healthcare-policy-archive56
[Accessed 15 Feb 2020]

 

Review
Why Have Immunization Efforts in Pakistan Failed to Achieve Global Standards of Vaccination Uptake and Infectious Disease Control?
Butt M, Mohammed R, Butt E, Butt S, Xiang J
Published Date: 12 February 2020

The effectiveness of influenza vaccination in pregnancy in relation to child health outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis

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Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 7 Pages 1579-1868 (11 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/7

 

Review article Open access
The effectiveness of influenza vaccination in pregnancy in relation to child health outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis
J.R. Jarvis, R.B. Dorey, F.D.M. Warricker, N.A. Alwan, C.E. Jones
Pages 1601-1613

Cost-effectiveness of using environmental surveillance to target the roll-out typhoid conjugate vaccine

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Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 7 Pages 1579-1868 (11 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/7

 

Review article Open access
Cost-effectiveness of using environmental surveillance to target the roll-out typhoid conjugate vaccine
Brittany L. Hagedorn, Jillian Gauld, Nicholas Feasey, Hao Hu
Pages 1661-1670

Cost-effectiveness of continuing pneumococcal conjugate vaccination at age 65 in the context of indirect effects from the childhood immunization program

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Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 7 Pages 1579-1868 (11 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/7

 

Research article Abstract only
Cost-effectiveness of continuing pneumococcal conjugate vaccination at age 65 in the context of indirect effects from the childhood immunization program
Charles Stoecker, Miwako Kobayashi, Almea Matanock, Bo-Hyun Cho, Tamara Pilishvili
Pages 1770-1777

Measles Immunization Policies and Vaccination Coverage in EU/EEA Countries over the Last Decade

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 15 Feb 2020)

 

Open Access Article
Measles Immunization Policies and Vaccination Coverage in EU/EEA Countries over the Last Decade
by Marco Montalti , Anna Kawalec , Erica Leoni and Laura Dallolio
Vaccines 2020, 8(1), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010086 (registering DOI) – 14 Feb 2020
Abstract
Background: Starting from 2016, a major measles epidemic affected EU/EEA countries, after the measles incidence rate had progressively decreased from 2011 to 2015. Methods: This study describes measles incidences (ECDC reports), the vaccination coverages (VCs) (WHO/UNICEF reports) and the vaccination strategies, whether mandatory or recommended (ECDC Vaccine Scheduler), in 30 European countries over the last decade. Results: VCs were higher in countries with historically mandatory vaccination. However, in these countries, VCs declined between 2010 and 2018, in two cases to levels below 90% at the second dose. Instead, 9 and 12 countries with recommended vaccination increased their VCs, respectively, for the first and the second dose. Overall, the countries with VC ≥ 95% decreased from 20 to 15 for the first dose and from 10 to 7 for the second dose. This trend led Italy, France and Germany to make vaccination mandatory. In Italy this provision was introduced in 2017, and together with the catch-up campaigns on children between 1 and 15 years at school entry, led immediately to a strong effect: the first dose VC passed from 87% in 2016 to 93% in 2018, and from 82% to 89% for the second dose. Conclusions: Mandatory vaccination is certainly a policy producing positive effects; however, it seems to require additional strategies in order to reach the WHO goal of 95% of VC. Measures such as catch-up action on susceptible populations and communication strategies aimed at increasing awareness and acceptance should be considered.

Strategies to Increase Flu Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Workers: A 4 Years Study in a Large Italian Teaching Hospital

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 15 Feb 2020)

 

Open Access Article
Strategies to Increase Flu Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Workers: A 4 Years Study in a Large Italian Teaching Hospital
by Andrea Barbara , Daniele Ignazio La Milia , Marcello Di Pumpo , Alessia Tognetto , Andrea Tamburrano , Doriana Vallone , Carlo Viora , Silvia Cavalieri , Andrea Cambieri , Umberto Moscato , Filippo Berloco , Gianfranco Damiani , Walter Ricciardi , Giovanni Capelli and Patrizia Laurenti
Vaccines 2020, 8(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010085 – 13 Feb 2020
Abstract
Flu vaccination is recommended among healthcare workers (HCWs). The low vaccination coverage registered in our hospital among HCWs called for new engaging approaches to improve flu vaccination coverage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different strategies implemented during the last four years (2015–2019). A quasi-experimental study was conducted, involving almost 4000 HCWs each year. Starting from the 2015–2016 campaign, new evidence-based strategies were progressively implemented. At the end of each campaign, an evaluation of the vaccination coverage rate reached was performed. Moreover, during the last three campaigns, differences in coverage among job category, wards involved or not in on-site vaccination (OSV) intervention, age classes and gender were analyzed. An increasing flu vaccination coverage rate was registered, from 6% in 2015–2016 to almost 22% at the end of 2018–2019. The overall number of vaccinated HCWs increased, especially at younger ages. OSV strategy always leads to better results, and physicians always show a higher vaccination coverage than nurses and other HCWs. The implemented strategies were effective in achieving higher flu vaccination coverage among HCWs in our hospital and therefore can be considered valuable examples of good prevention practices in hospital settings.

The Vaccine Uptake Continuum: Applying Social Science Theory to Shift Vaccine Hesitancy

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 15 Feb 2020)

 

Open Access Commentary
The Vaccine Uptake Continuum: Applying Social Science Theory to Shift Vaccine Hesitancy
by Rachael Piltch-Loeb and Ralph DiClemente
Vaccines 2020, 8(1), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010076 – 07 Feb 2020
Viewed by 227
Abstract
Vaccines are the optimal public health strategy to prevent disease, but the growing anti-vaccine movement has focused renewed attention on the need to persuade people to increase vaccine uptake. This commentary draws on social and behavioral science theory and proposes a vaccine uptake continuum comprised of five factors: (1) awareness of the health threat; (2) availability of the vaccine; (3) accessibility of the vaccine; (4) affordability of the vaccine; and (5) acceptability of the vaccine to effectively approach this rising challenge.

The Vaccine Uptake Continuum: Applying Social Science Theory to Shift Vaccine Hesitancy

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 15 Feb 2020)

 

Open Access Commentary
The Vaccine Uptake Continuum: Applying Social Science Theory to Shift Vaccine Hesitancy
by Rachael Piltch-Loeb and Ralph DiClemente
Vaccines 2020, 8(1), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010076 – 07 Feb 2020
Viewed by 227
Abstract
Vaccines are the optimal public health strategy to prevent disease, but the growing anti-vaccine movement has focused renewed attention on the need to persuade people to increase vaccine uptake. This commentary draws on social and behavioral science theory and proposes a vaccine uptake continuum comprised of five factors: (1) awareness of the health threat; (2) availability of the vaccine; (3) accessibility of the vaccine; (4) affordability of the vaccine; and (5) acceptability of the vaccine to effectively approach this rising challenge.

Strengthening global immunization efforts to leave no-one behind

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WHO Executive Board
EB146(7)
Strengthening global immunization efforts to leave no-one behind
ANNEX
DRAFT RESOLUTION PROPOSED BY ESWATINI, ETHIOPIA AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The Seventy-third World Health Assembly,
Having considered the report on the global vaccine action plan,1

Recalling resolutions WHA65.17 (2012) and WHA68.6 (2015) on the global vaccine action plan (2011–2020); resolution WHA67.23 (2015) on health intervention and technology assessment and WHA70.14 (2017) on strengthening immunization; and the global vision of defeating meningitis by 2030;

Recognizing the important contribution of vaccines and immunization to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and that immunization contributes directly or indirectly to 14 of the 17 Goals;

Recalling the Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage “Universal health coverage: moving together to build a healthier world,” and its commitment to improve routine immunization and vaccination capacities as a fundamental contribution to universal health coverage;

Recalling the Global Vaccination Summit jointly organized by the European Commission and the WHO (2019), which identified 10 Actions Towards Vaccination for All, and set out priority areas for future collaboration;

Appreciating the contribution of the global vaccine action plan in galvanizing global immunization efforts to allow individuals to live free from vaccine-preventable diseases;

Noting with concern that despite the progress made during the past decade, 8 of the 9 goals of the global vaccine action plan will not be achieved by 2020, which underscores the need and urgency to set a new global vision and strategy for vaccines and immunization for the next decade, to accelerate progress and ensure a smooth transition away from global vaccine action plan, reflecting lessons learned;

