Monthly Archives: May 2021

A systematic literature review of attitudes towards secondary use and sharing of health administrative and clinical trial data: a focus on consent

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Systematic Reviews
https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles
[Accessed 8 May 2021]

 

A systematic literature review of attitudes towards secondary use and sharing of health administrative and clinical trial data: a focus on consent
We aimed to synthesise data on issues related to stakeholder perceptions of consent for the use of secondary data. To better understand the current literature available, we conducted a systematic literature re…
Authors: Elizabeth Hutchings, Max Loomes, Phyllis Butow and Frances M. Boyle
Citation: Systematic Reviews 2021 10:132
Content type: Research
Published on: 4 May 2021

Comparison of equivalent fractional vaccine doses delivered by intradermal and intramuscular or subcutaneous routes: A systematic review

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Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Volume 41 May–June 2021
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/travel-medicine-and-infectious-disease/vol/41/suppl/C

 

Review article Open access
Comparison of equivalent fractional vaccine doses delivered by intradermal and intramuscular or subcutaneous routes: A systematic review
Jenny L. Schnyder, Hannah M. Garcia Garrido, Cornelis A. De Pijper, Joost G. Daams, … Martin P. Grobusch
Article 102007

Cross-sectional analysis of COVID-19 vaccine intention, perceptions and hesitancy across Latin America and the Caribbean

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Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Volume 41 May–June 2021
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/travel-medicine-and-infectious-disease/vol/41/suppl/C

 

Research article Full text access
Cross-sectional analysis of COVID-19 vaccine intention, perceptions and hesitancy across Latin America and the Caribbean
Diego Urrunaga-Pastor, Guido Bendezu-Quispe, Percy Herrera-Añazco, Angela Uyen-Cateriano, … Vicente A. Benites-Zapata
Article 102059

COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Nepal, emerging UK variant and futuristic vaccination strategies to combat the ongoing pandemic

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Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Volume 41 May–June 2021
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/travel-medicine-and-infectious-disease/vol/41/suppl/C

 

Short communication Full text access
COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Nepal, emerging UK variant and futuristic vaccination strategies to combat the ongoing pandemic
Ranjit Sah, Asmita Priyadarshini Khatiwada, Sunil Shrestha, K.C. Bhuvan, … Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales
Article 102037

Behavioural interventions to address rational use of antibiotics in outpatient settings of low‐income and lower‐middle‐income countries

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Tropical Medicine & International Health
Volume 26, Issue 5 Pages: i-iv, 503-608 May 2021
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/13653156/current

 

Systematic Review Open Access
Behavioural interventions to address rational use of antibiotics in outpatient settings of low‐income and lower‐middle‐income countries
Mohit M. Nair, Raman Mahajan, Sakib Burza, Maurice P. Zeegers
Pages: 504-517
First Published: 16 January 2021

Health System Barriers and Facilitators to Delivering Additional Vaccines through the National Immunisation Programme in China: A Qualitative Study of Provider and Service-User Perspectives

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

 

(Accessed 8 May 2021)
Open Access Article
Health System Barriers and Facilitators to Delivering Additional Vaccines through the National Immunisation Programme in China: A Qualitative Study of Provider and Service-User Perspectives
by Dan Gong, et al
Vaccines 2021, 9(5), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9050476 (registering DOI) – 08 May 2021
Abstract
In China, there are two categories of vaccines available from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and associated public health agencies. Extended Program of Immunization (EPI) vaccines are government-funded and non-EPI vaccines are voluntary and paid for out-of-pocket. The government plans to transition […]

A Comparison of the Level of Acceptance and Hesitancy towards the Influenza Vaccine and the Forthcoming COVID-19 Vaccine in the Medical Community

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

 

Open Access Article
A Comparison of the Level of Acceptance and Hesitancy towards the Influenza Vaccine and the Forthcoming COVID-19 Vaccine in the Medical Community
by Magdalena Grochowska et al
Vaccines 2021, 9(5), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9050475 (registering DOI) – 08 May 2021
Abstract
Despite research conducted worldwide, there is no treatment specifically targeting SARS-CoV-2 infection with efficacy proven by randomized controlled trials. A chance for a breakthrough is vaccinating most of the global population. Public opinion surveys on vaccine hesitancy prompted our team to investigate Polish […

Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination among Hospital Staff—Understanding What Matters to Hesitant People

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

 

Open Access Article
Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination among Hospital Staff—Understanding What Matters to Hesitant People
by Anne Spinewine et al
Vaccines 2021, 9(5), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9050469 – 06 May 2021
Abstract
Hospital staff are a priority target group in the European COVID-19 vaccination strategy. Measuring the extent of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and understanding the reasons behind it are essential to be able to tailor effective communication campaigns. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as […]

Hesitancy of Arab Healthcare Workers towards COVID-19 Vaccination: A Large-Scale Multinational Study

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

 

Open Access Article
Hesitancy of Arab Healthcare Workers towards COVID-19 Vaccination: A Large-Scale Multinational Study
by Eyad Qunaibi et al
Vaccines 2021, 9(5), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9050446 – 02 May 2021
Abstract
Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of acquiring and transmitting COVID-19 infection. Moreover, they present role models for communities with regards to attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. Hence, hesitancy of HCWs towards vaccination can crucially affect the efforts aiming to contain […]

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 sheer volume of vaccine and pandemic-related coverage is extraordinary. We will strive to present the most substantive analysis and commentary we encounter.

 

The Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/
Accessed 8 May 2021
[No new, unique, relevant content]

 

BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Accessed 8 May 2021
Covid: Macron calls on US to drop vaccine export bans
8 May 2021

 

The Economist
http://www.economist.com/
Accessed 8 May 2021
Home brewing
Covid-19 has exposed Africa’s dependence on vaccines from abroad
There is a big push to change this
Middle East & Africa May 8th 2021 edition

Paper tiger
India’s national government looks increasingly hapless
Confronted with catastrophe, the state has melted away
May 8th 2021 edition

Daily chart
Global herd immunity is still out of reach
Vaccine hesitancy threatens the pandemic response
May 8th 2021 edition

Daily chart
Covid-19 vaccine donations have yet to take off
Less than one dose for every 100 of the world’s people has been given away

 

Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/
Accessed 8 May 2021
News in-depth
Serum Institute of India
How the world’s top vaccine maker struggled to meet the moment
Adar Poonawalla and Serum Institute have come under withering criticism as Covid ravages India

Stephanie Findlay in New Delhi and Benjamin Parkin in Bangalore
yesterday
…But four months on, Poonawalla is facing a reckoning as India staggers under a brutal second wave of infections. Despite warning that it would take until 2024 to inoculate the world, his company has been vilified over allegations of price gouging and its failure to meet its overseas vaccine demands. His decision to decamp to his London mansion before the UK barred flights from India was condemned across his home country.
The Serum Institute has also been hit by lawsuits from global governments for failing to meet contractual agreements for supplies, while Poonawalla said threats had been made against him. The Indian government has provided him with security guards.
Poonawalla was also blamed for just 2 per cent of India being fully vaccinated. But he has pointed out that the government had not placed enough orders ahead of the second wave. “I’m just the manufacturer,” he told the Financial Times after claiming he had been “victimised” over the stuttering vaccine campaign. “I don’t decide these policies.”
He admitted though that he has had “to grow a thicker skin”.
“History will have to judge the work that the company has done, and whether we have profited here, or whether we have served the nation,” he said…

