Monthly Archives: January 2021

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK

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The Lancet
Jan 09, 2021 Volume 397 Number 10269 p71-170
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Articles
Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK
Merryn Voysey, et al. on behalf of the Oxford COVID Vaccine Trial Group
Open Access
A safe and efficacious vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), if deployed with high coverage, could contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a pooled interim analysis of four trials.

The 2020 report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: responding to converging crises

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The Lancet
Jan 09, 2021 Volume 397 Number 10269 p71-170
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Review
The 2020 report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: responding to converging crises
Nick Watts, et al
Executive summary
The Lancet Countdown is an international collaboration established to provide an independent, global monitoring system dedicated to tracking the emerging health profile of the changing climate.
The 2020 report presents 43 indicators across five sections: climate change impacts, exposures, and vulnerabilities; adaptation, planning, and resilience for health; mitigation actions and health co-benefits; economics and finance; and public and political engagement. This report represents the findings and consensus of the 35 leading academic institutions and UN agencies that make up The Lancet Countdown, and draws on the expertise of climate scientists, geographers, engineers, experts in energy, food, and transport, economists, social, and political scientists, data scientists, public health professionals, and doctors.

Immunogenicity and safety of fractional doses of yellow fever vaccines: a randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial

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The Lancet
Jan 09, 2021 Volume 397 Number 10269 p71-170
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Immunogenicity and safety of fractional doses of yellow fever vaccines: a randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial
Aitana Juan-Giner, et al
Stocks of yellow fever vaccine are insufficient to cover exceptional demands for outbreak response. Fractional dosing has shown efficacy, but evidence is limited to the 17DD substrain vaccine. We assessed the immunogenicity and safety of one-fifth fractional dose compared with standard dose of four WHO-prequalified yellow fever vaccines produced from three substrains.

Toward better governance of human genomic data

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Nature Genetics
Volume 53 Issue 1, January 2021
https://www.nature.com/ng/volumes/53/issues/1

 

Comment | 07 January 2021
Toward better governance of human genomic data
Here, we argue that, in line with the dramatic increase in the collection, storage and curation of human genomic data for biomedical research, genomic data repositories and consortia have adopted governance frameworks to both enable wide access and protect against possible harms. However, the merits and limitations of different governance frameworks in achieving these twin aims are a matter of ongoing debate in the scientific community; indeed, best practices and points for consideration are notably absent in devising governance frameworks for genomic databases. According to our collective experience in devising and assessing governance frameworks, we identify five key functions of ‘good governance’ (or ‘better governance’) and three areas in which trade-offs should be considered when specifying policies within those functions. We apply these functions as a benchmark to describe, as an example, the governance frameworks of six large-scale international genomic projects.
Kieran C. O’Doherty, Mahsa Shabani[…] & Wylie Burke

Improving data sharing to increase the efficiency of antibiotic R&D

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Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
Volume 20 Issue 1, January 2021
https://www.nature.com/nrd/volumes/20/issues/1

 

Comment | 23 October 2020
Improving data sharing to increase the efficiency of antibiotic R&D
Greater investment is needed in antibiotic R&D, and more must be done to maximize the impact of such investments. More widespread data sharing, such as the recent joint data contribution from Merck and Kyorin to the Pew Charitable Trusts’ SPARK platform, has a key role.
Wes Kim, Kevin Krause[…] & Kevin Outterson

Emer Cooke

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An Audience With | 11 December 2020
Emer Cooke
With multiple COVID-19 vaccines approaching the finish line, and dozens of COVID-19 drugs in development, more eyes are on the European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s decisions than ever before. Emer Cooke, who started as Executive Director of the EMA in November, is ready. Cooke, a pharmacist by training, has more than 30 years’ experience in pharmaceutical regulation. During this time, she has seen the system transform: the typewriters and carbon copy are gone, replaced by unprecedented volumes of data and complexity. With prior roles that have included oversight of the regulation of medical products at the World Health Organization, Head of Inspections at the EMA and Head of International Affairs at the EMA, she is prepared for the multidisciplinary nature of the challenges ahead. She spoke with Asher Mullard about the speed of progress with COVID-19 vaccines, the potential longer-term impacts of the pandemic on regulatory affairs and her goals for the EMA once the world returns to business as usual.
Asher Mullard

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
Volume 20 Issue 1, January 2021
https://www.nature.com/nrd/volumes/20/issues/1

 

An Audience With | 11 December 2020
Emer Cooke
With multiple COVID-19 vaccines approaching the finish line, and dozens of COVID-19 drugs in development, more eyes are on the European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s decisions than ever before. Emer Cooke, who started as Executive Director of the EMA in November, is ready. Cooke, a pharmacist by training, has more than 30 years’ experience in pharmaceutical regulation. During this time, she has seen the system transform: the typewriters and carbon copy are gone, replaced by unprecedented volumes of data and complexity. With prior roles that have included oversight of the regulation of medical products at the World Health Organization, Head of Inspections at the EMA and Head of International Affairs at the EMA, she is prepared for the multidisciplinary nature of the challenges ahead. She spoke with Asher Mullard about the speed of progress with COVID-19 vaccines, the potential longer-term impacts of the pandemic on regulatory affairs and her goals for the EMA once the world returns to business as usual.
Asher Mullard

Improving target assessment in biomedical research: the GOT-IT recommendations

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Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
Volume 20 Issue 1, January 2021
https://www.nature.com/nrd/volumes/20/issues/1

 

Perspective | 16 November 2020
Improving target assessment in biomedical research: the GOT-IT recommendations
Academic research has a key role in identifying new drug targets, but to lead to new drugs this research must progress to testing drug candidates in clinical trials, which are typically conducted by industry. This Perspective presents a framework to support academic scientists and funders in prioritizing target assessment activities and in defining a critical path to reach scientific goals as well as goals related to licensing, partnering with industry or initiating clinical trials.
Christoph H. Emmerich, Lorena Martinez Gamboa[…] & Michael J. Parnham

Audio Interview: Planning for the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Rollout

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New England Journal of Medicine
January 7, 2021 Vol. 384 No. 1
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

 

Editorials
Audio Interview: Planning for the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Rollout
In this audio interview conducted on January 6, 2021, the editors are joined by cardiologist and primary care physician Thomas H. Lee to discuss how health care organizations are planning vaccine rollout and uptake both among their staffs and in their communities.