Recognizing that although the introduction of new vaccines has contributed to reducing morbidity and/or mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases, significant barriers to timely and equitable access to vaccines remain, with significant variations of vaccine coverage and equity both between countries and within countries, including at the subnational level, and with an unacceptably slow pace of progress towards increasing equitable access to life-saving vaccines, ending cholera, and eliminating measles, rubella, and maternal and neonatal tetanus;

Recognizing also the increase in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks occurring globally, which are stark reminders of backsliding in progress to reduce vaccine preventable disease burden and impact;

Recognizing the role that misinformation and uncertainty play in reducing public trust and confidence in vaccines, despite their proven safety and effectiveness in promoting individual, family and community health;

Noting with particular concern that, although Member States in all six WHO regions have measles elimination goals, and that four regions have rubella elimination goals, measles is undergoing an alarming resurgence with significant outbreaks in all six regions, creating an urgent need for additional efforts in order to reach measles and rubella elimination, through the primary strategy of strengthening routine immunization but also by considering control measures based on the local/regional epidemiology;

Recognizing the significant progress achieved towards polio eradication, but also noting continuing concerns with the persistence of wild-type polio, the rising number of vaccine-derived polio outbreaks, and reiterating the need for strong cross-border cooperation and implementation of necessary requirements concerning vaccination for travellers in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005), and the need to integrate core polio functions, human resources, and infrastructure into national immunization programmes and health systems as polio eradication goals are met;

Recognizing also that community engagement and integrated, people-centred essential immunization programmes, as a part of a strong health system, are the cornerstones of primary health care and core to achieving immunization goals and targets;

Further recognizing the need for increased investment in research and development and innovation, including to improve timely and expanded access to vaccines of assured quality and diversification of manufacturing sources, including for vaccines such as against malaria that affect specific areas or communities of the world, and for new forms of delivery and service approaches to enhance coverage, equity and efficiency of immunization programmes while meeting the global demand;

Welcoming efforts to promote national and global forecasting, planning and procurement capacities, including through pooled procurement, and recognizing the importance of more accurate vaccine demand and supply forecasting, regular monitoring of vaccine stock levels, measures to assure and maintain supply security, and timely decisions on procurement to address recurrent vaccine shortages and stockouts in the short term,

1. WELCOMES the new global vision and strategy for vaccines and immunization “Immunization Agenda 2030”, recognizing the critical role of vaccines and immunization as a part of primary health care, to achieve universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals, and notes that IA2030 provides the policy and technical framework for vaccines and immunization at the global, regional, and country levels, and looks forward to the operational elements of Immunization Agenda 2030, including its Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, governance mechanism, and operational plans at the regional level;

2. CALLS FOR enhanced cooperation at the global, regional and country levels to strengthen the capacities of countries to integrate their immunization programmes into primary health care and to achieve and sustain the goals of the Immunization Agenda 2030, including efforts to expand equitable access to quality, safe, effective and affordable vaccines and to increase community demand and acceptance for vaccines, and to combat misinformation and promote vaccine confidence;

 

3. URGES Member States:
(1) to demonstrate stronger leadership and governance of national immunization programmes as a component of strong health systems and towards achieving universal health coverage;
(2) to identify the root causes of low coverage and address inequities, and pockets of susceptible individuals by strengthening routine immunization programmes, vaccine preventable disease surveillance, data systems, and capacity to prepare for, swiftly detect, and respond to outbreaks, while building on the linkages between strong routine immunization programmes and outbreak preparedness and response capacities to decrease the risk of disease outbreaks and strengthen routine immunization recovery post-outbreak as a part of primary health care;
(3) to invest in national and international public awareness efforts to communicate accurate information on the safety, effectiveness, and public health benefits of vaccines, to work with media, including social media, individuals, parents, families and communities to combat misinformation regarding vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases, and by training health workers as part of a comprehensive communications strategy regarding community questions or concerns and engaging individuals, parents, families, communities to build and sustain trust in life-saving vaccines;
(4) to improve community immunization rates thereby protecting vulnerable populations, such as children and immunocompromised individuals at high risk for communicable diseases;
(5) to sustain and redouble efforts to achieve or maintain national measles and rubella elimination targets with the aim of supporting regional elimination goals through the strengthening of routine immunization systems and a range of tailored supplementary immunization activities that will reach the unreached and that also help to strengthen the overall routine immunization system;
(6) to strengthen comprehensive vaccine-preventable disease surveillance, including case-based surveillance and laboratory confirmation capacities, by prioritizing disease detection and notification systems, data analysis and reporting systems to strengthen immunization policies and programmes;
(7) to collect, monitor and use timely and accurate data on immunization coverage and outbreaks to guide strategic and programmatic decisions that protect at-risk populations and reduce disease burden;
(8) to mobilize adequate financing of immunization programmes, including allocation of adequate financial and human resources where appropriate and to sustain the immunization gains achieved, including through technical partners and funding agencies, such as: the Global Polio Eradication Initiative; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; WHO and UNICEF; the World Bank; academia; nongovernmental partners; and, in the Americas, through the PAHO Revolving Fund, as appropriate;
(9) to strengthen national processes and advisory bodies for independent, evidence-based, transparent advice and decision-making, both during and outside times of national, regional or global outbreaks, including on vaccine safety and effectiveness, such as health interventions and technology assessments and/or National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups working in collaboration with national regulatory authorities;

(10) to expand, where appropriate, immunization services beyond infancy to include the whole life course, guided by evidence on the burden of disease, the value of vaccines, vaccines’ impact on reducing morbidity and mortality throughout the life course, and system capacities, using the most appropriate and effective means of reaching all age groups and high-risk populations with immunization and integrated health services with special emphasis on “zero-dose” children in order to reduce the burden of disease as much as possible with available resources;
(11) to promote incentives and to create an enabling environment to increase investment in public and private research and development collaborations aimed at diversifying and strengthening the pipeline, improving and increasing vaccine production capacity, and developing new products, services and practices, including for emerging infectious diseases;
(12) to continue to strengthen international cooperation and vaccine supply, including by enhancing and expanding sustainable national and regional manufacturing capacity for affordable vaccines and technologies;

 

4. INVITES global, regional, and national partners, and other relevant stakeholders:
(1) to continue to support Member States to achieve regional and global vaccination goals and in the development and implementation of national immunization plans, including through contributions to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and other health and development partners;
(2) to increase efforts for multistakeholder and cross-sector coordination toward improved vaccine and immunization programme impact, aiming to avoid duplication and gaps, while leveraging resources more effectively;
(3) to increase efforts and enhance multistakeholder collaboration to develop and apply tools to strengthen immunization, including through coordinated, responsible, sustainable and innovative approaches to research and development, including but not limited to quality, safe, effective and affordable vaccines, and to accelerate innovation to address key programmatic challenges on immunization delivery and services to optimize impact, recognizing the important contribution of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in this regard;
(4) to consider immunization priorities in funding and programmatic decisions, including innovative ways to mainstream immunization-relevant activities into existing international development financing;
(5) to ensure that robust response plans are in place to tackle misinformation and build community trust, as well as to support social media platforms and actors in addressing incorrect information about vaccination risks that may increase vaccination hesitancy;

 

5. REQUESTS the Director-General:
(1) to support countries to achieve the goals and strategic priorities outlined in the Immunization Agenda 2030, taking stock of lessons learned from the global vaccine action plan;