Interview
Melinda Gates: vaccines, inequality and caregiving
…But if you look at the current system, the AstraZeneca vaccine, we’ve been deeply involved in the tech transfer that happened to Serum Institute in India, they are pumping out millions of doses every month…
May 4, 2021
Top of Form
Bottom of Form

The FT View The editorial board
How to step up vaccine supplies to poorer countries
May 4, 2021

 

Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/
Accessed 8 May 2021
May 7, 2021
Patent Waivers Won’t Impact Big Pharma’s Bottom Line—But Could Slow Covid Vaccine Rollouts
Analysts say intellectual property waivers won’t affect vaccine makers Moderna, Pfizer or Novavax—but could paradoxically risk slowing down vaccine production.
By Alex Knapp Forbes Staff

May 6, 2021
May U.S. Travel Restrictions By State: Vaccinations, Quarantine, Covid-19 Test Requirements
The state-by-state picture of U.S. travel restrictions, quarantine and Covid-19 testing requirements for May 2021 shows a country increasingly vaccinated, optimistic and on the move.
By Alex Ledsom Senior Contributor

 

Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/
Accessed 8 May 2021
[No new, unique, relevant content]

 

Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/
Accessed 8 May 2021
Voice
Stopping Drug Patents Has Stopped Pandemics Before
Loosening property rules over coronavirus vaccines is likely to accelerate—not stifle—the pharmaceutical industry’s creativity.
| Laurie Garrett May 7, 2021, 12:00 PM

 

New Yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/
Accessed 8 May 2021
Medical Dispatch
Inside India’s COVID-19 Surge
At a hospital in New Delhi, supplies and space are running out, but the patients keep coming.
By Dhruv Khullar
May 4, 2021

 

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Accessed 8 May 2021
World
India and Its Vaccine Maker Stumble Over Their Pandemic Promises
The Serum Institute vowed to protect the country from Covid-19 and inoculate the world’s poor, but India’s crisis has pushed it past its limits.
By Emily Schmall and Karan Deep Singh May 7

World
Baltimore Vaccine Plant’s Troubles Ripple Across 3 Continents
Millions of doses of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine produced by Emergent BioSolutions have been held back in Europe, South Africa and Canada as a precaution.
By Chris Hamby, Sharon LaFraniere and Sheryl Gay Stolberg May 6

 

Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/
Accessed 8 May 2021
[No new, unique, relevant content]

Think Tanks et al

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Think Tanks et al

Brookings
http://www.brookings.edu/
Accessed 8 May 2021
Future Development
How AI-powered poverty maps can increase equity in the COVID-19 response
Laura McGorman, Guanghua Chi, and Han Fang
Friday, May 7, 2021

Future Development
How big of a vaccine surplus will the US have?
Simon J. Evenett
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
 
 
Center for Global Development [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
May 7, 2021
IP and COVID-19 Vaccines: Unpacking a Fraught Debate
The United States made waves earlier this week when it backed a request—originally proposed by South Africa and India, and now supported by over 100 countries—to temporarily waive international intellectual property (IP) protections on COVID-19 vaccines and other health technologies
Rachel Silverman

Time to Create the President’s Emergency Plan for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PEPPPR)
May 5, 2021
In 2003, an estimated 3 million people died of HIV/AIDS globally. In May of that year, galvanized by the growing number of preventable deaths given the availability of an effective medicine, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief—PEPFAR—was signed into law.
Amanda Glassman

Expanding Vaccine Access and Humanitarian Financing Should Be Urgent Objectives for the World Bank and IMF
May 4, 2021
Shortly before the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, we set out how they could be a turning point in addressing the consequences of the pandemic.
Masood Ahmed and Mark Lowcock

How Biden Can End “Vaccine Apartheid”
May 3, 2021
Building on spectacular scientific achievements, the rich world’s vaccine response to the pandemic within its borders has been (with notable exceptions) commendable. But the response of the international community has been mystifyingly myopic and unconscionably delinquent. We’re headed toward global “vaccine apartheid.” Visibly leading the charge to vaccinate the world, with significant political and financial commitments, offers the US the chance to regain considerable soft power.
Justin Sandefur and Arvind Subramanian
 
 
Chatham House [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.chathamhouse.org/
Accessed 8 May 2021
[No new digest content]

 
 
CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 8 May 2021
Upcoming Event
Building Resilience: Primary Health Care and Immunizations in the Covid-19 Context
May 18, 2021

Upcoming Event
Preventing the Next Pandemic: A Conversation with Peter J. Hotez
May 12, 2021

Report
Why Vaccine Confidence Matters to National Security
May 7, 2021 | By Katherine E. Bliss, J. Stephen Morrison, Heidi J. Larson

Commentary
International Financial Institutions’ Covid-19 Approvals through Q1 2021 Surpass $260 Billion
May 4, 2021 | By Stephanie Segal, Dylan Gerstel

 
 

Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org/search/?post_type=press-release
Accessed 8 May 2021
May 6, 2021 News Release
Vaccine Monitor: Eagerness to Get Vaccinated Begins to Level Off as Most People Who Want a Vaccine Have Gotten One; But Republicans Show Biggest Shift Toward Vaccination
Parents’ Eagerness for Their Children to Get Vaccinated Mirrors Their Own Intentions, with 3 in 10 Ready to Vaccinate Their Children as Soon as It’s Available Most adults (56%) nationally say they have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and few (9%) say they haven’t but want…

May 4, 2021 News Release
Which States are Hitting the COVID-19 Vaccine Tipping Point?
As of April 19, COVID-19 vaccine eligibility opened up to adults in all states, leaving many to wonder when supply will surpass vaccine demand. A recent brief examined when COVID-19 vaccine supply might outstrip demand in the U.S. nationally, estimating that the U.S. will reach this point within a few…

Rand [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.rand.org/pubs.html
Selected Research Reports, Featured Journal Articles
Research Brief
Promising Practices from Law Enforcement’s COVID-19 Response: Protecting the Public
This brief highlights the challenges that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic posed for law enforcement agencies, how they adapted to those challenges, and a discussion of which adaptations might hold promise after the pandemic.
Apr 30, 2021
Brian A. Jackson, Michael J. D. Vermeer, Dulani Woods, Duren Banks, Sean E. Goodison, Joe Russo, Jeremy D. Barnum, Camille Gourdet, Lynn Langton, Michael G. Planty, Shoshana R. Shelton, Siara I. Sitar, Amanda R. Witwer

Research Brief
Promising Practices from the Institutional Corrections System’s COVID-19 Response: Managing Safety and Security on the Inside
This brief highlights the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic created, shows how corrections agencies adapted to the challenges, describes which adaptations may hold promise, and provides evaluations to demonstrate the efficacy of such adaptations.
Apr 30, 2021
Brian A. Jackson, Michael J. D. Vermeer, Dulani Woods, Duren Banks, Sean E. Goodison, Joe Russo, Jeremy D. Barnum, Camille Gourdet, Lynn Langton, Michael G. Planty, Shoshana R. Shelton, Siara I. Sitar, Amanda R. Witwer

Report
Messaging Strategies for Mitigating COVID-19 Through Vaccination and Nonpharmaceutical Interventions
This Perspective addresses matching the message, the audience, and the sender in encouraging people to get a COVID-19 vaccine and discusses how to deal with misinformation.
Apr 30, 2021
Luke J. Matthews, Andrew M. Parker, Monique Martineau, Courtney A. Gidengil, Christine Chen, Jeanne S. Ringel