A Half-Century of Progress in Health: The National Academy of Medicine at 50: Human Molecular Genetics and Genomics — Important Advances and Exciting Possibilities

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New England Journal of Medicine
January 7, 2021 Vol. 384 No. 1
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

 

Perspective
A Half-Century of Progress in Health: The National Academy of Medicine at 50: Human Molecular Genetics and Genomics — Important Advances and Exciting Possibilities
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Jennifer A. Doudna, Ph.D., Eric S. Lander, Ph.D., and Charles N. Rotimi, Ph.D.

The development of nations conditions the disease space

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PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 9 Jan 2021]

 

The development of nations conditions the disease space
Antonios Garas, Sophie Guthmuller, Athanasios Lapatinas
Research Article | published 07 Jan 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244843
Using the economic complexity methodology on data for disease prevalence in 195 countries during the period of 1990-2016, we propose two new metrics for quantifying the disease space of countries. With these metrics, we analyze the geography of diseases and empirically investigate the effect of economic development on the health complexity of countries. We show that a higher income per capita increases the complexity of countries’ diseases. We also show that complex diseases tend to be non-ubiquitous diseases that are prevalent in disease-diversified (complex) countries, while non-complex diseases tend to be non-ubiquitous diseases that are prevalent in non-diversified (non-complex) countries. Furthermore, we build a disease-level index that links a disease to the average level of GDP per capita of the countries in which the disease is prevalent. With this index, we highlight the link between economic development and the complexity of diseases and illustrate how increases in income per capita are associated with more complex diseases.

COVID-19 and the public response: Knowledge, attitude and practice of the public in mitigating the pandemic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 9 Jan 2021]

 

COVID-19 and the public response: Knowledge, attitude and practice of the public in mitigating the pandemic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Zelalem Desalegn, Negussie Deyessa, Brhanu Teka, Welelta Shiferaw, Damen Hailemariam, Adamu Addissie, Abdulnasir Abagero, Mirgissa Kaba, Workeabeba Abebe, Berhanu Nega, Wondimu Ayele, Tewodros Haile, Yirgu Gebrehiwot, Wondwossen Amogne, Eva Johanna Kantelhardt, Tamrat Abebe
Research Article | published 07 Jan 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244780

The winding road to health: A systematic scoping review on the effect of geographical accessibility to health care on infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries

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PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 9 Jan 2021]

 

The winding road to health: A systematic scoping review on the effect of geographical accessibility to health care on infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries
Fleur Hierink, Emelda A. Okiro, Antoine Flahault, Nicolas Ray
Research Article | published 04 Jan 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244921

Consolidated Framework for Collaboration Research derived from a systematic review of theories, models, frameworks and principles for cross-sector collaboration

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PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 9 Jan 2021]

 

Consolidated Framework for Collaboration Research derived from a systematic review of theories, models, frameworks and principles for cross-sector collaboration
Larissa Calancie, Leah Frerichs, Melinda M. Davis, Eliana Sullivan, Ann Marie White, Dorothy Cilenti, Giselle Corbie-Smith, Kristen Hassmiller Lich
Research Article | published 04 Jan 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244501
Cross-sector collaboration is needed to address root causes of persistent public health challenges. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies describing theories, models, frameworks and principles for cross-sector collaboration and synthesized collaboration constructs into the Consolidated Framework for Collaboration Research (CFCR). Ninety-five articles were included in the review. Constructs were abstracted from articles and grouped into seven domains within the framework: community context; group composition; structure and internal processes; group dynamics; social capital; activities that influence or take place within the collaboration; activities that influence or take place within the broader community; and activities that influence or take place both in the collaboration and in the community. Community engagement strategies employed by collaborations are discussed, as well as recommendations for using systems science methods for testing specific mechanisms of how constructs identified in the review influence one another. Researchers, funders, and collaboration members can use the consolidated framework to articulate components of collaboration and test mechanisms explaining how collaborations function. By working from a consolidated framework of collaboration terms and using systems science methods, researchers can advance evidence for the efficacy of cross-sector collaborations.

Concerns for others increases the likelihood of vaccination against influenza and COVID-19 more in sparsely rather than densely populated areas

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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 9 Jan 2021]

 

Concerns for others increases the likelihood of vaccination against influenza and COVID-19 more in sparsely rather than densely populated areas
Haesung Jung and Dolores Albarracín
PNAS January 5, 2021 118 (1) e2007538118; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2007538118

Enforcement may crowd out voluntary support for COVID-19 policies, especially where trust in government is weak and in a liberal society

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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 9 Jan 2021]

 

Enforcement may crowd out voluntary support for COVID-19 policies, especially where trust in government is weak and in a liberal society
Katrin Schmelz
PNAS January 5, 2021 118 (1) e2016385118; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2016385118

Coevolution of policy and science during the pandemic

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Science
08 January 2021 Vol 371, Issue 6525
http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl

 

Policy Forum
Coevolution of policy and science during the pandemic
By Yian Yin, Jian Gao, Benjamin F. Jones, Dashun Wang
Science08 Jan 2021 : 128-130 Full Access
Recent, high-quality science is being heard, but unevenly
Summary
Disconnects between science and policy, in which important scientific insights may be missed by policymakers and bad scientific advice may infect decision-making, are a long-standing concern (1–7). Yet, our systematic understanding of the use of science in policy remains limited (1, 4–6), partly because of the difficulty in reliably tracing the coevolution of policy and science at a large, global scale (3). Today, the world faces a common emergency in the COVID-19 pandemic, which presents a dynamic, uncertain, yet extraordinarily consequential policy environment across the globe. We combined two large-scale databases that capture policy and science and their interactions, allowing us to examine the coevolution of policy and science during the pandemic. Our analysis suggests that many policy documents in the COVID-19 pandemic substantially access recent, peer-reviewed, and high-impact science. And policy documents that cite science are especially highly cited within the policy domain. At the same time, there is a heterogeneity in the use of science across policy-making institutions. The tendency for policy documents to cite science appears mostly concentrated within intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), such as the World Health Organization (WHO), and much less so in national governments, which consume science largely indirectly through the IGOs. This close coevolution between policy and science offers a useful indication that a key link is operating, but it has not been a sufficient condition for effectiveness in containing the pandemic.