(2) to advocate in national, regional and international forums for the need to implement the Immunization Agenda 2030 at regional and country levels, to achieve its goals to accelerate progress on and impact of the global immunization programme;
(3) to support Member States in their efforts to rebuild and sustain trust and confidence in vaccines and immunization services through national communication and education strategies, campaigns to combat misinformation about vaccines, training health workers on communication, providing high-quality integrated services, enhancing education on vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases to individuals, parents, families, communities, and community influencers to galvanize the public and build trust regarding the value of vaccines including vaccine safety;
(4) to promote and technically support improved surveillance and disease detection notification systems and fully implement accountability mechanisms to monitor global and regional vaccine action plans;
(5) to support Member States to sustain and redouble efforts to achieve national targets on measles and rubella elimination, and to work to ensure that global and regional strategies on these diseases are updated to enable the most effective response at country level, while strengthening routine immunization systems and educating individuals, parents, families and communities on disease detection, notification and reporting;
(6) to strengthen collaboration with all key health and development partners, including civil society organizations and the private sector so that their work better complements national essential immunization and emergency preparedness, detection and response efforts;
(7) to support Member States, where appropriate, in strengthening and promoting innovation through the research and development of vaccines against new and re-emerging pathogens, facilitating linkages with other key research and development stakeholders, as well as continuing to provide technical assistance, including for outbreak response; to address key programmatic challenges, and to continue to promote and facilitate the development of new vaccines delivery and service formats that will make vaccines safer and more accessible;
(8) to continue working with research and development stakeholders to support, especially in developing countries, supply chain innovations and vaccine-administration technologies, to increase the efficiency of vaccine delivery, as appropriate;
(9) to continue to strengthen the WHO prequalification programme and to provide technical assistance to developing countries, working closely with national regulatory authorities, in capacity building for research and development, expanding capacity to produce quality-assured vaccines, and other upstream to downstream vaccine and diagnostic development and manufacturing strategies that foster competition for a healthy, secure vaccine market;
(10) to cooperate with international organizations, in accordance with their respective mandates, health and development partners, vaccine manufacturers and national governments to overcome barriers to timely and equitable access to affordable vaccines of assured quality for all, and to implement effective preventive measures for the protection of health workers, including in public health emergencies and in the context of humanitarian crises;
(11) to report to the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly, through the Executive Board, on implementation of the Immunization Agenda 2030, including the development of regional
operational plans, an IA2030 governance mechanism and the Monitoring and Evaluation framework;
(12) to continue to monitor progress annually and to report, through the Executive Board, as a substantive agenda item to the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly on the achievements made towards the global goals of the Immunization Agenda 2030.
Sixth meeting, 5 February2020 EB146/SR/

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review :: 08 February 2020

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Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review is a weekly digest  summarizing news, events, announcements, peer-reviewed articles and research in the global vaccine ethics and policy space. Content is aggregated from key governmental, NGO, international organization and industry sources, key peer-reviewed journals, and other media channels. This summary proceeds from the broad base of themes and issues monitored by the Center for Vaccine Ethics & Policy in its work: it is not intended to be exhaustive in its coverage. You are viewing the blog version of our weekly digest, typically comprised of between 30 and 40 posts below all dated with the current issue date

.– Request an Email Summary: Vaccines and Global Health : The Week in Review is published as a single email summary, scheduled for release each Saturday evening before midnight (EDT in the U.S.). If you would like to receive the email version, please send your request to david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org.

– pdf version:  A pdf of the current issue is available here: Vaccines and Global Health_The Week in Review_8 Feb 2020

– blog edition: comprised of the approx. 35+ entries posted below.

– Twitter:  Readers can also follow developments on twitter: @vaxethicspolicy.
.
– Links:  We endeavor to test each link as we incorporate it into any post, but recognize that some links may become “stale” as publications and websites reorganize content over time. We apologize in advance for any links that may not be operative. We believe the contextual information in a given post should allow retrieval, but please contact us as above for assistance if necessary.

Support this knowledge-sharing service: Your financial support helps us cover our costs and to address a current shortfall in our annual operating budget. Click here to donate and thank you in advance for your contribution.

.
David R. Curry, MS
Executive Director
Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy

WHO – 146th session of the Executive Board

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

WHO – 146th session of the Executive Board
Geneva, 3–8 February 2020.
[Editor’s Note: The EB concludes today…next week’s edition will capture key Resolutions, Decisions, and Conference Papers]

Delegates welcome the draft immunization vision and strategy and the global strategy to defeat meningitis by 2030
5 February 2020, Geneva. Forty-eight speakers, including 38 delegates from Member States, three observers and seven non-state actor organizations took the floor during the 146th Executive Board (EB) discussion on the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) and two corresponding decisions: “Strengthening global immunization efforts to leave no one behind” and “Meningitis prevention and control”. This marks a historic engagement at the EB on the GVAP agenda and an important step in preparing for the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA).

Delegates welcomed the draft immunization vision and strategy (“Immunization Agenda 2030”), highlighting the urgency and the critical need to ensure a successor for the GVAP to maintain the momentum and sustain the gains in vaccines and immunization, in the next decade.

Delegates noted that the lessons learned from the GVAP are key elements to consider while developing the new global immunization strategy. Lessons-learned from GVAP and the Decade of Vaccines demonstrate the challenges of reaching disease eradication and elimination goals, in the absence of strong essential immunization programmes. Therefore, the new vision and strategy for the next decade needs to be focused more strongly on strengthening immunization programmes as a part of primary health care.

Many speakers also highlighted new and emerging challenges, such as conflicts and emergencies, climate change, migration and population movements, community mistrust in vaccines and supply shortages and affordability, underlining the need for country ownership and leadership for strong immunization programmes. In particular, national governments and technical partners were encouraged to make the necessary investments to ensure immunization reaches all people at all stages of life, with immunization as an entry point for primary healthcare, and a core component of national health systems.

Member States called for urgent action to accelerate progress towards immunization goals, promote data-driven and differentiated approaches and strategies both at the national and sub-national levels to reach vulnerable populations, including addressing gender-related barriers, fight vaccine preventable diseases that recognize no borders and ensure global health security. Outbreaks of measles and Vaccine-derived polioviruses are stark reminders that strong immunization programmes and effective disease surveillance are needed to reach and sustain high levels of coverage, and to eliminate diseases.

Delegates noted that the global fight against meningitis is a powerful lever to drive progress to achieve Universal Health Coverage through strengthening immunization programmes and primary health care services and systems, and improving control of infectious diseases, global health security and access to disability support.

Delegates requested the Director-General to finalize, in consultation with Member States and other relevant stakeholders, the “Immunization Agenda 2030” and “the draft global strategy to defeat meningitis by 2030” for consideration by the Seventy-third WHA.

Delegates commended the Governments of the United States of America and Burkina Faso for coordinating the development of the two draft resolutions, calling for Member States as well as other stakeholders to endorse a new vision and strategy for immunization post-2020 and endorse a global strategy to defeat meningitis by 2030. The two draft resolutions will be discussed and finalized by Member States in the intersessional period until the WHA.

Note
List of Member States that made interventions during the GVAP discussion: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, New Zeeland, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Sudan, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania and United States of America. List of EB observers that made interventions during the GVAP discussion: Palestine, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. List of non-state actors that made interventions during the GVAP discussion: Global Health Council, International Pharmaceutical Federation, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, International Pharmaceutical Students Federation, PATH, Save the Children Fund and Water Aid International

Related Links
:: Global vaccine action plan. Report by the Director-General
:: Meningitis prevention and control. Draft Decision proposed by Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, :: Mozambique, Nigeria, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Tonga
:: Global Vaccine Action Plan review and lessons learned report
:: Immunization Agenda 2030

Measles

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

Measles

 

Global measles vaccination drive to protect up to 45 million children
Vaccination campaigns in seven countries to tackle rise in measles cases worldwide
05/02/2020
London, 5 February 2020 – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance will help vaccinate up to 45 million children in seven developing countries over the next six months in a series of major vaccination campaigns to help halt a recent surge in global measles cases.

The campaigns will be carried out by governments with funding from Gavi and support from Vaccine Alliance and Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI) partners, including World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF. They will target children under five years old, the age group most vulnerable to the disease, with Bangladesh also aiming to reach children under nine years old.