Report
Detecting Conspiracy Theories on Social Media: Improving Machine Learning to Detect and Understand Online Conspiracy Theories
Using linguistic and rhetorical theory, researchers developed an improved model of machine-learning technology to detect conspiracy theory language. This report describes the results and suggests ways to counter effects of online conspiracy theories.
Apr 29, 2021
William Marcellino, Todd C. Helmus, Joshua Kerrigan, Hilary Reininger, Rouslan I. Karimov, Rebecca Ann Lawrence

Superspreaders of Malign and Subversive Information on COVID-19: Russian and Chinese Efforts Targeting the United States
This report, part of the Truth Decay initiative, is one in a series describing malign and subversive information efforts related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that Russian and Chinese outlets appear to have used to target U.S. audiences.
Apr 29, 2021
Miriam Matthews, Katya Migacheva, Ryan Andrew Brown

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review :: 1 May 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_1-may-2021Download

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

– Twitter:  Readers can also follow developments on twitter: @vaxethicspolicy.
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– 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

New global partnership launched to fight future pandemics

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

Pandemic Preparedness

New global partnership launched to fight future pandemics
The Government will launch a new Pandemic Preparedness Partnership (PPP) to save lives from future diseases and prevent another global pandemic.
Updated: 20 April 2021
:: International Pandemic Preparedness Partnership (PPP) will support PM’s target to slash the time to develop vaccines for new diseases to 100 days
:: Partnership will be chaired by UK Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and will report to leaders at June’s G7 Summit
:: New £16m funding to Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will also support global vaccine supply and development

The [U.K.] Government launched a new Pandemic Preparedness Partnership (PPP) to save lives from future diseases and prevent another global pandemic.

The PPP will advise the UK G7 Presidency on how to meet the Prime Minister’s ambition to slash the time to develop and deploy high quality vaccines for new diseases from 300 to 100 days, backed by additional funding to support CEPI’s work on global vaccine supply. It will be chaired by the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

The public-private partnership will bring together industry, international organisations and leading experts. They will provide recommendations for delivering ambitious targets to more quickly develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics through greater global co-operation on research and development, manufacturing, clinical trials and data-sharing.

The £16 million investment will fund global vaccine manufacturing capacity and critical research and development to rapidly respond to the threat of new strains, supporting the development of new variant-specific vaccines. CEPI’s work to coordinate research, development and manufacturing of vaccines will aid efforts to have millions of doses of vaccine available for emergency use 100 days from a variant of concern being identified.

The PPP is meeting formally for the first time today at a two day virtual Pandemic Preparedness Partnership Conference, taking place under the UK’s Presidency of the G7…

…There 20 members of the PPP include WHO Vaccines Envoy Sir Andrew Witty, Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford & member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee, Sir John Bell, Managing Director of the COVAX Facility Gavi, Aurelia Nguyen, and Chief Executive Officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Richard Hatchett.

Industry members include representatives from leading vaccine developers and life sciences companies such as Head of Global Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer at Novartis, John Tsai, Executive Vice President Biopharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca, Sir Mene Pangalos, Chief Scientific Officer at Pfizer, Mikael Dolsten and Chief Scientific Officer at Johnsen & Johnsen, Paul Stoffels.

These experts will be joined by scientific advisers from our G7 partners, who will play a key role in shaping the recommendations into an actionable roadmap over the next two months through a series of meetings ahead of the June Leader’s Summit…

 

Full list of PPP Steering Group members:
Chair – Sir Patrick Vallance – UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser
Sir Andrew Witty – CEO, United Health Group
Sir John Bell – Regius Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford and member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee
Martin Landray – Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Oxford.
Dame Anne Johnson – Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology UCL
Lord Jim O’Neill – Former Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management & Former Commercial Secretary to the Treasury
Baroness Minouche Shafik – Director LSE and former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England
Aurelia Nguyen – Managing Director Office of the COVAX Facility, Gavi
Sir Jeremy Farrar – Director Wellcome Trust & Chair of the Scientific Advisory Group of the WHO R&D Blueprint.
John-Arne Rottingen – Co-chair ACT-A, member of the G20 High Level Independent Panel (HLIP) on financing for pandemic preparedness and response & ambassador for Global Health, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Peter Sands – Executive Director – Global Fund
Richard Hatchett – Chief Executive Officer CEPI
Sergio Carmona – Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer FIND
Soumya Swaminathan – Chief Scientist WHO
John Tsai – Head of Global Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis
Sir Mene Pangalos – Executive Vice President Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca
Mikael Dolsten – Chief Scientific Officer, Pfizer
Paul Stoffels – Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, J&J
Roger Connor – President Global Vaccines, GSK
June Raine – Chief Executive, MHRA

Immunization Agenda 2030 [IA 2030] Launch

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

Immunization Agenda 2030 [IA 2030] Launch

Immunization services begin slow recovery from COVID-19 disruptions, though millions of children remain at risk from deadly diseases – WHO, UNICEF, Gavi
Ambitious new global strategy aims to save over 50 million lives through vaccination
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 26 April 2021 — While immunization services have started to recover from disruptions caused by COVID-19, millions of children remain vulnerable to deadly diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance warned today during World Immunization Week, highlighting the urgent need for a renewed global commitment to improve vaccination access and uptake.

“Vaccines will help us end the COVID-19 pandemic but only if we ensure fair access for all countries, and build strong systems to deliver them,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General. “And if we’re to avoid multiple outbreaks of life-threatening diseases like measles, yellow fever and diphtheria, we must ensure routine vaccination services are protected in every country in the world.”

A WHO survey has found that, despite progress when compared to the situation in 2020, more than one third of respondent countries (37%) still report experiencing disruptions to their routine immunization services.

 

Mass immunization campaigns are also disrupted. According to new data, 60 of these lifesaving campaigns are currently postponed in 50 countries, putting around 228 million people – mostly children – at risk for diseases such as measles, yellow fever and polio. Over half of the 50 affected countries are in Africa, highlighting protracted inequities in people’s access to critical immunization services.

Campaigns to immunize against measles, which is one of the most contagious diseases and can result in large outbreaks wherever people are unvaccinated, are the most impacted. Measles campaigns account for 23 of the postponed campaigns, affecting an estimated 140 million people. Many have now been delayed for over a year.

“Even before the pandemic, there were worrying signs that we were beginning to lose ground in the fight against preventable child illness, with 20 million children already missing out on critical vaccinations,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “The pandemic has made a bad situation worse, causing millions more children to go unimmunized. Now that vaccines are at the forefront of everyone’s minds, we must sustain this energy to help every child catch up on their measles, polio and other vaccines. We have no time to waste. Lost ground means lost lives.”

As a result of gaps in vaccination coverage, serious measles outbreaks have recently been reported in countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan and Yemen, while likely to occur elsewhere as growing numbers of children miss out on lifesaving vaccines, the agencies warn. These outbreaks are happening in places already grappling with conflict situations as well as service disruptions due to ongoing response measures to COVID-19.

The supply of vaccines and other equipment is also essential for child vaccinations. Due to disruptions at the onset of the COVID -19 pandemic, UNICEF delivered 2.01 billion vaccine doses in 2020, compared to 2.29 billion in 2019.