Critical aspects of packaging, storage, preparation, and administration of mRNA and adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccines for optimal efficacy

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Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 3 Pages 457-626 (15 January 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/3

 

Editorial Full text access
Critical aspects of packaging, storage, preparation, and administration of mRNA and adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccines for optimal efficacy
Michelle R. Holm, Gregory A. Poland

“Does Pakistan still have polio cases?”: Exploring discussions on polio and polio vaccine in online news comments in Pakistan

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Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 3 Pages 457-626 (15 January 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/3

 

Research article Abstract only
“Does Pakistan still have polio cases?”: Exploring discussions on polio and polio vaccine in online news comments in Pakistan
Muhammad Ittefaq, Annalise Baines, Mauryne Abwao, Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah, Tayyab Ramzan
Pages 480-486

Vaccination coverage rates for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis and Pertussis booster vaccination in France between 2013 and 2017: Learnings from an analysis of National Health System Real-World Data

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Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 3 Pages 457-626 (15 January 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/3

 

Research article Open access
Vaccination coverage rates for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis and Pertussis booster vaccination in France between 2013 and 2017: Learnings from an analysis of National Health System Real-World Data
Clarisse Marchal, Manon Belhassen, Nicole Guiso, Flore Jacoud, … Mathieu Uhart
Pages 505-511

Impact of Recommended Maternal Vaccination Programs on the Clinical Presentation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Prospective Observational Study

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 9 Jan 2021)

 

Open Access Article
Impact of Recommended Maternal Vaccination Programs on the Clinical Presentation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Prospective Observational Study
by Maria Luisa de la Cruz Conty et al and on behalf of the Spanish Obstetric Emergency Group
Vaccines 2021, 9(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9010031 (registering DOI) – 08 Jan 2021
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about the possible cross immunity resulting from common vaccination programs and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, the Spanish Obstetric Emergency group performed a multicenter prospective study on the vaccination status of Influenza and Tdap (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine […

Vaccine Hesitancy on Social Media: Sentiment Analysis from June 2011 to April 2019

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 9 Jan 2021)

 

Open Access Article
Vaccine Hesitancy on Social Media: Sentiment Analysis from June 2011 to April 2019
by Hilary Piedrahita-Valdés et al
Vaccines 2021, 9(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9010028 (registering DOI) – 07 Jan 2021
Abstract
Vaccine hesitancy was one of the ten major threats to global health in 2019, according to the World Health Organisation. Nowadays, social media has an important role in the spread of information, misinformation, and disinformation about vaccines. Monitoring vaccine-related conversations on social media […]

Cost-Effectiveness of Quadrivalent Versus Trivalent Influenza Vaccination in the Dutch National Influenza Prevention Program

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Value in Health
January 2021 Volume 24 Issue 1p1-144
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/current

 

THEMED SECTION: VACCINES
Cost-Effectiveness of Quadrivalent Versus Trivalent Influenza Vaccination in the Dutch National Influenza Prevention Program
Florian Zeevat, Pascal Crépey, F. Christiaan K. Dolk, Arjan J. Postma, Vidya N.A. Breeveld-Dwarkasing,
Maarten J. Postma
Published online: December 18, 2020

Costs of Immunization Programs for 10 Vaccines in 94 Low- and Middle-Income Countries From 2011 to 2030

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Value in Health
January 2021 Volume 24 Issue 1p1-144
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/current

 

Costs of Immunization Programs for 10 Vaccines in 94 Low- and Middle-Income Countries From 2011 to 2030
So Yoon Sim, Elizabeth Watts, Dagna Constenla, Shuoning Huang, Logan Brenzel, Bryan N. Patenaude
Published online: October 29, 2020

Economic Benefits of Immunization for 10 Pathogens in 94 Low- and Middle-Income Countries From 2011 to 2030 Using Cost-of-Illness and Value-of-Statistical-Life Approaches

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Value in Health
January 2021 Volume 24 Issue 1p1-144
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/current

 

Economic Benefits of Immunization for 10 Pathogens in 94 Low- and Middle-Income Countries From 2011 to 2030 Using Cost-of-Illness and Value-of-Statistical-Life Approaches
Elizabeth Watts, So Yoon Sim, Dagna Constenla, Salin Sriudomporn, Logan Brenzel, Bryan Patenaude
Published online: October 17, 2020

Evaluating Vaccination Programs That Prevent Diseases With Potentially Catastrophic Health Outcomes: How Can We Capture the Value of Risk Reduction?

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Value in Health
January 2021 Volume 24 Issue 1p1-144
https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/current

 

Evaluating Vaccination Programs That Prevent Diseases With Potentially Catastrophic Health Outcomes: How Can We Capture the Value of Risk Reduction?
Josephine Mauskopf, Catherine Masaquel, Liping Huang
Published online: October 12, 2020

Media/Policy Watch

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Media/Policy Watch
This watch section is intended to alert readers to substantive news, analysis and opinion from the general media and selected think tanks and similar organizations on vaccines, immunization, global public health and related themes. Media Watch is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of themes and issues CVEP is actively tracking. This section will grow from an initial base of newspapers, magazines and blog sources, and is segregated from Journal Watch above which scans the peer-reviewed journal ecology.
We acknowledge the Western/Northern bias in this initial selection of titles and invite suggestions for expanded coverage. We are conservative in our outlook in adding news sources which largely report on primary content we are already covering above. Many electronic media sources have tiered, fee-based subscription models for access. We will provide full-text where content is published without restriction, but most publications require registration and some subscription level.