In addition Gavi, with support from Vaccine Alliance partners, will help Madagascar and Mauritania introduce a second dose of measles-containing vaccine into their routine immunisation programmes. Over a million children every year in the two countries will receive this vital second dose, which increases the vaccine’s effectiveness from around 84 per cent to per cent…

 

The vaccination campaigns will take place in the following countries:
:: Bangladesh, where Gavi will fund measles-Rubella vaccines for over 15.5 million children under five years old. The government of Bangladesh will also support the vaccination of a further 17 million children up to nine years old.
:: Central African Republic, where around 1 million children will receive the measles vaccine in the second phase of a campaign that began last year.
:: Ethiopia, where nearly 15 million children will receive the measles vaccine.
:: Kenya, where up to 7 million children will receive the measles-rubella vaccine.
:: Nepal, where nearly 3 million children will receive the measles-rubella vaccine.
:: Somalia, where around 1.4 million children will receive the measles vaccine in the continuation of a campaign that began last year.
:: South Sudan, where over 2.5 million children will receive the measles vaccine…

EMERGENCIES Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]

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EMERGENCIES

 

Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

Situation report – 18
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
7 February 2020
[Excerpt]
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
Globally :: 31,481 confirmed [3205 new]
China :: 31,211 confirmed
:: 4821 sever [962 new]
:: 637 deaths [73 new]
Outside of China
:: 270 confirmed [54 new]
:: 24 countries

 

WHO RISK ASSESSMENT
China – Very High
Regional Level – High
Global Level – High

 

HIGHLIGHTS
:: No new countries reported cases of 2019-nCoV in the past 24 hours.
:: To date, a total of 72 States Parties were identified to be implementing travel restrictions through official reports, official statements and the media. Of these 72 States Parties, WHO received 23 (32%) official reports from States Parties about their travel restrictions.
:: “The Pandemic Supply Chain Network (PSCN)” has commissioned a market assessment of the personal protective equipment market which will be distributed shortly to stakeholders of the PSCN as it continues to monitor the market. Additionally, senior management of WHO spoke with the stakeholders of the PSCN to ensure the private sector’s continued engagement to distribute supplies to those countries in most need. The PSCN will encourage manufacturers to increase production, commit supplies to frontline health emergency responders, and expand the number of stakeholders who are involved in the PSCN to gain a critical mass of suppliers to mitigate the operational risks within the market. WHO will continue to provide the technical guidance and coordination of supplies to those countries in most need.

 

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Feb 8: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China
News
2020-02-08
As of 24:00 on Feb 7, the National Health Commission had received 34,546 reports of confirmed cases (reduced by 14 by Heilongjiang province after verification) and 722 deaths in 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and in all 2,050 patients had been cured and discharged from hospital. There still remained 31,774 confirmed cases (including 6,101 in serious condition) and 27,657 suspected cases. So far, 345,498 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients. 189,660 are now under medical observation.

 

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WHO to accelerate research and innovation for new coronavirus
News release 6 February 2020
WHO is convening a global research and innovation forum to mobilize international action in response to the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
“Harnessing the power of science is critical for bringing this outbreak under control,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “There are questions we need answers to, and tools we need developed as quickly as possible. WHO is playing an important coordinating role by bringing the scientific community together to identify research priorities and accelerate progress.”
The forum, to be held 11-12 February in Geneva, is organized in collaboration with the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness.
The forum will bring together key players including leading scientists as well as public health agencies, ministries of health and research funders pursuing 2019-nCoV critical animal health and public health research and the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, among other innovations…

 

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US$675 million needed for new coronavirus preparedness and response global plan
News release 5 February 2020
To fight further spread of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China and globally, and protect states with weaker health systems, the international community has launched a US$675 million preparedness and response plan covering the months of February through to April 2020.
“My biggest worry is that there are countries today who do not have the systems in place to detect people who have contracted with the virus, even if it were to emerge,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Urgent support is needed to bolster weak health systems to detect, diagnose and care for people with the virus, to prevent further human to human transmission and protect health workers.”
The Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for the new coronavirus lays out activities and resources needed by international health organizations globally, including WHO, to implement priority public health measures in support of countries to prepare and respond to nCoV-2019 for a period February-April 2020. The objectives of the plan are to  limit human-to-human transmission of the virus, particularly in countries most vulnerable if they were to face an outbreak; identify, isolate and care for patients early; communicate critical risk and event information; minimize social and economic impact; reduce virus spread from animal sources; and address crucial unknowns.
The plan focuses on:
:: Rapidly establishing international coordination and operational support;
:: Scaling up country readiness and response operations;
:: Accelerating priority research and innovation…
The Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for the 2019 novel coronavirus

 

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Dedicates Additional Funding to the Novel Coronavirus Response
The foundation will provide up to $100 million to improve detection, isolation and treatment efforts; protect at-risk populations in Africa and South Asia; and accelerate the development of vaccines, drugs and diagnostics.
SEATTLE, February 5, 2020 – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced that it will immediately commit up to $100 million for the global response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The funding will help strengthen detection, isolation and treatment efforts; protect at-risk populations; and develop vaccines, treatments and diagnostics. The new funding is inclusive of $10 million the foundation committed to the outbreak in late January.

“Multilateral organizations, national governments, the private sector and philanthropies must work together to slow the pace of the outbreak, help countries protect their most vulnerable citizens and accelerate the development of the tools to bring this epidemic under control,” said Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman. “Our hope is that these resources will help catalyze a rapid and effective international response. This response should be guided by science, not fear, and it should build on the steps that the World Health Organization has taken to date.”

The Gates Foundation is contributing more resources – in close coordination with other donors – to assist the World Health Organization (WHO), Chinese frontline responders and others at the global and national levels. WHO declared the 2019-nCoV outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, citing the risks the virus poses globally and the need for a worldwide coordinated effort to enhance preparedness, especially in fragile settings. The Government of China has also declared a national public health emergency and mobilized a nationwide effort to contain the virus and treat those who are infected.

 

Accelerating 2019-nCoV Detection, Isolation and Treatment
The foundation will immediately commit up to $20 million to accelerate the detection, isolation and treatment of people diagnosed with the virus with the goal of interrupting transmission and containing the disease. This funding will be directed to multilateral organizations such as WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Support will also be directed to national public health authorities in China and other countries that have reported confirmed cases. Current national-level partners include the National Health Commission of China and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The release of fast and flexible funding is intended to help multilateral organizations and national public health authorities rapidly scale up their virus detection capabilities and implement disease modeling analytics so that they can target resources where they can have the greatest impact in arresting disease spread. This funding is intended to help public health authorities cover the initial cost of labor and supplies while international agencies and national governments appropriate the resources necessary to fund ongoing operations.

 

Enhancing Protections for At-Risk Populations in Africa and South Asia
Recent epidemics, such as the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009, have had a disproportionate impact on populations living in extreme poverty, and sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia together account for 85 percent of the estimated 629 million people worldwide who live on less than $1.90 per day. Many people living in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia also have limited access to quality primary health care, which is another factor that increases their health risks.
The foundation will provide up to $20 million to help public health authorities in these regions strengthen their emergency operations centers, implement effective disease surveillance efforts and improve their capacity to safely isolate and treat confirmed cases.

Among African Union member states, these efforts will be supported by the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) in collaboration with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and WHO-AFRO. AFENET is a non-profit service alliance of field epidemiology and laboratory training programs that currently operates in more than 30 African countries.

 

Developing Vaccines, Treatments and Diagnostics for a Sustained Response
The foundation will commit up to $60 million to accelerate the discovery, development and testing of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics for 2019-nCoV. If 2019-nCoV transmission continues for several months or more, safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics will be needed to help sustain long-term approaches to disease control and to prevent severe disease and deaths.

The foundation will use its R&D funding to help global partners, such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, identify and prioritize research needs, address gaps in the R&D landscape, incentivize product development by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and ensure that resulting products are safe, effective and made widely available. This effort will include support already underway for Chinese public- and private-sector research partners focused on the discovery, development and testing of candidate vaccines, treatments and diagnostics…

 

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Shipping of CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diagnostic Test Kits Begins
Thursday, February 6, 2020

Transcript for CDC Telebriefing: CDC Update on Novel Coronavirus
Wednesday, February 5, 2020

HHS and CDC Receive Additional Flights Carrying Passengers from China
Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Initial Public Health Response and Interim Clinical Guidance for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak — United States, December 31, 2019, February 3, 2020

 

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FDA Takes Significant Step in Coronavirus Response Efforts, Issues Emergency Use Authorization for the First 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diagnostic
February 4, 2020
Today, the U.S Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to enable emergency use of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel. To date, this test has been limited to use at CDC laboratories; today’s authorization allows the use of the test at any CDC-qualified lab across the country.

“Since this outbreak first emerged, we’ve been working closely with our partners across the U.S government and around the globe to expedite the development and availability of critical medical products to help end this outbreak as quickly as possible. This continues to be an evolving situation and the ability to distribute this diagnostic test to qualified labs is a critical step forward in protecting the public health,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “Our collaboration with the CDC has been vital to rapidly developing and facilitating access to this diagnostic test. The FDA remains deeply committed to utilizing our regulatory tools and leveraging our technical and scientific expertise to advance the availability of critical medical products to respond to this outbreak in the most expeditious, safe and effective manner possible.”