“Millions of children across the world are likely to miss out on basic vaccines as the current pandemic threatens to unravel two decades of progress in routine immunization”, said Dr Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “To support the recovery from COVID-19 and to fight future pandemics, we will need to ensure routine immunization is prioritized as we also focus on reaching children who do not receive any routine vaccines, or zero-dose children. To do this, we need to work together – across development agencies, governments and civil society – to ensure that no child is left behind”.

 

New global immunization strategy aims to save over 50 million lives
To help tackle these challenges and support the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO UNICEF, Gavi and other partners today launched the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), an ambitious new global strategy to maximize the lifesaving impact of vaccines through stronger immunization systems.

The Agenda focuses on vaccination throughout life, from infancy through to adolescence and older age. If fully implemented, it will avert an estimated 50 million deaths, according to WHO – 75% of them in low- and lower-middle income countries.

 

Targets to be achieved by 2030 include:
:: Achieve 90% coverage for essential vaccines given in childhood and adolescence[i]
:: Halve the number of children completely missing out on vaccines
:: Complete 500 national or subnational introductions of new or under-utilized vaccines  – such as those for COVID-19, rotavirus, or human papillomavirus (HPV)

 

Urgent action needed from all immunization stakeholders
To achieve IA2030’s ambitious goals, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi and partners are calling for bold action:
:: World leaders and the global health and development community should make explicit commitments to IA2030 and invest in stronger immunization systems, with tailored approaches for fragile and conflict-affected countries. Immunization is a vital element of an effective health care system, central to pandemic preparedness and response, and key to preventing the burden of multiple epidemics as societies reopen
:: All countries should develop and implement ambitious national immunization plans that align with the IA2030 framework, and increase investments to make immunization services accessible to all
:: Donors and governments should increase investments in vaccine research and innovation, development, and delivery, focused on the needs of underserved populations
:: The pharmaceutical industry and scientists, working with governments and funders, should continue to accelerate vaccine R&D, ensure a continuous supply of affordable vaccines to meet global needs, and apply lessons from COVID-19 to other diseases

 

::::::

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore’s remarks at the special press briefing with WHO and Gavi on the impact of COVID-19 on immunization
As prepared for delivery
NEW YORK, 26 April 2021 – “This week is World Immunization Week. But effectively, this year has become World Immunization Year.

“Because after a year of lockdowns, empty classrooms, missed vaccinations, virtual birthday parties, and cancelled family dinners, people all over the world are now getting a COVID-19 vaccine or anxiously awaiting the moment when they will.

“Those of us in global development understand how important vaccines are. But this year, every single person on the planet knows it.

“Whether you’ve just had a tearful reunion with loved ones for the first time in over a year. Or you’re anxiously awaiting the moment when your turn will come. This year, more than any other, has reminded us that vaccines bring us together.

 

“But while COVID-19 vaccines represent our best hope of returning to “normal” lives, we need to remind ourselves that millions of children all over the world have no access to vaccines for any preventable diseases whatsoever. This is not a ‘normal’ to which we should return.

“Even before the pandemic, we were losing ground in the fight against preventable child illness. 20 million children were already missing out on critical vaccinations.

“And now, a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we are still making up lost ground. While there has been progress from the peak of the global lockdowns, routine immunization services remained disrupted in 37 per cent of responding countries in the first quarter of 2021.

“Disruptions as a result of COVID-19 have made this problem worse.

“In 2020, UNICEF, the largest global procurer and supplier of vaccines, delivered 2.01 billion vaccine doses, down from 2.29 billion doses the previous year. Considering the unprecedented global lockdowns and their impact on supply delivery, this was a remarkable achievement.

“UNICEF also managed to deliver 912.7 million syringes for immunization and 10 million safety boxes to 83 countries. And we installed 18,340 cold fridges in health facilities in 25 countries. Another remarkable achievement.

 

“Over the past few months, we have repeatedly expressed our deep concern about the inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. WHO said last week that of the over 890 million COVID-19 vaccine doses that have been administered globally, more than 81 per cent have been given in high- and upper-middle-income countries.

“This is not only unfair — it is also unwise, because a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere, especially with the worrying rise in variants.

“But for the people living in the countries where 20 million children are already missing out on life-saving vaccines, it is also unsurprising. Vaccines have always been inequitably distributed.

“Now is the time to change this. We can use this unique moment in time to spur long-term momentum towards finally achieving universal access to routine immunizations and broader primary health care.

“That’s why I am pleased to join my fellow panellists in launching Immunization Agenda 2030 – a comprehensive plan to maximize the impact of vaccination over the next decade.

“IA2030 is an ambitious global strategy to maximize the impact of vaccines. We’re aiming to save an estimated 50 million lives…to halve the number of children receiving zero vaccine doses…and to achieve 90% coverage for key vaccines over the next decade.

“As part of our engagement in IA2030 and World Immunization Week, UNICEF is calling on governments to prioritize strengthening health systems in the poorest countries.

“We need to increase global and domestic investment to continue delivering vaccinations and other critical services for the most vulnerable children, and to guarantee universal, accessible and quality care for the long run.

“We call on governments to protect aid budgets and fulfil existing commitments, which support lifesaving child health services including routine immunization, nutrition and maternal health.
“Donors should also increase investments in vaccine research and innovation, development, and delivery, focusing on the needs of the underserved.

“The pharmaceutical industry and scientists, working with governments and funders, should continue to accelerate vaccine research and development, ensure a continuous supply of affordable vaccines to meet global needs, and apply lessons from COVID-19 to other diseases.

“Finally, we need to take steps to make sure parents and caregivers trust health workers and heed their advice on vaccinating their children against preventable diseases.

“Later this week, UNICEF will be joining the Yale Institute for Global Health and Public Good Projects to announce a new initiative to equip country teams with tools to counter misinformation and mistrust related to all vaccines. We will be sure to make those details available soon.

“The stage is set for 2021 to be a pivotal year for immunization. Through COVAX and other global efforts to make COVID-19 vaccines available for all, we are embarking on an unprecedented global immunization campaign. But this campaign cannot come at the cost of childhood vaccinations. We cannot trade one global health crisis for another.

“In a year when vaccines are at the forefront of everyone’s minds, we must sustain this energy to accelerate efforts on all three fronts – providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, catching up on missed vaccinations due to pandemic lockdowns, and critically, extending immunization efforts to all children currently missing out on vaccines entirely.

“We have no time to waste. Lost ground means lost lives. Thank you.”

COVID – “Vaccination Financing”

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COVID – “Vaccination Financing”

 

Editor’s Note:
In one of more unusual WHO documents generated in the pandemic context, we note the “Departmental News” item below which has no authors identified and no further attribution. We limited our excerpt to the first “question & answer” – extraordinary for its proscriptive closing point.

WHO :: COVID-19 Vaccination Financing and Budgeting Q&A
27 April 2021 Departmental news
[Excerpt from 10 questions & answers]
What is the overall recommendation with regards to financing?
:: The evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the unpredictable nature of the virus, with new variants shifting the epicenter of the disease and countries experiencing multiple waves of infections and economic impact. Achieving high vaccination coverage in all countries is the only way to disrupt the pandemic globally and win the race against the virus.