 

The Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
Health
The Next Phase of Vaccination Will Be Even Harder
Getting vaccines to hospitals and nursing homes was supposed to be the easy part.
Sarah Zhang January 7, 2021
The vaccine rollout is not going as planned. Since mid-December, the U.S. has distributed 21.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines; fewer than one-third have actually made it into people’s arms. The problems have been many and varied: holiday delays, scheduling scams, long lines in some places, and not enough demand in others. These initial kinks are getting worked out, but that alone will not get us back to normal anytime soon. The next phase of the vaccine campaign—reaching tens of millions of elderly people and essential workers, along with the rest of the community—will be even harder…

 

BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
Covid: India to begin vaccine rollout on 16 January
PM Narendra Modi hails a “landmark step” and says the aim is to vaccinate 300 million people by July.
Published 9 Jan 2021

 

The Economist
http://www.economist.com/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
Vaccinating the world
The great task
The race to vaccinate the world against covid-19 has begun in earnest, posing problems for many and providing opportunities for some
Jan 9 Edition

 

Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
Coronavirus treatment
Lex
Vaccine scepticism: needling doubts
Confidence in jabs will receive a boost if the Covid vaccine rollout goes well
January 9, 2021

 

Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
9 Jan 2020
Russia’s Sputnik V COVID Vaccine: 1m Shots, Skepticism At Home, Politics Abroad
Russia’s campaign against COVID-19 is continuing, and has now passed the milestone of one million inoculations. As well as being an urgent matter of public health, this is also a matter of international prestige—and persuading a skeptical population.
By James Rodgers Senior Contributor

 

Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
[No new, unique, relevant content]

 

Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
Analysis
America’s Vaccine Diplomacy Is AWOL in the Middle East
China and Russia are spreading their vaccines—and forging new ties—to some of Washington’s closest allies.
Voice | Steven A. Cook January 8, 2021, 10:10 AM

 

The Guardian
http://www.guardiannews.com/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
[No new, unique, relevant content]

 

New Yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
A Reporter at Large
January 4 & 11, 2021 Issue
The Plague Year
The mistakes and the struggles behind America’s coronavirus tragedy.
By Lawrence Wright
December 28, 2020

 

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
Europe
Pope Calls Coronavirus Vaccinations an Ethical Obligation
Saying he will be vaccinated himself next week, Francis described the refusal to get the vaccine as suicidal.
By Jason Horowitz

Health
Pressure Grows for States to Open Vaccines to More Groups of People
Some states are already expanding eligibility to people 65 and over, even though millions of people the C.D.C. recommends go first — health care workers and nursing home residents — have yet to get shots.
By Abby Goodnough

Europe
In Vaccine Geopolitics, a Great Game Played With Ukrainians’ Health
Blocked from obtaining vaccines from the United States, its putative ally, and taunted in Russian propaganda, Ukraine turned to China.
By Maria Varenikova

Politics
Biden Plans Coronavirus Vaccination Blitz After Inauguration
The incoming Biden administration plans to set up federally run mass vaccination sites and to release all government-held vials, rather than hold some back for second doses.
By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Katherine J. Wu

 

Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
Releasing more vaccines for first doses could create more problems than it solves
Leana S. Wen · Opinions · Jan 9, 2021

Tales from the jab: How people in 6 countries got their vaccines
Brian Murphy, Steve Hendrix, Emily Rauhala, Carrie Donovan, Robyn Dixon and Yvonne Gordon
Jan 9, 2021

French vaccine rollout slowed by red tape, focus on elderly
Jan 9, 2021

WHO: Rich nations, vaccine firms should stop bilateral deals
Jan 8, 2021

Iran’s top leader bans corona vaccines from US, Britain
Jan 8, 2021

Mexico to vaccinate rural elderly, but still awaits vaccine
Jan 5, 2021

Think Tanks et al

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Think Tanks et al

Brookings
http://www.brookings.edu/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
Op-Ed
Globalizing the COVID vaccine
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Friday, January 8, 2021
 
 
Center for Global Development [to 9 Jan 2021]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
January 4, 2021
G7: Make Plans to Share Excess Vaccine Now
The reality is that getting back to normal means rapid vaccination of the entire world – to minimize further virus mutations, to enable regular trade and commerce, and to protect those that are unable to be vaccinated for other health reasons.
Amanda Glassman
 
 
Chatham House [to 9 Jan 2021]
https://www.chathamhouse.org/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
[No new relevant content]

 
 
CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
[No new relevant content]

 
 

Council on Foreign Relations
http://www.cfr.org/
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
Coronavirus
Vaccine Diplomacy: China and SinoPharm in Africa
January 6, 2021
On December 3, John Nkengasong, director, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), announced a 60 percent vaccination target—one estimate of the level needed to achieve herd immunity from COVID-19—in Africa’s fifty-four countries.

 
 
Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org/search/?post_type=press-release
Accessed 9 Jan 2021
[No new relevant content]

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review :: 2 January 2021

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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_2-jan-2021Download

– 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 issues its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine and emphasizes need for equitable global access

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

WHO issues its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine and emphasizes need for equitable global access
31 December 2020 News release Geneva
The World Health Organization (WHO) today listed the Comirnaty COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for emergency use, making the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine the first to receive emergency validation from WHO since the outbreak began a year ago.

The WHO’s Emergency Use Listing (EUL) opens the door for countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import and administer the vaccine. It also enables UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization to procure the vaccine for distribution to countries in need.

“This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines. But I want to emphasize the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere,” said Dr Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products. “WHO and our partners are working night and day to evaluate other vaccines that have reached safety and efficacy standards. We encourage even more developers to come forward for review and assessment. It’s vitally important that we secure the critical supply needed to serve all countries around the world and stem the pandemic.”