The 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019, is a new type of coronavirus that can cause severe respiratory illness in humans. Most patients with confirmed 2019-nCoV infection have developed fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing). However, limited information is currently available to characterize the full spectrum of clinical illness associated with 2019-nCoV infection. To date most reported cases of 2019-nCoV infection outside of China have been linked to residence in or travel to Wuhan, China. At this time, federal health officials continue to believe that the threat to the general American population from this virus is relatively low.

Under this EUA, the use of 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel is authorized for patients who meet the CDC criteria for 2019-nCoV testing. Testing is limited to qualified laboratories designated by the CDC and, in the U.S., those certified to perform high complexity tests. The diagnostic is a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that provides presumptive detection of 2019-nCoV from respiratory secretions, such as nasal or oral swabs. A positive test result indicates likely infection with 2019-nCoV and infected patients should work with their health care provider to manage their symptoms and determine how to best protect the people around them. Negative results do not preclude 2019-nCoV infection and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or other patient management decisions. Negative results must be combined with clinical observations, patient history and epidemiological information.

The FDA can issue an EUA to permit the use, based on scientific data, of certain medical products that may be effective in diagnosing, treating or preventing such disease or condition when there is a determination, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), that there is a public health emergency or a significant potential for a public health emergency that has a significant potential to affect national security or the health and security of U.S. citizens, and a declaration that circumstances exist justifying the medical products’ emergency use.
On Jan. 31, HHS Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency recognizing the potential threat that 2019-nCoV poses and reiterating the government’s dedication to leveraging all available resources to help prevent, mitigate and respond to this threat. As there are no commercially available diagnostic tests cleared or approved by the FDA for the detection of 2019-nCoV it was determined that an EUA is crucial to ensure timely access to diagnostics. The HHS Secretary accordingly today made the necessary EUA determination and declaration and the FDA issued this EUA in response to a request from the CDC. This action is the result of the close collaboration between the FDA, the CDC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which provides oversight for U.S. laboratories, to prioritize the efficient development and implementation of critical medical products in response to emerging infectious disease outbreaks, such as novel coronavirus.

The FDA outlined its approach to expediting the development and availability of critical medical products to prevent, diagnose and treat 2019-nCoV using all applicable regulatory authorities to respond to this outbreak on Jan. 27. The agency remains committed to working with developers, international partners and the U.S. government to help support this public health response. The FDA is dedicated to actively working with other 2019-nCoV diagnostic developers to help accelerate development programs and requests for EUAs, in fact several have already requested and received the EUA template for this outbreak. The FDA, among other steps, is providing its highest level of attention to helping expedite the development and review of a variety of medical products being developed to diagnose, treat and prevent the spread of this outbreak.

 

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EMA to support development of vaccines and treatments for novel coronavirus
Press release 04/02/2020
To contribute to the global response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infections, EMA is taking concrete actions to accelerate the development and availability of medicinal products for the treatment and prevention of the new coronavirus.

“EMA has activated its plan for managing emerging health threats,” says Guido Rasi, the Agency’s Executive Director. “The new coronavirus has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization, and we are drawing on the strong expertise of the European medicines network to provide fast-track scientific advice and give prompt feedback on any proposed medicine developments.”

The Agency is surveying the landscape for potential antivirals or vaccines to treat or prevent novel coronavirus infections. EMA is also analysing all available information on developers’ drug pipelines. As with any emerging public health threat, EMA collaborates and exchanges information with EU public health authorities, notably the European Commission, the Health Security Committee and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the World Health Organization and other international regulators, in particular through the International Coalition of Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA).

There are currently no commercially available medicinal products that are authorised to detect, treat or prevent infections with the novel coronavirus. EMA is ready to support medicine developers with all available regulatory tools to advance and expedite the development of effective measures to fight and prevent the spread of this virus.

Developers working on medicinal products or vaccines that could be used for treatment or prevention of novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV infections are encouraged to contact the Agency and discuss their strategy for evidence generation as soon as possible…

 

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Emergencies Ebola – DRC+

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Emergencies

 

Ebola – DRC+
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

Ebola Outbreak in DRC 78: 04 February 2020
[Excerpts]
Vaccines
:: From 8 August 2018 to 2 February 2020, 283,117 people were vaccinated with the rVSV-ZEBOV-GP Ebola vaccine.
:: Vaccination with the Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo vaccine continued in two health areas near Goma, with 9715 people vaccinated since its introduction on 14 November 2019, as of 31 January 2020.
Conclusion
New confirmed EVD cases continue to be reported in Beni and Mabalako Health Zones in North Kivu Province. Sustained and secure access to affected areas and heightened vigilance is required to continue essential response activites in order to refer and to test alert cases as soon as possible, treat confirmed cases early and to tackle further transmission of the disease in the community and in healthcare facilities.

 

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Emergencies – Polio

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Emergencies

 

POLIO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
http://polioeradication.org/polio-today/polio-now/this-week/

Polio this week as of 05 February 2020
:: The WHO Executive Board is currently holding its 146th session at the WHO headquarters in Geneva. Among many others, polio is one of the topics of discussion, take a look at the report by the Director-General on polio eradication.
:: cVDPV2 confirmed in Kinshasa: a number of new cVDPV2s cases have been confirmed in DR Congo which may have significant implications on the current outbreak response activities. While none of the newly-confirmed cases are new emergences, the virus has now been detected in the mega-city of Kinshasa which is the first case in the city.

 

Summary of new viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
:: Pakistan: eight WPV1 cases
:: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo): five cVDPV2 cases
:: Somalia: one cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: Angola: eight cVDPV2 cases
:: Burkina Faso: one cVDPV2 case

 

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First large-scale polio vaccination campaign using PharmaJet intradermal Needle-free Injector
Feb. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — PharmaJet®, the maker of innovative, needle-free injection technology, today announced the publication of independent survey results from the first large-scale campaign using its needle-free technology.  The paper, entitled Needle-free injectors for mass administration of fractional dose inactivated poliovirus vaccine (fIPV) in Karachi, Pakistan: A survey of caregiver and vaccinator acceptability, was published in Vaccine on January 23, 2020.
The campaign, sponsored by the World Health Organization as part of its polio eradication efforts, vaccinated 500,000 children, aged 4 – 59 months, over a one-week period in early 2019.  Data on acceptability of the PharmaJet Tropis® Needle-free Injection System (NFIS) was collected from 610 vaccinators and 4,898 caregivers.  Of those with prior needle and syringe experience, both vaccinators (97.6%) and caregivers (99.6%) expressed a strong preference for the Tropis system, citing ease and speed of use, appearance, and children’s response to the vaccination (less crying/discomfort).  Among caregivers, 94.7% said they would be more likely to bring their child for vaccination in a future campaign that used jet injectors.  Importantly, mean vaccine coverage among towns administering fIPV was 98.7% which was an increase of 18.4% over the preceding campaign….

 

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::::::

Editor’s Note:
WHO has posted a refreshed emergencies page which presents an updated listing of Grade 3,2,1 emergencies as below.

WHO Grade 3 Emergencies [to 8 Feb 2020]

Democratic Republic of the Congo
:: Ebola Outbreak in DRC 78: 04 February 2020

South Sudan
:: South Sudan launches a nationwide campaign to protect 2.5 million children against measles
Juba, 4 February 2020

Syrian Arab Republic
:: Northwest Syria: WHO raises alarm as more than 50 health facilities are forced to cease operations amid mass displacement and hostilities 3 February 2020

Yemen
:: Joint statement by UN Special Envoy for Yemen, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen and World Health Organization in Yemen on UN medical air bridge flights
3 February 2020, Sana’a/Amman — The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande and the World Health Organization Representative for Yemen, Altaf Musani, welcomed today the launch of the medical air bridge operation that brought the first group of Yemeni patients in need of specialized medical assistance from Yemen to Jordan.
Today was the maiden voyage of the medical air bridge operation that brought a number of patients out of an initial group of 30 along with their respective travel companions from Sanaa to Amman. The remaining of the first group of 30 patients will travel in a second flight while more patients will follow on subsequent flights. The World Health Organization in collaboration with the local public health and population authorities coordinated these flights. The medical air bridge flights come as part of the United Nations’ ongoing humanitarian assistance in Yemen including providing support to the health care system.
The United Nations is grateful to the host countries, Egypt and Jordan, but also to Saudi Arabia, for their efforts in this humanitarian measure. The collaboration and commitment of both the Government of Yemen and Sana’a authorities made the operation possible.
Many United Nations entities and several governments in the Region and around the world have collaborated to get these patients the treatment they need abroad, and we are grateful to them all. The United Nations will do what it can to ensure the continuation of the medical air bridge as a temporary solution to reduce the suffering of the Yemeni people until a more sustainable solution is reached in the near future.