:: The substantial impact that COVID-19 has had on the health and wellbeing of everyone plus its crippling effect on economies across the world means that COVID-19 vaccination will serve two critical functions: an essential health intervention (reducing mortality and morbidity) plus much-needed economic stimulus (allowing economies to re-open). Vaccination can also become a public good: once a critical mass of people have been vaccinated, the herd immunity that results is enjoyed by all.

:: It should follow, then, that financing COVID-19 vaccination is a government-wide responsibility and that governments need to explore how best it should be financed. The very large positive externalities (i.e., the health and economic benefits of vaccination are both at the individual and societal level) arising.

 

:: Sources of funding for COVID-19 vaccination should not come at the expense of other essential health or social services keeping in mind that said funding, because of its very large positive externalities, is an overall economic decision taken by government and is certainly not limited by the reprogramming of existing MOH budgets. In the case that existing funds are reprogrammed to COVID-19 vaccination from other activities or investments (at the government-wide level), priority should be given to identifying areas of non-productive spending or non-essential activities that can be delayed without negatively impacting population welfare….

COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations

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COVID Vaccines – OCHA:: HDX

COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
Apr 30, 2021 | COVAX (WHO,GAVI,CEPI), UNDESA, Press Reports | DATA
Global COVID-19 Figures: 149M total confirmed cases; 3.1M total confirmed deaths
Global vaccines administered: 1.09B
Number of Countries: 26
COVAX First Allocations (Number of Doses): 73M
COVAX Delivered (Number of Doses): 14M
Other Delivered (Number of Doses): 21M
Total Delivered (Number of Doses): 35M
Total Administered (Number of Doses): 12M

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

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Coronavirus [COVID-19] – WHO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Weekly Epidemiological and Operational updates
Last update: 1 May 2021
Confirmed cases :: 150 989 419 [week ago: 145 216 414]
Confirmed deaths :: 3 173 576 [week ago: 3 079 390]
Vaccine doses administered: 1 011 457 859

::::::

Weekly operational update on COVID-19 – 26 April 2021
Overview
In this edition of the Weekly Operational Update on COVID-19, highlights of country-level actions and WHO support to Member States include:
:: The delivery of COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Syrian Arab Republic via the COVAX Facility
:: Delivery of life-saving oxygen concentrators to the Philippines
:: A joint technical support mission to Albania
:: One year of the pandemic learning response: benefits and performance of the OpenWHO platform during the pandemic
:: Empowering populations to address the COVID-19 infodemic globally and the Africa Infodemic Response Alliance launch of Viral Facts Africa
:: The Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) 2021 resource requirements and progress made to continue investing in the COVID-19 response and for building the architecture to prepare for, prevent and mitigate future health emergencies
:: Updates on WHO/PAHO procured items, Partners Platform, implementation of the Unity Studies, and select indicators from the COVID-19 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 – 27 April 2021
Overview
Globally, new COVID-19 cases increased for the ninth consecutive week, with nearly 5.7 million new cases reported in the last week – surpassing previous peaks. The number of new deaths increased for the sixth consecutive week, with over 87 000 new deaths reported.
In this edition, a special focus update is provided on SARS-CoV-2 variants.

WHO – COVID Vaccines EUAL, Prequalification, SAGE Meetings/Recommendations

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WHO – COVID Vaccines EUAL, Prequalification, SAGE Meetings/Recommendations

 

Extraordinary meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) – 29 April 2021
Draft Agenda [Evidence Review/Recommendations: Sinopharm [IBP-CoV] and SinoVac [CoronaVac]]

 

::::::

Draft landscape and tracker of COVID-19 candidate vaccines
30 April 2021 | Publication
The COVID-19 candidate vaccine landscape and tracker database compiles detailed information on COVID-19 vaccine candidates in development.
The landscape is updated regularly – twice a week (Tuesday and Friday, 17:00 CET).
Download: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/blue-print/30.04.2021-novel-coronavirus_landscape_covid-19.xlsx.zip?sfvrsn=695af576_3&download=true

 

::::::

Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process 23 April 2021
For 19 vaccine candidates, presents Manufacturer, Name of Vaccine, NRA of Record, Platform, EOI Accepted Status, Pre-submission Meeting Held Status, Dossier Accepted for Review, Status of Assessment; Anticipated/Completed Decision Date
[click on the link above for full scale view]

COVID Vaccine Developer/Manufacturer Announcements [organizations from WHO EUL/PQ listing above]

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COVID Vaccine Developer/Manufacturer Announcements [organizations from WHO EUL/PQ listing above]

 

AstraZeneca
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

Bharat Biotech, India
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

BioCubaFarma – Cuba
Últimas Noticias – No new digest announcements identified

 

CanSinoBIO
News – No new digest announcements identified

Clover Biopharmaceuticals – China
News – No new digest announcements identified

 

Curevac [Bayer Ag – Germany]
News – No new digest announcements identified

 

Gamaleya National Center
Latest News and Events – No new digest announcements identified [See Russia/RFID below]

IMBCAMS, China
Home – No new digest announcements identified

 

Janssen/JNJ
Press Releases
Apr 29, 2021 United States
Fraudulent Advertising for COVID-19 Vaccines: How to Identify Common Scams

 

Moderna
Press Releases
April 30, 2021
Moderna Announces Emergency Use Listing Granted by the World Health Organization for its COVID-19 Vaccine

April 29, 2021
Moderna Announces Additional Investments to Increase Global Supply for COVID-19 Vaccine to up to 3 Billion Doses in 2022

April 26, 2021
Moderna Announces Agreement with Sanofi for Fill/Finish Manufacturing of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine in the U.S.

 

Novavax
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

 

Pfizer
Recent Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

 

Serum Institute of India
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS – No new digest announcements identified

 

Sinopharm/WIBPBIBP
News – No new digest announcements identified

 

Sinovac
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

 

Vector State Research Centre of Viralogy and Biotechnology
Home – No new digest announcements identified

Zhifei Longcom, China
[Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co., Ltd.]
[No website identified]

U.S.: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

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U.S.: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee
No new digest content identified.

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
Meeting Draft Agenda – May 5, 2021pdf icon Webcast Link
:: Rabies Vaccine
:: Dengue Vaccine

 

::::::

White House [U.S.]
Briefing Room – Selected Major COVID Announcements
A Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease 2019
April 30, 2021 • Presidential Actions
… The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the Department of Health and Human Services, working in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, has determined that the Republic of India is experiencing widespread, ongoing person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  The World Health Organization has reported that the Republic of India has had more than 18,375,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.  The magnitude and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of India is surging; the Republic of India accounts for over one-third of new global cases, and the number of new cases in the Republic of India is accelerating at a rapid rate.  There have been more than 300,000 average new daily cases in the Republic of India over the past week.  A variant strain of the virus, known as B.1.617, is also circulating in the Republic of India, along with other variant strains, including B.1.1.7, first detected in the United Kingdom, and B.1.351, first detected in the Republic of South Africa.  The CDC advises, based on work by public health and scientific experts, that these variants have characteristics of concern, which may make them more easily transmitted and have the potential for reduced protection afforded by some vaccines.
After reviewing the public health situation within the Republic of India, CDC has concluded that proactive measures are required to protect the Nation’s public health from travelers entering the United States from that jurisdiction…
Given the determination of CDC, working in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, described above, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as nonimmigrants, of noncitizens of the United States (“noncitizens”) who were physically present within the Republic of India during the 14day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States…

Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
April 30, 2021 • Press Briefings

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Delivers Emergency COVID-19 Assistance for India
April 28, 2021 • Statements and Releases

Remarks by President Biden on the COVID-19 Response
April 27, 2021 • Speeches and Remarks

Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
April 27, 2021 • Press Briefings

Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on COVID-19 in India
April 26, 2021 • Press Briefings

 

::::::

COVID Data Tracker [U.S.] April 30, 2021

Europe: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

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Europe: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

 

European Medicines Agency
News & Press Releases
EMA and ECDC join forces for enhanced post-marketing monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines in Europe
News 26/04/2021
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today kicked off a new initiative aimed at strengthening post-marketing monitoring of the safety, effectiveness and impact of COVID-19 vaccines in the European Union (EU) and the European economic Area (EEA).