Regulatory experts convened by WHO from around the world and WHO’s own teams reviewed the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine’s safety, efficacy and quality as part of a risk-versus-benefit analysis. The review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address COVID-19 offset potential risks.

The vaccine is also under policy review.  WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) will convene on 5 January, 2021, to formulate vaccine specific policies and recommendations for this product’s use in populations, drawing from the SAGE population prioritization recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in general, issued in September 2020.

The Comirnaty vaccine requires storage using an ultra-cold chain; it needs to be stored at -60°C to -90°C degrees. This requirement makes the vaccine more challenging to deploy in settings where ultra-cold chain equipment may not be available or reliably accessible. For that reason, WHO is working to support countries in assessing their delivery plans and preparing for use where possible.

How the emergency use listing works
The emergency use listing (EUL) procedure assesses the suitability of novel health products during public health emergencies. The objective is to make medicines, vaccines and diagnostics available as rapidly as possible to address the emergency while adhering to stringent criteria of safety, efficacy and quality. The assessment weighs the threat posed by the emergency as well as the benefit that would accrue from the use of the product against any potential risks.

The EUL pathway involves a rigorous assessment of late phase II and phase III clinical trial data as well as substantial additional data on safety, efficacy, quality and a risk management plan. These data are reviewed by independent experts and WHO teams who consider the current body of evidence on the vaccine under consideration, the plans for monitoring its use, and plans for further studies.

Experts from individual national authorities are invited to participate in the EUL review. Once a vaccine has been listed for WHO emergency use, WHO engages its regional regulatory networks and partners to inform national health authorities on the vaccine and its anticipated benefits based on data from clinical studies to date.

In addition to the global, regional, and country regulatory procedures for emergency use, each country undertakes a policy process to decide whether and in whom to use the vaccine, with prioritization specified for the earliest use.  Countries also undertake a vaccine readiness assessment which informs the vaccine deployment and introduction plan for the implementation of the vaccine under the EUL.

As part of the EUL process, the company producing the vaccine must commit to continue to generate data to enable full licensure and WHO prequalification of the vaccine. The WHO prequalification process will assess additional clinical data generated from vaccine trials and deployment on a rolling basis to ensure the vaccine meets the necessary standards of quality, safety and efficacy for broader availability.

WHO recommendation COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (nucleoside modified) – COMIRNATY®
WHO assessed the Comirnaty, COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (nucleoside modified) submitted by Pfizer under the Emergency Use Listing (EUL). The vaccine is expected to be an important tool in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the available evidence assessed, WHO find that sufficient data is available on the Comirnaty, COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (nucleoside modified) for an EUL recommendation.

Comirnaty, COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (nucleoside modified) is a vaccine for preventing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in individuals aged 16 years and older. The vaccine contains a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA) with instructions for producing a protein from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Novel Covid-19 mRNA vaccine does not contain the virus itself and cannot cause COVID-19.

The use of Comirnaty, COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (nucleoside modified) under an emergency situation has been also endorsed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America and Health Canada and other regulatory authorities (including Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the United Kingdom).
PDF: WHO Recommendation COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (nucleoside modified)COMIRNATY®

 

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Extraordinary meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) – 5 January 2021
5 January 2021 10:00 – 17:00 CET
This extraordinary virtual meeting for the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) will be held on Tuesday 05 January 2021 to propose recommendations to WHO on the use of COVID-19 vaccine(s).

 

Meeting materials
Materials for this meeting such as a provisional list of participants and background documents will be made available nearer the time.
Draft Meeting Agenda [see image below]
Draft Summary of Declaration of Interests

 

Background documents for the Extraordinary meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) – 5 January 2021
:: mRNA vaccines against COVID-19: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccineBNT162b2
Draft document – Prepared by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization Working Group on COVID-19 vaccines
22 December 2020  | Technical document
WHO Reference Number: WHO/2019-nCoV/vaccines/SAGE_evaluation/BNT162b2/2020.1
Download

:: Background paper on Covid-19 disease and vaccines
Draft document – Prepared by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization Working Group on COVID-19 vaccines
22 December 2020  | Technical document
WHO Reference Number: WHO/2019-nCoV/vaccines/SAGE_background/2020.1
Download

 

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WHO – Planned COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Impact Studies: Request for Information
22 December 2020
Call for submissions
After COVID-19 vaccines are introduced into countries, it will be vital to generate real-world data on vaccine effectiveness and vaccine impact, as many questions will remain unanswered by the clinical trials.   Studies will likely be done in a variety of countries, in a variety of populations, and using a variety of study designs.
As part of our scoping of the landscape to understand the future availability of data to inform global policy and the gaps that need to be filled, we invite researchers to provide information about their planned work on COVID-19 vaccination effectiveness and/or impact studies.  This can be done by filling out this electronic form with relevant details. This form will take less than 5 minutes  of your time.
Data provided will be used by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization to understand what data will be available and when it will be available  to update their global policy recommendations.
Initial responses are requested as soon as possible. This will be an ongoing process, where updates can be provided in the future as plans change or studies are implemented.
Basic information such as country of study or study design will be made available through the WHO website to highlight the landscape of studies being undertaken.
Please provide preliminary responses by January 15, 2021. Future requests for information will be posted as we know plans are fluid.
Questions can be addressed to covidve@who.int

COVID Vaccines: Development/Regulatory Actions/Procurement/Deployment

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

COVID Vaccines: Development/Regulatory Actions/Procurement/Deployment

Moderna Announces Publication of Results from the Pivotal Phase 3 Trial of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine in The New England Journal of Medicine
December 31, 2020

Moderna Confirms 40 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Supply Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Korea
December 31, 2020

Pfizer and BioNTech to Supply the European Union with 100 Million Additional Doses of COMIRNATY®
December 29, 2020

Argentina Receives the First Shipment of Russia’s Sputnik V Vaccine
December 28, 2020
The first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine developed by Russian scientists from the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology with the support of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF.