Mozambique floods – No new digest announcements identified
Nigeria – No new digest announcements identified
Somalia – No new digest announcements identified

 

::::::

WHO Grade 2 Emergencies [to 8 Feb 2020]
Iraq
:: Improving access to specialized health services for people with physical disability in Iraq
26 January 2020

Afghanistan – No new digest announcements identified
Angola – No new digest announcements identified
Burkina Faso [in French] – No new digest announcements identified
Burundi – No new digest announcements identified
Cameroon – No new digest announcements identified
Central African Republic – No new digest announcements identified
Ethiopia – No new digest announcements identified
HIV in Pakistan – No new digest announcements identified
Iran floods 2019 – No new digest announcements identified
Libya – No new digest announcements identified
Malawi floods – No new digest announcements identified
Measles in Europe – No new digest announcements identified
MERS-CoV – No new digest announcements identified
Myanmar – No new digest announcements identified
Niger – No new digest announcements identified
occupied Palestinian territory – No new digest announcements identified
Sudan – No new digest announcements identified
Ukraine – No new digest announcements identified
Zimbabwe – No new digest announcements identified

 

::::::

WHO Grade 1 Emergencies [to 8 Feb 2020]

Kenya
:: Surviving cervical cancer then taking on a new battle 03 February 2020

Chad – No new digest announcements identified
Djibouti – No new digest announcements identified
Namibia – viral hepatitis – No new digest announcements identified
Tanzania – No new digest announcements identified

 

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::::::

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. 
Syrian Arab Republic
:: Recent Developments in Northwest Syria – Flash Update – As of 6 February 2020

Yemen – No new digest announcements identified

 

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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.
CYCLONE IDAI and Kenneth –
– No new digest announcements identified

EBOLA OUTBREAK IN THE DRC
– No new digest announcements identified

 

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::::::

WHO & Regional Offices [to 8 Feb 2020]

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WHO & Regional Offices [to 8 Feb 2020]

News release 7 February 2020
Ministers to agree new global road safety agenda to 2030

News release 6 February 2020
WHO to accelerate research and innovation for new coronavirus
[See 2019-n-CoV above for detail]

News release 6 February 2020
Female Genital Mutilation Hurts Women and Economies

Statement 6 February 2020
Unleashing Youth Power:A Decade of Accelerating Actions Towards Zero Female Genital Mutilation

News release 5 February 2020
US$675 million needed for new coronavirus preparedness and response global plan
[See 2019-n-CoV above for detail]

News release 4 February 2020
WHO outlines steps to save 7 million lives from cancer

News release 3 February 2020
WHO Executive Board appoints directors for Africa and Europe
The WHO Executive Board, currently holding its 146th session in Geneva, has re-appointed Dr Matshidiso Moeti for a second term as WHO Regional Director for Africa and Dr Hans Kluge as Regional Director for Europe in his first term.

 

::::::

Weekly Epidemiological Record, 7 February 2020, vol. 95, 06 (pp. 49–60)
Detection of influenza viruses by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction: WHO external quality assessment programme summary analysis, 2019

 

::::::

WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Towards delivering on health goals in countries 06 February 2020
:: The African region reinforces preparedness for novel coronavirus 05 February 2020
:: WHO Africa Regional Director gets new term, vows to step up universal health coverag…
03 February 2020

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: PAHO providing technical cooperation to countries on novel Coronavirus (02/06/2020)
:: Mary Lou Valdez appointed as PAHO/WHO Deputy Director (02/04/2020)
:: WHO outlines steps to save 7 million lives from cancer (02/03/2020)

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
No new digest content identified.

WHO European Region EURO
:: Ensuring equitable access to health care for refugees and migrants in Turkey 04-02-2020
:: Towards united action for better health: new WHO Regional Director for Europe takes up office 03-02-2020
:: New WHO Regional Director for Europe 03-02-2020
“Together, we must build a pan-European culture of health, where health and well-being goals guide public and private decision-making, and everyone can make healthy choices,” says Dr Hans Kluge, the new WHO Regional Director for Europe.

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: World Cancer Day 2020: a call to step up cancer services 4 February 2020
:: UN air bridge flights assist patients in Yemen 4 February 2020
:: WHO raises alarm amid mass displacement in northwest Syria 3 February 2020

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified.

CDC/ACIP [to 8 Feb 2020]

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CDC/ACIP [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html
ACIP Meetings
Next ACIP Meeting: February 26-27, 2020
Agenda (Draft) pdf icon[2 pages]

Latest News Releases
Shipping of CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diagnostic Test Kits Begins
Thursday, February 6, 2020

Transcript for CDC Telebriefing: CDC Update on Novel Coronavirus
Wednesday, February 5, 2020

HHS and CDC Receive Additional Flights Carrying Passengers from China
Wednesday, February 5, 2020

MMWR News Synopsis Friday, February 7, 2020
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger — United States, 2020

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2020

Licensure of a Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis, Inactivated Poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae Type b Conjugate, and Hepatitis B Vaccine, and Guidance for Use in Infants

Initial Public Health Response and Interim Clinical Guidance for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak — United States, December 31, 2019, February 3, 2020

Africa CDC establishes continent-wide task force to respond to global coronavirus epidemic

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Africa CDC [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Africa CDC establishes continent-wide task force to respond to global coronavirus epidemic
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, 5 FEBRUARY 2020. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has established the Africa Task Force for Novel Coronavirus (AFCOR), to oversee preparedness and response to the global epidemic of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) disease.
The Director of Africa CDC, Dr John Nkengasong, inaugurated the Task Force on Monday, 3 February 2020, during a meeting between representatives of the African Union and National Public Health Institutes from African Union Member States.
As of 5 February 2020, there are no confirmed cases of the 2019-nCoV disease in Africa. Nevertheless, the characteristics of the virus and pace of the epidemic globally make it inevitable that cases may occur in Africa…

China CDC

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China CDC
http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/
No new digest content identified.

 

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
2020-02-08
:: Feb 8: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
:: Latest developments in epidemic control on Feb 8 (1)
:: State Council circular calls for improving epidemic prevention, control
:: Shanghai launches hospitality industrial guideline for epidemic control
:: 1,600 beds for Leishenshan Hospital to be delivered in Wuhan on Feb 8

2020-02-07
:: Xi urges joint efforts to fight epidemic

[See Emergencies above for detail]

Announcements

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Announcements

 

Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
News
No new digest content identified.

 

BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases
FEBRUARY 05, 2020
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Dedicates Additional Funding to the Novel Coronavirus Response
The foundation will provide up to $100 million to improve detection, isolation and treatment efforts; protect at-risk populations in Africa and South Asia; and accelerate the development of vaccines, drugs and diagnostics.
[See Emergencies above for detail]

 

Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 8 Feb 2020]
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 8 Feb 2020]
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.
02.04.2020  |
CARB-X funds Pattern Bioscience to develop a new rapid diagnostic for drug-resistant bacterial infections
CARB-X is awarding Pattern Bioscience (formerly operating as Klaris Diagnostics), based in Austin, Texas, US, up to US$6.8 million in non-dilutive funding to develop a rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test (ID/AST) to diagnose drug resistant infections quickly, and provide health professionals with vital information about which pathogen is causing the infection and which antibiotic is most likely to cure the infection.