With the ongoing authorisation and rollout of several COVID-19 vaccines in the EU, jointly coordinated, large-scale, EU-wide effectiveness and safety studies are an essential tool to closely monitor how these novel vaccines perform in real life. These studies are key to generate adequate evidence to support continuous assessment of the benefits and risks of the vaccines and inform decision-making on their use in national or regional vaccination strategies for different populations.

EMA and ECDC will jointly coordinate and oversee a number of observational studies which will be funded from the EU budget and conducted in several European countries. In line with their respective mandates and in collaboration with EU/EEA countries, EMA leads on monitoring the safety, and ECDC the effectiveness, of these vaccines. This work will be supported by a Joint Advisory Board (JAB) to the two Agencies that held its first meeting today…

 

European Commission
Press release 27 April 2021
Coronavirus: EU channels critical support to India via EU Civil Protection Mechanism
A shipment of urgently needed oxygen, medicine and equipment will be delivered over the coming days by EU Member States to India, following the country’s request for support through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which is coordinated by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the EC.

Statement 26 April 2021
Joint Statement on European Immunization Week 2021: Celebrating the past, present and future benefits of vaccines
Joint Statement on European Immunization Week 2021: Celebrating the past, present and future benefits of vaccines

Russia: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

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Russia: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

 

Russia: Sputnik V – “the first registered COVID-19 vaccine”
https://sputnikvaccine.com/newsroom/pressreleases/
Press Releases
The Gamaleya Center statement on a disinformation campaign against Sputnik V vaccine
Press release, 30.04.2021

Sputnik V approved for use in Albania
Press release, 30.04.2021

Turkey becomes the 63rd country in the world to authorize Sputnik V
Press release, 30.04.2021

SPUTNIK V STATЕMENT ON BRAZILIAN HEALTH REGULATOR ANVISA’S DECISION TO POSTPONE SPUTNIK V AUTHORIZATION IN BRAZIL:
Press release, 28.04.2021

Sputnik V authorized in Bangladesh
Press release, 27.04.2021

The Gamaleya Center statement on increasing the interval between first and second Sputnik V vaccine shots
Press release, 26.04.2021

RDIF and Viscoran İlaç agree to produce the Sputnik V vaccine in Turkey
Press release, 26.04.2021

India: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

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India: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

 

Government of India – Press Information Bureau
Latest Press Releases
PM reviews Covid related situation in a meeting with Empowered Groups
Posted on: 30 Apr 2021

Prime Minister chairs a high-level meeting to review the Covid-19 related situation in the country
Posted on: 27 Apr 2021
PM Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with top officials to review the Covid-19 relation situation in the country. He got an overview on the situation in the country relating to oxygen availability, medicines, health infrastructure, etc.

 

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/

Latest Updates
29.04.2021 Revised guidelines for Home Isolation of mild /asymptomatic COVID-19 cases
29.04.2021 Protocol for Management of Covid – 19 in the Paediatric Age Group

Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR)
https://www.icmr.gov.in/media.html
No new digest content identified.

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 28 April 2021
:: The GPEI has released a position statement on the use of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 in light of shelf-life of 12 months or less. The purpose of the statement is to assist governments of countries affected by or at risk of cVDPV2 outbreaks optimize the use of deployed nOPV2 stocks.

Summary of new WPV and cVDPV viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
:: Afghanistan: one cVDPV2 case
:: Pakistan: one WPV1 and three cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: DR Congo: one cVDPV2 case
:: Liberia: one cVDPV2 case and two cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: Madagascar: three cVDPV1 cases and three cVDPV1 positive environmental samples
:: :: Mali: one cVDPV2 case
:: Nigeria: two cVDPV2 cases and one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
:: Sierra Leone: three cVDPV2 cases
:: South Sudan: one cVDPV2 case
:: Tajikistan: one cVDPV2 case

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

WHO/OCHA Emergencies

Editor’s Note:
Continuing with this edition, we include information about the last apparent update evident on the WHO emergency country webpages, recognizing almost universal and significant interims since last update regardless of the level of the emergency listed.

WHO Grade 3 Emergencies [to 1 May 2021]

Democratic Republic of the Congo – No new digest announcements [Last apparent update: 12 Jan 2021]
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 1 May 2021]
Iraq
:: World Immunization Week – vaccines bring us closer 28 April 2021

Measles in Europe
:: Getting closer together – one vaccination at a time 26-04-2021

Afghanistan – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 5 July 2020]
Angola – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 16 March 2021]
Burkina Faso – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 01 avril 2021]
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: 2 March 2020]
Libya – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 7 October 2019]
Malawi – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 22 April 2021
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]
Myanmar – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 29 March 2021]
Niger – No new digest announcements identified [Last apparent update: 16 avril 2021]
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 1 May 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: 23 April 2021
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 2019]

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

UN OCHA – Current Emergencies
System-wide Scale-up Responses
IASC Humanitarian System-Wide Scale-Up Activations and Deactivations
Published Date: 30 April 2021
Currently active Scale-Ups
northern Ethiopia
IASC System-Wide Scale-Up Activated on 28 April 2021.

Current Corporate Emergencies
Northern Ethiopia
:: Ethiopia Humanitarian Bulletin Issue #5 29 March – 23 Apri …
HIGHLIGHTS
:: As of 25 April, Ethiopia counts 252,279 COVID-19 cases, including 59,979 active cases and 3,551 deaths (1.4 per cent case fatality rate).
:: The test positivity rate stands at 25 per cent, while in cities like Dire Dawa and Hawassa, positivity rate is close to 50 per cent. Despite this alarming development, the population is not showing significant behavior change in implementing COVID-19 prevention measures.
:: The complex and unpredictable security situation in several areas of Tigray Region continues to affect the delivery of full-scale humanitarian assistance to affected communities, particularly to those who live in rural areas.