 

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U.K. Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)
JCVI issues advice on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has issued its advice on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Published 30 December 2020

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends that both the AstraZeneca and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are safe and provide high-levels of protection against coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, including severe disease.

 

As protection is obtained around 2 weeks after the first vaccine dose, the committee recommends that vaccinating more people with the first dose is prioritised above offering others their second dose. This will provide the greatest public health benefits in the short term and save more lives.

The committee has reviewed the safety and efficacy data for the vaccine and advises that for those most at risk of death and serious illness from COVID-19, both the AstraZeneca and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are acceptably safe and effective. High levels of protection are obtained after the first dose of vaccine.

The current evidence remains that increasing age is the single greatest risk factor. Therefore, the current recommendation is that groups continue to be vaccinated in the following order:
[1] Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
[2] All those 80 years of age and over, and health and social care workers
[3] All those 75 years of age and over
[4] All those 70 years of age and over, and individuals deemed clinically extremely vulnerable
[5] All those 65 years of age and over
[6] Adults aged 18 to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
[7] All those 60 years of age and over
[8] All those 55 years of age and over
[9] All those 50 years of age and over

 

This initial phase of the vaccine programme is estimated to cover around 99% of preventable COVID-19 deaths.

The JCVI advises that vaccinating more people with the first dose is prioritised above offering others their second dose, to maximise benefits from the vaccination programme in the short term.

For the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the second vaccine dose can be offered between 3 to 12 weeks after the first dose. For the AstraZeneca vaccine, the second dose can be offered 4 to 12 weeks after the first dose.

There are some data from the AstraZeneca vaccine trials suggesting that extending the time to the second dose may be better than having the second dose earlier.

 

Skipping the second dose is not advised, as the second dose may be important for longer lasting protection, however exact durations of protection are currently unknown.

Evidence from Phase 3 trials indicate high levels of protection against serious disease and death from around 2 weeks after the first dose.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 Chair for JCVI, said:
“The JCVI has considered the safety and efficacy data on the AstraZeneca vaccine and we are pleased to say that it is acceptably safe and effective – as with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
“For both vaccines, high-levels of protection are evident after the first dose of vaccine. JCVI advises priority should be given to the first dose, to maximise the public health benefits in the current situation and save more lives.”

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisations at Public Health England (PHE), said:
“The recommendations from the JCVI and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provide confidence that the AstraZeneca vaccine has met the very high standards needed to roll out the vaccine. This, alongside the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, is yet another big step forward in tackling the virus.
“Prioritising the first dose will also help prevent as many deaths from COVID-19 as possible. Once deployed, PHE will continue working alongside the MHRA to keep the safety and efficacy of the vaccine under constant review.”

The committee will publish updated advice following full consideration of Phase 3 safety and efficacy data on COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID Vaccines Development/Procurement/Distribution/Policy – Russia, China

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

COVID Vaccines Development/Procurement/Distribution/Policy – Russia, China

Russia: Sputnik V – “the first registered COVID-19 vaccine” [to 2 Jan 2021]
https://sputnikvaccine.com/newsroom/pressreleases/
Press Releases
RDIF to supply 2.6 million doses of Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Bolivia
Press release, 30.12.2020
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund) and the Health Supply Centre (Central de Abastecimiento y Suministros de Salud, CEASS) of the Plurinational State of Bolivia announce the agreement to supply the country with 2.6 million doses of Sputnik V, the world’s first registered vaccine against coronavirus…
The agreement will make it possible for more than 20% of Bolivia’s population to access the vaccine. Supply of the vaccine will be facilitated by RDIF’s international partners in India, China, South Korea and other countries….

Belarus starts vaccination with Sputnik V
Press release, 29.12.2020
Belarus has become the first country after Russia to start vaccinating its population with Sputnik V
…First batch of the vaccine arrived in Belarus today.
Belarus was the first country to officially register Sputnik V after Russia. The registration certificate was granted on December 21, 2020. On October 1, Belarus was also the first foreign country to begin clinical trials of Sputnik V. Vaccination of volunteers was conducted as part of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in eight medical institutions selected as research centers in Belarus…

China grants conditional market approval for Sinopharm CNBG’s COVID-19 Vaccine

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

Chnia: COVID-19 Vaccines – Regulatory Actions/Deployment

 

Sinopharm News
China grants conditional market approval for Sinopharm CNBG’s COVID-19 Vaccine
Post Time:2021-01-02
The inactivated COVID-19 vaccine developed by Beijing Institute of Biological Products of Sinopharm CNBG has been granted conditional registration by the NMPA of China, Chinese equivalent of FDA, according to a press conference of the State Council Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism on December 31, 2020.

Over 60,000 volunteers of 125 nationalities have participated in the Phase III clinical trial of Sinopharm CNBG in countries outside China including UAE and Bahrain. The vaccine’s efficacy rate based on interim analysis is higher than the target set at the beginning, and its safety and effectiveness performances also exceed the standard level of both WHO for market approval and the Chinese regulatory authority for conditional market approval, which entitles the vaccine a general public use in China.

Aside from China, Sinopharm CNBG’s COVID-19 vaccine was announced to be officially registered in UAE and Bahrain on December 9 and 12 respectively, based on the results of Phase III clinical trials indicating 86% efficacy rate, 99 % seroconversion rate of neutralizing antibody and 100% effectiveness in preventing moderate and severe cases of COVID-19.

 

Because the standards of diagnosis of infection cases and review process of Phase III clinical trial vary in different countries, the 86% efficacy rate announced by UAE and 79.34% by China are both real and valid.

A vaccine against COVID-19 should be evaluated comprehensively in various aspects such as safety, effectiveness, accessibility and affordability. Safety is undoubtedly the premise, on which the performance in effectiveness also matters to a large extent. Others including manufacturing capacity, storage and logistics conditions, targeted population should also be considered.