 

CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://cepi.net/
News
CEPI launches new call for proposals to develop vaccines against novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV
The rolling call is open for two weeks and aims to complement CEPI’s newly developed 2019-nCoV portfolio. All organisations worldwide are invited to apply.
News 03 Feb 2020

UK Government supports CEPI with £20 million additional funding
The UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care has announced an additional £20 million funding to CEPI to further our mission to advance vaccines against epidemic threats.
News 03 Feb 2020

CEPI and GSK announce collaboration to strengthen the global effort to develop a vaccine for the 2019-nCoV virus
GSK to make adjuvant technology available to support rapid development of candidate vaccines.
News 03 Feb 2020

 

Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://clintonhealthaccess.org/
News & Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

EDCTP [to 8 Feb 2020]
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
Latest news
No new digest content identified.

 

Emory Vaccine Center [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
No new digest content identified.

 

European Medicines Agency [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/
News & Press Releases
EMA to support development of vaccines and treatments for novel coronavirus
Press release 04/02/2020
[See Emergencies above for detail]

 

European Vaccine Initiative [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/news-events
No new digest content identified.

 

FDA [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
Press Announcements
February 4, 2020 – FDA Takes Significant Step in Coronavirus Response Efforts, Issues Emergency Use Authorization for the First 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diagnostic
[See Emergencies above for detail]

 

Fondation Merieux [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
No new digest content identified.

 

Gavi [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.gavi.org/
News
Global measles vaccination drive to protect up to 45 million children
5 Feb 2020
{See Milestones above for detail]

 

GHIT Fund [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press
GHIT was set up in 2012 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that No new digest content identified.

 

Global Fund [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
News
Angola: Seeking Better Pathways to Fight Epidemics
05 February 2020

 

Hilleman Laboratories [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
No new digest content identified.

 

Human Vaccines Project [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

IAVI [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.iavi.org/newsroom
No new digest content identified.

 

 

International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities [ICMRA]
http://www.icmra.info/drupal/en/news
Selected Statements, Press Releases, Research
No new digest content identified.

 

 

International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association [IGBA]
https://www.igbamedicines.org/
News
No new digest content identified.

 

 

IFFIm
http://www.iffim.org/
No new digest content identified.

 

IFRC [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
No new digest content identified.

 

IVAC [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates
No new digest content identified.

 

IVI [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.ivi.int/
Selected IVI News & Announcements
No new digest content identified.

 

JEE Alliance [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
Selected News and Events
No new digest content identified.

 

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements]
Nigeria
Northeast Nigeria: “The conflict is intensifying and the…
Interview 4 Feb 2020

Sudan
Four things you need to know about South Sudanese refugees in…
Project Update 3 Feb 2020

 

National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
NVAC 2020 Meetings
February 13-14, 2020 NVAC Meeting
June 9-10, 2020 NVAC Meeting
September 23-24, 2020 Meeting (Virtual)

 

NIH [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
Selected News Releases
Monday, February 3, 2020
Experimental HIV vaccine regimen ineffective in preventing HIV
No safety concerns found; NIH and partners discontinue vaccinations.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has stopped administration of vaccinations in its HVTN 702 clinical trial of an investigational HIV vaccine. This action was taken because an independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) found during an interim review that the regimen did not prevent HIV. Importantly, the DSMB did not express any concern regarding participant safety.
The Phase 2b/3 study, named HVTN 702 or Uhambo, began in 2016 and is taking place in South Africa. It was testing an investigational prime-boost vaccine regimen based on the only vaccine regimen ever to show protection from HIV—the regimen tested in the RV144 clinical trial in Thailand led by the U.S. Military HIV Research Program and the Thai Ministry of Health. For HVTN 702, the vaccine regimen was adapted to the HIV subtype Clade C most common in southern Africa, where the pandemic is most pervasive.
“An HIV vaccine is essential to end the global pandemic, and we hoped this vaccine candidate would work. Regrettably, it does not,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “Research continues on other approaches to a safe and effective HIV vaccine, which I still believe can be achieved.”…

 

PATH [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Selected Announcements
No new digest content identified.

 

Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

UNAIDS [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
No new digest content identified.

 

UNICEF [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Selected Statements, Press Releases, Reports
Statement
Unleashing Youth Power: A Decade of Accelerating Actions Towards Zero Female Genital Mutilation
Joint statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
05/02/2020

Press release
Approximately 1 in 4 survivors of female genital mutilation were cut by a health care provider
Increased prevalence in medicalized FGM obscures global progress on eliminating support for the practice. Twice as many women in high-prevalence countries want the practice to end compared to 20 years ago
05/02/2020

Statement
One year on from peace agreement, millions of children in the Central African Republic remain at risk
Statement attributable to UNICEF’s Representative in CAR, Christine Muhigana
05/02/2020

Press release
Global measles vaccination drive to protect upto 45 million children
Vaccination campaigns in seven countries to tackle rise in measles cases worldwide
05/02/2020
[See Milestones above for detail]

Press release
UN agencies raise alarm in the Central Sahel where millions face hunger amid rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis
Joint UNFAO, UNICEF and WFP press release
03/02/2020

Press release
Mexico: An estimated 700 migrant children stranded in Matamoros near U.S. border
UNICEF expanding access to protection, psychosocial, water and sanitation services for children and families in need
01/02/2020

Statement
More than 6,500 children forced to flee in northwest Syria every day for past week
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore
01/02/2020

 

Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN) [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://vaccineacceptance.org/news.html#header1-2r
No new digest content identified.

 

Vaccine Confidence Project [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
No new digest content identified.

 

Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
No new digest content identified.

 

Wellcome Trust [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
Opinion | 5 February 2020
Director’s update: UK and EU leaders must now agree a strong deal for science
by Jeremy Farrar

Opinion | 5 February 2020
Value people as well as papers to improve research culture
by Christopher Jackson

Opinion | 5 February 2020
5 things we learned about changing behaviours for antibiotic stewardship
by Sian Williams

Opinion | 3 February 2020
How we’re using Researchfish data to inform what we do
by Chonnettia Jones

 

The Wistar Institute [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2020/
No new digest content identified.

 

 

::::::

 

ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://alliancerm.org/press-releases/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

BIO [to 8 Feb 2020]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News
Advanced Pharmacovigilance workshop and WG meeting
16 March 2020 to 19 March 2020, Shanghai / China

 

IFPMA [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
WHO EB 146 Agenda Item 20: Data and innovation: draft global strategy on digital health
07 February 2020
This Statement is made by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, the Global Diagnostic Imaging, Healthcare IT & Radiation Therapy Trade Association, and the Global Self-Care Federation (previously called the World Self-Medication Industry).
We stand with WHO and Member States in the digital transformation of healthcare and are encouraged by the work achieved by the WHO, particularly since the creation of the WHO Department of Digital Health.
Through collaborations and partnerships of the healthcare industry with governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders, we are already supporting the road to UHC by delivering innovative solutions to improve treatment outcomes, access to care, research, and by co-building an ecosystem where digital technologies meaningfully complement resilient, patient-centred health systems.
The draft Global Strategy sets forth an ambitious plan, tackling key aspects of digital technologies for health, such as those of legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks, health data governance including privacy and security, and interoperability frameworks, with a view towards harmonization. However, realizing these ambitions will not be possible without a coordinated multi-stakeholder approach, including patients, governments, national regulators, health care professionals, academia, and the healthcare industry.
Appropriate use of health data and establishment of appropriate global standards, in particular on EMRs, can significantly support evidence-based healthcare solutions, but governments will also need to commit to the necessary steps in line with the Global Strategy and dedicate appropriate resources to the implementation and scale-up of this transformation.
We call strongly on WHO to align its work on digital technologies with other international organisations and to meaningfully engage the healthcare industry in realizing the potential of digital technologies for health. We further call on Member States to recognize the benefits of new technologies for health, and to foster an ecosystem which robustly assesses outcomes and rewards true innovation. We look forward to continuing a constructive and inclusive debate on digital health.