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

WHO & Regional Offices [to 1 May 2021]

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WHO & Regional Offices [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.who.int/

30 April 2021 Departmental news
Joint Statement: WHO Director-General and the Civil Society Task Force on TB

29 April 2021 Departmental news
Deworming women during pregnancy has a positive effect on child survival and health

29 April 2021 Departmental news
WHO Publishes new guidance to promote Strong, Efficient and Sustainable Regulatory Systems

29 April 2021 Departmental news
NTDs: pulse survey shows COVID-19 continues to disrupt health services

28 April 2021 Departmental news
Governments commit to accelerated action to prevent drowning

27 April 2021 Departmental news
COVID-19 Vaccination Financing and Budgeting Q&A
[See COVID above for detail]

26 April 2021 Departmental news
Leprosy (Hansen’s disease): interrupting transmission and achieving zero autochthonous cases

26 April 2021 Feature story
Tribute to John Storey

26 April 2021 News release
Immunization services begin slow recovery from COVID-19 disruptions, though millions of children remain at risk from deadly diseases – WHO, UNICEF, Gavi
[See COVID above for detail]

25 April 2021 Departmental news
WHO designates new collaborating centre to support clinical management of leishmaniasis

 

::::::

Weekly Epidemiological Record, Vol. 96, No. 17, pp. 133–144, 30 April 2021
:: Meeting of the Immunization and Vaccine-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (IVIR-AC), March 2021

 

::::::

WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: African vaccine champion on lessons from ending wild polio 29 April 2021
Vaccines save millions of lives each year. In August 2020, Africa crossed a historic milestone when it was certified as free of wild polio. Vaccination drives, reaching up to 220 million African children multiple times every year, were integral to achieving this historic milestone.
:: Emerging lessons from Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout 27 April 2021
With 47 African countries now rolling out COVID-19 vaccines and over 17 million doses given on the continent, early insights from Africa’s largest-ever immunization drive offer hope, inspiration and early, yet vital lessons. Here, we shine a light on key lessons emerging from countries that have made strong progress, including Angola, Ghana, Mauritius and Rwanda.

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
No new digest content identified

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: Address critical gaps urgently: WHO 28 April 2021 News release
:: World Malaria Day 25 April 2021 Statement

WHO European Region EURO
:: More Europeans now vaccinated against COVID-19 than have had the virus 29-04-2021
:: For the common good: patients and health workers tell Regional Director of COVID-19 challenges and hopes for the future during country visit 28-04-2021
:: United action for stronger quality of care in the European Region – WHO supports Greece in building a national health system for the 21st century 27-04-2021
:: This week we celebrate the role of vaccines in bringing us closer 27-04-2021
:: People in prisons should not be left behind amid COVID-19 vaccination 26-04-2021

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: World Immunization Week – vaccines bring us closer 28 April 2021
:: Government of Italy/WHO support children with malnutrition in Yemen 28 April 2021
:: Sudan launches yellow fever vaccination campaign 27 April 2021

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified

MMWR News Synopsis Friday, April 30, 2021

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MMWR News Synopsis Friday, April 30, 2021
:: COVID-19 Outbreak Among Farmworkers — Okanogan County, Washington, May–August 2020
:: COVID-19 Among Workers in the Seafood Processing Industry: Implications for Prevention Measures — Alaska, March–October 2020
:: Linked Clusters of SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.351 — Maryland, January–February 2021
:: Postvaccination SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Skilled Nursing Facility Residents and Staff Members — Chicago, Illinois, December 2020–March 2021 (Early Release April 21, 2021)
:: COVID-19 Outbreak Associated with a SARS-CoV-2 R.1 Lineage Variant in a Skilled Nursing Facility After Vaccination Program — Kentucky, March 2021 (Early Release April 21, 2021)
:: Health Care Utilization and Clinical Characteristics of Nonhospitalized Adults in an Integrated Health Care System 28–180 Days After COVID-19 Diagnosis — Georgia, May 2020–March 2021 (Early Release April 23, 2021)
:: Updated Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine After Reports of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Among Vaccine Recipients — United States, April 2021 (Early Release April 27, 2021)

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)- CDC

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)– CDC
Selected Resources
4/30/21EARLY RELEASE: Anxiety-Related Adverse Event Clusters After Janssen COVID-19 Vaccination – Five U.S. Mass Vaccination Sites, April 2021

4/30/21EARLY RELEASE: Safety Monitoring of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine – United States, March-April 2021

4/30/21Overall US COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Fri, 30 Apr 2021 06:00:00 EST

China CDC

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China CDC
http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/
China CDC Weekly
Articles in Press [Selected]
Notes from the Field: Emerging Variants of B.1.617 Lineage Identified Among Returning Chinese Employees Working in India — Chongqing Municipality, China, April 2021

Technical Vaccination Recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccines in China (First Edition)
Online Date: March 31 2021

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China [to 1 May 2021]
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
May 1: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
On April 30, 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on the Chinese mainland reported 16 new cases of confirmed infections.

China continues measures to control imported COVID cases
Updated: 2021-04-30
China will continue to take strict measures to prevent imported COVID-19 infections via people or goods after several inbound travelers tested positive for novel coronavirus after finishing quarantine, a senior health official said on April 29.
Wang Bin, a senior official at the National Health Commission, said the commission requires all inbound travelers to take nucleic acid tests during quarantine.
At the end of the 14-day medical quarantine, they should receive nucleic acid tests from at least two institutions to increase the accuracy of the tests, she said at a news conference.
After they finish the 14-day medical quarantine, they should observe seven-day home health monitoring, take necessary epidemic containment measures when going out and avoid large gatherings, she said…

National Medical Products Administration – PRC [to 1 May 2021]
http://english.nmpa.gov.cn/news.html
News
Vice-premier stresses production, supply of COVID-19 vaccines
2021-04-30
Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan on April 29 called for speeding up the production and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, ensuring quality and safety and promoting vaccination among the public to build an immune barrier.

Over 243 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across China
2021-04-30
More than 243.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China as of Wednesday, the National Health Commission said on April 29.

China’s new recombinant COVID-19 vaccine starts human tests
2021-04-25
Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm has commenced phase-1 and phase-2 clinical trials for its new recombinant vaccine against COVID-19 in Central China’s Henan province since April 24.

Organization Announcements

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Organization Announcements
Editor’s Note:
Careful readers will note that the number and range of organizations now monitored in our Announcements section below has grown as the impacts of the pandemic have spread across global economies, supply chains and programmatic activity of multilateral agencies and INGOs.

 

Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group [to 1 May 2021]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
News
[Website not responding at inquiry]

 

BARDA – U.S. Department of HHS [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.phe.gov/about/barda/Pages/default.aspx
News
No new digest content identified.

 

BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center
Press Releases and Statements
No new digest content identified.

 

Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 1 May 2021]
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 1 May 2021]
https://carb-x.org/
News
04.27.2021  |
CARB-X is funding UK-biotech GenomeKey to develop a rapid diagnostic for sepsis, a leading cause of death in hospitals
CARB-X is awarding GenomeKey (Genomics Labs Ltd.) in Bristol, UK, up to $3.0 million in non-dilutive funding to develop an innovative rapid diagnostic for sepsis. GenomeKey is eligible for up to $6.5 million in additional awards if the project achieves certain milestones, subject to available funds.

 

Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy – GE2P2 Global Foundation [to 1 May 2021]
https://centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.net/
News/Analysis/Statements
:: Past weekly editions of Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review are available here.
:: [NEW] Webinar Recording – Posting of Informed Consent Content on Clinical Trials Registries Center for Informed Consent Integrity Webinar Series – 21 April 2021

 

CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 1 May 2021]
http://cepi.net/
Latest News
UK support a vital first step in turning tide against future pandemics
The UK Government will host CEPI’s replenishment summit in 2022. This event will be the crucial moment for the world to take action to support our US$3.5 billion plan.
Blog 30 Apr 2021

UK to host global summit with CEPI to speed up new vaccine development
The UK will host a fundraising summit in 2022 to support the work of CEPI.
COVID-19 30 Apr 2021

 

DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [to 1 May 2021
https://www.darpa.mil/news
News
No new digest content identified.