Generally speaking, Sinopharm CNBG’s COVID-19 vaccine has shown comprehensive strengths. A large sample of injection and data prove its safety and effectiveness. Besides, the vaccine doesn’t require freezing temperatures for storage, making transport and distribution much easier for most of the countries in the world. Its capacity is also large enough for massive inoculation.

The Chinese approved COVID-19 vaccine adds to the world’s faith in beating the pandemic. As defined by the Chinese government to be a global public good, Sinopharm CNBG COVID-19 vaccine will make its own contribution to the global fight against the coronavirus disease in the future.

 

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National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China [to 2 Jan 2021]
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
Emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines expands to larger scale
Updated: 2020-12-31 | Xinhua
— The emergency use of vaccine mainly targets groups of people with higher risks of infection. They include medical workers, customs officers, primary-level epidemic prevention workers, overseas returnees and people working in cross-border cold-chain logistics and isolation centers.
— Experts remind people that they should still take protective measures after receiving the vaccination.

BEIJING — With the recent increase of sporadic COVID-19 cases and progress in the development and manufacture of vaccines, China’s emergency use of vaccines has expanded to a larger scale.

Inoculation of key groups has already started in Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Shandong and the city of Wuhan in central China’s Hubei province. Many other provinces and municipalities have also drafted a schedule for COVID-19 vaccination in the coming months.
China granted emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines in June.

The emergency use of vaccine mainly targets groups of people with higher risks of infection. They include medical workers, customs officers, primary-level epidemic prevention workers, overseas returnees and people working in cross-border cold-chain logistics and isolation centers.

The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen began on Monday inoculating people who have urgent plans to travel overseas…

…In Guangdong Province, over 180,000 people had been given COVID-19 vaccines as of Dec 22, according to the provincial government. No serious side effects have been reported among the vaccine receivers, said the information office of the provincial government of Guangdong.

Wuhan, a city previously hit hard by the novel coronavirus, also started the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines, with vaccinations available at 48 designated clinics in 15 districts starting from Dec 24…

 

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National Medical Products Administration [to 2 Jan 2021]
http://english.nmpa.gov.cn/news.html
News
Chinese COVID-19 vaccines free to all its citizens: official
2020-12-31
China will provide COVID-19 vaccines free of charge to all its citizens, said Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission, at a press conference on Dec 31.

China grants conditional approval for first COVID vaccine
2020-12-31
China announced it has granted conditional market approval for its first COVID-19 vaccine during a news conference on Dec 31.
The vaccine, developed by State-owned Sinopharm, was approved by China’s top drug regulator on Wednesday night, said Chen Shifei, deputy head of the National Medical Products Administration.
The vaccine is generally safe and has a 79.34 percent efficacy rate according to clinical results released by the company on Wednesday. Strict supervision will continue to be carried out over the vaccine after its approval to ensure its safety and quality, Chen said.
A total of 14 COVID-19 vaccines developed by China are now under clinical trials, including five under phase-3 trials.
Before the official approval of the vaccine, the vaccine and several other COVID-19 vaccines in phase-3 clinical trials have already been put into emergency use in China over the past few months. Millions of doses have been used for priority groups such as frontline medical workers and people going overseas to work, and the safety and efficacy of the vaccines have been proved, said Zeng Yixin, vice-minister in charge of the National Health Commission.

Sinopharm’s vaccine shows protection rate of over 79%
2020-12-30
Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine can induce neutralizing antibody in 99.52 percent of recipients, and has a 79.34 percent efficacy rate, according to midterm clinical results released on Dec 30.
The inactivated vaccine candidate created by Sinopharm’s Beijing Biological Products Institute is generally safe, and a high level of neutralizing antibodies can be detected in 99.52 percent of the recipients after two doses, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
The vaccine is also 79.34 percent effective at preventing the symptoms of COVID-19, meaning it has met the requirement by the World Health Organization and the National Medical Products Administration. Now, the company has officially submitted its request for market approval to the administration, it said.

China’s Wuhan begins emergency-use COVID-19 vaccination
2020-12-29
WUHAN — The city of Wuhan in central China has started the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine candidates on certain key groups of people, the municipal government said on Dec 28.
The vaccination, available at 48 designated clinics in 15 districts, began on Dec 24, targeting some key groups of people aged between 18 and 59, said He Zhenyu, deputy director of the center for disease control and prevention in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province.
Those receiving the vaccine need to take two shots with an interval of four weeks, said He at a press briefing…

Gavi welcomes final approval of U.S. support for global immunisation in Year-End Omnibus and COVID Supplemental Package

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Gavi [to 2 Jan 2021]
https://www.gavi.org/
News releases
Gavi welcomes final approval of U.S. support for global immunisation in Year-End Omnibus and COVID Supplemental Package
Geneva, 28 December 2020
:: The United States has approved US$ 4 billion for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to ensure lower-income economies have equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines on the same urgent timeline as wealthier countries. These funds will help end this acute phase of the pandemic.
:: The United States also approved its Fiscal Year 2021 contribution of US$ 290 million for Gavi’s routine immunisation programmes. This funding is part of the multi-year pledge made to Gavi at the Global Vaccine Summit in June and will help provide life-saving vaccines to nearly half the world’s children.
:: Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi: “This support from the American people will help Gavi procure and deliver COVID-19 vaccine doses for lower-income economies through the Gavi COVAX AMC. It will also shorten this crisis, save lives and help restart the global economy. In today’s interconnected world, no one is safe until everyone is safe.”

Coronavirus [COVID-19] Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

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EMERGENCIES

Coronavirus [COVID-19]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

Weekly Epidemiological and Operational updates
Last update: 2 January 2021, 8:34 am GMT-5
Confirmed cases :: 82 356 727 [week ago: 78 604 532] [two weeks ago: 74 299 042]
Confirmed deaths :: 1 815 433 [week ago: 1 744 235] [two weeks ago: 1 669 982]
Countries, areas or territories with cases :: 222

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WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19
28 December 2020

Weekly epidemiological update – 29 December 2020
Overview
Globally in the past week, over 4 million new COVID-19 cases and 72 000 new deaths were reported. This brings the cumulative numbers to over 79 million reported cases and over 1.7 million deaths globally since the start of the pandemic.