 

PhRMA [to 8 Feb 2020]
http://www.phrma.org/
Selected Press Releases, Statements
Press Release
PhRMA 2020 Special 301 Report Urges USTR to Protect U.S. Innovation
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 6, 2020) – The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today called on the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to defend American biopharmaceutical innovators and jobs by ending market access and intellectual property barriers in 24 leading economies around the world.
In its submission for USTR’s  2020 Special 301 Report, PhRMA called on the Trump administration to address discriminatory market access practices abroad that free ride on American innovation and put U.S. jobs and exports at risk. The report urges action to reverse compulsory licensing in Malaysia and to end damaging pricing policies in several markets, including Canada, Japan and South Korea…

Journal Watch

Posted on by

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 focu-s 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

Safety and Immunogenicity of Live Oral Cholera Vaccine CVD 103-HgR in Children and Adolescents Aged 6–17 Years

Posted on by

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 1, 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/1

 

Articles
Safety and Immunogenicity of Live Oral Cholera Vaccine CVD 103-HgR in Children and Adolescents Aged 6–17 Years
James M. McCarty, Emma C. Gierman, Lisa Bedell, Michael D. Lock and Sean Bennett
Pages: 48–57
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.19-0241
CONCLUSION
These data demonstrate that PXVX0200 may be a safe, tolerable cholera vaccine option that produces a robust vibriocidal antibody response in children and adolescents aged 6–17 years and would be expected to provide protection against cholera in this pediatric population from developed countries who are at an increased risk of infection when traveling to or residing in at-risk countries.

Epidemiology of acute rubella infection in Zambia during the pre-vaccination period (2005–2016) as a baseline for monitoring rubella epidemiology in the post-rubella vaccine introduction era

Posted on by

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 8 Feb 2020)

 

Epidemiology of acute rubella infection in Zambia during the pre-vaccination period (2005–2016) as a baseline for monitoring rubella epidemiology in the post-rubella vaccine introduction era
Rubella is highly under reported in Zambia as in most sub-Saharan countries despite being a disease of major public health concern especially among women of childbearing age. In September 2016, Zambia introduc…
Authors: Mazyanga L. Mazaba, Seter Siziya, Mwaka Monze and Daniel Cohen
Citation: BMC Infectious Diseases 2020 20:101
Content type: Research article
Published on: 3 February 2020

Stakeholder views on the acceptability of human infection studies in Malawi

Posted on by

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 8 Feb 2020)

 

Stakeholder views on the acceptability of human infection studies in Malawi
Human infection studies (HIS) are valuable in vaccine development. Deliberate infection, however, creates challenging questions, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where HIS are new and et…
Authors: Blessings M. Kapumba, Kondwani Jambo, Jamie Rylance, Markus Gmeiner, Rodrick Sambakunsi, Michael Parker, Stephen B. Gordon and Kate Gooding
Citation: BMC Medical Ethics 2020 21:14
Content type: Research article
Published on: 5 February 2020

Data Access Committees

Posted on by

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 8 Feb 2020)

 

Data Access Committees
Sharing de-identified individual-level health research data is widely promoted and has many potential benefits. However there are also some potential harms, such as misuse of data and breach of participant con…
Authors: Phaik Yeong Cheah and Jan Piasecki
Citation: BMC Medical Ethics 2020 21:12
Content type: Debate
Published on: 3 February 2020

A systematic review of hand-hygiene and environmental-disinfection interventions in settings with children

Posted on by

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 8 Feb 2020)

 

A systematic review of hand-hygiene and environmental-disinfection interventions in settings with children
Helping adults and children develop better hygiene habits is an important public health focus. As infection causing bacteria can live on one’s body and in the surrounding environment, more effective interventi…
Authors: Leanne J. Staniford and Kelly A. Schmidtke
Citation: BMC Public Health 2020 20:195
Content type: Research article
Published on: 6 February 2020

Health system factors influencing uptake of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine among adolescent girls 9-15 years in Mbale District, Uganda

Posted on by

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 8 Feb 2020)

 

Health system factors influencing uptake of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine among adolescent girls 9-15 years in Mbale District, Uganda
Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women with more than 85% of the burden in developing countries. In Uganda, cervical cancer has shown an increase of 1.8% per annum over the last 20…
Authors: Juliet Nabirye, Livex Andrew Okwi, Rebecca Nuwematsiko, George Kiwanuka, Fiston Muneza, Carol Kamya and Juliet N. Babirye
Citation: BMC Public Health 2020 20:171
Content type: Research article
Published on: 4 February 2020

Antenatal care providers’ attitudes and beliefs towards maternal vaccination in Kenya

Posted on by

Gates Open Research
https://gatesopenresearch.org/browse/articles
[Accessed 8 Feb 2020]

 

Research Article metrics AWAITING PEER REVIEW
Antenatal care providers’ attitudes and beliefs towards maternal vaccination in Kenya [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]
Subhash Chander, Ines Gonzalez-Casanova, Sandra S. Chaves, Nancy A. Otieno, Marc-Alain Widdowson, Jennifer Verani, Paula Frew, Andrew Wilson, Saad B. Omer, Fauzia Malik
Peer Reviewers Invited
Funder – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
PUBLISHED 05 Feb 2020

A systematic review of the agreement of recall, home-based records, facility records, BCG scar, and serology for ascertaining vaccination status in low and middle-income countries

Posted on by

Gates Open Research
https://gatesopenresearch.org/browse/articles
[Accessed 8 Feb 2020]

 

Systematic Review metrics
Revised
A systematic review of the agreement of recall, home-based records, facility records, BCG scar, and serology for ascertaining vaccination status in low and middle-income countries [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
Emily Dansereau, David Brown, Lena Stashko, M. Carolina Danovaro-Holliday
Peer Reviewers Celina M. Hanson; Charles Shey Wiysonge and Olatunji Adetokunboh
Funder – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
PUBLISHED 03 Feb 2020

Development assistance for health and the Middle East and North Africa

Posted on by

Globalization and Health
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/
[Accessed 8 Feb 2020]

Development assistance for health and the Middle East and North Africa
Donor countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been among the largest donors in the world. However, little is known about their contributions for health. In this study, we addressed this gap by estimating the amount of development assistance for health (DAH) contributed by MENA country donors from 2000 to 2017.

 

Authors: Yingxi Zhao, Angela E. Micah, Stephen Gloyd and Joseph L. Dieleman
Citation: Globalization and Health 2020 16:14
Content type: Research
Published on: 4 February 2020

The Crisis in Yemen

Posted on by

Humanitarian Exchange Magazine
Number 76, January 2020
https://odihpn.org/magazine/the-crisis-in-yemen/

 

The Crisis in Yemen
by HPN
This edition of Humanitarian Exchange focuses on the crisis in Yemen. Since the war there began in 2014, thousands of civilians have been killed or injured and air strikes and ground operations have destroyed hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure. An estimated 80% of Yemenis need humanitarian assistance.

In the lead article, Laurie Lee highlights the critical role Yemenis and Yemeni organisations are playing in addressing the humanitarian challenges in the country, and how NGOs can better support them. Genevieve Gauthier and Marcus Skinner reinforce this point with reference to two local organisations, the Yemen Women’s Union and Al Hikma. Warda Saleh, the founder of another Yemeni grassroots organisation, discusses the increased risk of gender-based violence facing women and girls, while Ibrahim Jalal and Sherine El Taraboulsi-McCarthy focus on internal displacement and the opportunities for a more effective humanitarian response. Reflecting on child protection programming in Yemen, Mohammed Alshamaa  and Amanda Brydon conclude that multisectoral approaches with local authorities result in better and more sustainable outcomes. Padraic McCluskey and Jana Brandt consider the ethical dilemmas Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) faced in trying to balance quality and coverage in a mother and child hospital in Taiz. Lindsay Spainhour Baker and colleagues reflect on the challenges involved in gathering and analysing information on the humanitarian situation while Lamis Al-Iryani, Sikandra Kurdi and Sarah Palmer-Felgate discuss the findings from an evaluation of the Yemen Social Fund for Development (SFD) Cash for Nutrition programme. An article by Kristine Beckerle and Osamah Al-Fakih details Yemeni and international organisations’ efforts to document and mitigate harm to civilians caught up in the conflict. The edition ends with a piece by Fanny Pettibon, Anica Heinlein and Dhabie Brown outlining CARE’s advocacy on the arms trade.

Finally, readers will note that this edition is shorter than usual, largely because it was very difficult to persuade potential authors to write on the Yemen crisis. Many of the individuals and organisations we contacted were either too busy responding or were concerned that writing frankly about their work could negatively affect their operations. HPN has covered many similarly sensitive contexts in Humanitarian Exchange over the last 26 years, but this is the first time we have experienced such reluctance to engage. A worrying sign.