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POLIO Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC); WHO/OCHA Emergencies

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Emergencies

POLIO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

Polio this week as of 30 December 2020

Summary of new WPV and cVDPV viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
:: Afghanistan: one WPV1 positive environmental sample and 26 cVDPV2 cases
:: Pakistan: five WPV1 positive environmental samples
:: Nigeria: one cVDPV2 case and two cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: Guinea: seven cVDPV2 cases
:: Liberia: two cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: Sierra Leone: three cVDPV2 cases

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::::::

Editor’s Note:
With this edition, we add information about the last apparent update evident on the WHO emergency webpage, recognizing significant interims regardless of the level of the emergency listed.

WHO Grade 3 Emergencies [to 2 Jan 2021]

Democratic Republic of the Congo – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 15 October 2020]
Mozambique floods – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 3 November 2020]
Nigeria – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 29 Jun 2020]
Somalia – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 17 July 2020]
South Sudan – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 4 February 2020]
Syrian Arab Republic – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 24 October 2020]
Yemen – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 30 June 2020]

::::::

WHO Grade 2 Emergencies [to 2 Jan 2021]
Myanmar
:: 24 December 2020 News release
Bangladesh gradually resumes essential health services delivery disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Afghanistan – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 5 July 2020]
Angola – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 03 December 2020]
Burkina Faso – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 17 décembre 2020]
Burundi – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 04 July 2019]
Cameroon – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 22 August 2019]
Central African Republic – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 12 June 2018]
Ethiopia – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 22 August 2019]
Iran floods 2019 – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 12 March 2020]
Iraq – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 16 December 2020]
Libya – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 7 October 2019]
Malawi Floods – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 09 October 2019]
Measles in Europe – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 16-12-2020]
MERS-CoV – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 8 July 2019]
Mozambique – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 03 November 2020]
Niger – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 24 December 2020]
occupied Palestinian territory – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 4 September 2019]
HIV in Pakistan – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 27 August 2019]
Sao Tome and Principe Necrotizing Cellulitis (2017) – No new digest announcements
Sudan – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 24 June 2020]
Ukraine – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 1 May 2019]
Zimbabwe – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 10 May 2019]

::::::

WHO Grade 1 Emergencies [to 2 Jan 2021]

Chad – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 30 June 2018]
Djibouti – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 25 novembre 2020]
Kenya – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 11 December 2020]
Mali – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 3 May 2017]
Namibia – viral hepatitis – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 20 July 2018]
Tanzania – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 21 October 2020]

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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 – No new digest announcements identified
Yemen – No new digest announcements identified

::::::

UN OCHA – Corporate Emergencies
When the USG/ERC declares a Corporate Emergency Response, all OCHA offices, branches and sections provide their full support to response activities both at HQ and in the field.
COVID-19
:: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Weekly Epidemiological Update (29 December 2020)

East Africa Locust Infestation
:: Desert Locust situation update – 30 December 2020

::::::
::::::

WHO & Regional Offices [to 2 Jan 2021]

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WHO & Regional Offices [to 2 Jan 2021]
31 December 2020 News release
WHO issues its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine and emphasizes need for equitable global access
[See Milestones above for detail]

30 December 2020 Statement
COVID-19: One year later – WHO Director-General’s new year message

 

::::::

WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: WHO urges greater surveillance as new COVID-19 variants emerge
30 December 2020 Brazzaville – With the recent emergence in the African region of new COVID-19 variants which seem to have higher transmissibility, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on countries to boost genomic surveillance and analysis through the African genome sequencing laboratory network to detect any new mutations and strengthen the efforts to curb the pandemic…

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
No new digest content identified

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

WHO European Region EURO
:: Can people afford to pay for health care? New report considers status of universal health coverage in the Republic of Moldova 28-12-2020

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO::
:: Meeting exceptional challenges together 28 December 2020 [Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean]

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified

CDC/ACIP [to 2 Jan 2021]

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CDC/ACIP [to 2 Jan 2021]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html
Latest News Releases, Announcements
Transcript: CDC Update on COVID-19
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
… THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAS JOINS US TO DISCUSS TWO, NEW VARIANTS OF THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-19 AS WELL AS COVID-19 VACCINES.  WE ARE JOINED BY DR. HENRY WALKE, THE INCIDENT MANAGER FOR CDC’S COVID-19 RESPONSE AND DR.  NANCY MESSONNIER, DIRECTOR CDC’S NATIONAL CENTER FOR IMMUNIZATION AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES,  AND THE SENIOR FEDERAL OFFICIAL LEADING THE AGENCY’S VACCINE EFFORTS. 

CDC 2020 in Review
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
In 2020 CDC worked around the clock – and around the globe – to protect Americans from health threats. While the COVID-19 pandemic has dominated the news, a number of other public health and scientific advancements are worth highlighting.
“This has been a year of challenges, but also of innovation, modernization, and advancement in public health,” said Dr. Robert R. Redfield, CDC Director. “I am hopeful for the future and the months to come as CDC continues to secure the safety of the American people and this Nation.”…

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Selected Resources
:: Information about the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
Friday, January 01, 2021

:: Information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Friday, January 01, 2021

:: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Poliovirus Surveillance
Thursday, December 31, 2020

:: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Updated Interim Recommendation for Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine – United States, December 2020
Thursday, December 31, 2020

:: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Use of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine – United States, December 2020
Thursday, December 31, 2020

:: When Vaccine is Limited, Who Gets Vaccinated First?

Thursday, December 31, 2020
:: How CDC Is Making COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Wednesday, December 30, 2020

:: The Importance of COVID-19 Vaccination for Healthcare Personnel
Monday, December 28, 2020

:: Importance of COVID-19 Vaccination for Residents of Long-term Care Facilities
Monday, December 28, 2020