 

Duke Global Health Innovation Center [to 1 May 2021]
https://dukeghic.org/
WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE
Last dated update: FRIDAY, April 16, 2021

 

EDCTP [to 1 May 2021]
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
25 April 2021
World Malaria Day 2021
On World Malaria Day 2021, EDCTP joins all partners in the ‘Zero Malaria – Draw the Line Against Malaria’ campaign towards the goal of malaria…

 

Emory Vaccine Center [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
Vaccine Center News
No new digest content identified.

 

European Vaccine Initiative [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/
Latest News
European Immunization Week 2021
‘Vaccines bring us closer’ across the world, organisations and generations’

 

FDA [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
Press Announcements /Selected Details
April 30, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: April 30, 2021

April 28, 2021 – FDA Takes Action For Failure to Submit Required Clinical Trial Results Information to ClinicalTrials.Gov

April 27, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: April 27, 2021
:: On April 23, the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a press release lifting the recommended pause on the use of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine following a thorough safety review. The FDA added and updated some questions about resuming the use of this vaccine to the Janssen COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions webpage

 

Fondation Merieux [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
No new digest content identified.

 

Gavi [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.gavi.org/
News Releases
26 April 2021
Immunization services begin slow recovery from COVID-19 disruptions, though millions of children remain at risk from deadly diseases
[See COVAX above for detail]

 

GHIT Fund [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press
GHIT was set up in 212 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that
No new digest content identified.

 

Global Fund [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
India’s devastating COVID-19 crisis
30 April 2021
…As part of the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism 2021, we have made available an initial base allocation of US$75 million to support India’s response to COVID-19. We are working closely with the Government of India and national partners to help them access the new emergency funding and identify solutions to the most critical needs.
The Global Fund is also working with international partners to support India. In February 2021, the COVID-19 Oxygen Emergency Taskforce was launched by Unitaid and the Wellcome Trust as co-leaders of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator) Therapeutics Pillar, to respond to the surging oxygen emergency in low- and middle-income countries. The taskforce brings together key organizations including Unitaid, the Wellcome Trust, the Global Fund, WHO, Unicef, World Bank, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), PATH, the Every Breath Counts coalition and Save the Children…

 

Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness [GloPID-R] [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.glopid-r.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.

 

Hilleman Laboratories [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
Website not responding at inquiry

 

Human Vaccines Project [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
No new digest content identified.
[Website not fully loading at inquiry]

 

IAVI [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.iavi.org/newsroom
PRESS RELEASES/FEATURES
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.

 

ICRC [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
Selected News Releases, Statements, Reports
Legislative Checklist: Protecting Health Care from Violence
The document presents a list of questions (a checklist or compatibility study) that cover some of the main challenges related to the protection of health care during armed conflict and other emergencies.
28-04-2021 | Publication

Without urgent action to protect essential services in conflict zones we face vast humanitarian disaster

Speech given by Mr Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to the UNSC Open Debate on the Protection of Objects Indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.
27-04-2021 | Statement

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

IFRC [to 1 May 2021]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
Americas, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay
IFRC calls for an urgent scale-up of vaccinations, health interventions and economic support as the pandemic continues to surge in the Americas
As the Americas region continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling for an urgent scaling up of public health interventions, vaccinations and economic support for the most vulnerable. With almost half of the cases and deaths from COVID-19 in the world, the continent continues to bear the brunt of this monumental crisis on various fronts.
28 April 2021

India
IFRC urges unity to vaccinate the world against COVID-19 as countries unite to help India
Kuala Lumpur/Delhi/Geneva, 28 April – The terrible toll of death and illness unfolding in India reinforces that this pandemic is far from over. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) urges the whole world to unify a …
28 April 2021

Philippines
Philippines: Red Cross eases burden on hospitals under siege as COVID-19 cases hit 1 million
Kuala Lumpur/Manila, 26 April – Record COVID-19 surges across the Philippines have placed hospitals under siege as total Coronavirus infections pass 1 million. Red Cross is urgently setting up field hospitals, quarantine facilities and scaling up exist …
26 April 2021

 

Institut Pasteur [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
Press release
No new digest content identified.

 

IRC International Rescue Committee [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index
Media highlights [Selected]
Press Release
NE Syria: As COVID surges, hospitals face acute O2 shortage and testing is in jeopardy; IRC makes urgent call for more funding and support to boost COVID response
April 27, 2021

 

IVAC [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates; Events
No new digest content identified.

 

IVI [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.ivi.int/
Selected IVI News, Announcements, Events
No new digest content identified.

 

JEE Alliance [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
Selected News and Events
No new digest content identified.

 

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/news/center-news/
Center News
No new digest content identified.

 

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements
Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
Responding to COVID-19: Global Accountability Report 3 – September to December 2020
Report = 29 Apr 2021
… From March to December 2020, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) responded to the pandemic through our existing programmes and dedicated COVID-19 interventions in more than 300 projects in 70 countries. Our global COVID-19 activities focused on delivering medical care and other assistance to vulnerable people at risk of being left behind, including remote communities, people on the move, homeless people, and elderly people living in long-term care facilities…

 

National Academy of Medicine – USA [to 1 May 2021]
https://nam.edu/programs/
Selected News/Programs
Upcoming Events:
Collaborating with Communities about COVID-19, Climate, and Community Concerns: A Roundtable Discussion
May 4, 2021 1:00PM – 2:30PM (ET)

COVID-19 Vaccines: Building Confidence and Explaining Efficacy, Webinar
May 4, 2021 3:00PM – 4:00PM (ET)

 

National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
Upcoming Meetings/Latest Updates
No new digest content identified.

 

NIH [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
News Releases
NIH to invest $29 million to address COVID-19 disparities
April 29, 2021 — Effort will foster community-engagement research in communities which have been hit hardest by the pandemic.

 

UN OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.unocha.org/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

PATH [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Press Releases
PATH welcomes Samantha Power as new USAID administrator
April 28, 2021 by PATH

 

Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

UNAIDS [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
30 April 2021
Joint mission supports the response to HIV in Gboklè/Nawa/San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire

26 April 2021
High rates of hepatitis C and HIV coinfection among key populations

26 April 2021
Interactive multistakeholder hearing takes place ahead of United Nations High-Level Meeting on AIDS

 

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html
Latest from News Centre
Pandemic and political crisis could result in half of Myanmar’s population living in poverty by 2022, UNDP says
The combined effects of the two crises could put over a decade of progress on poverty reduction in the country at risk.
Posted on April 30, 2021

 

UNESCO [to 1 May 2021]
http://en.unesco.org/news
Selected Latest News
No new digest content identified.

 

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/media-centre.htmlS
Selected News Releases, Announcements
No new digest content identified.

 

UNICEF [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Selected Press Releases, Statements
News note
04/29/2021
UNICEF sends 3,000 oxygen concentrators and other critical supplies to India as country battles deadly COVID-19 surge

Press release
04/28/2021
Vaccination Demand Observatory launched to strengthen local communication programmes to address vaccine misinformation
UNICEF, Yale Institute for Global Health, and Public Good Projects team up to create the Vaccination Demand Observatory to equip country teams with tools to counter misinformation and mistrust related to all vaccines
…The Vaccine Acceptance Interventions Lab (VAIL) will draw upon behavioural and social research and insights from social listening to develop engaging, relevant content to fill information gaps. VAIL also will develop “inoculation” messages to vaccinate people against vaccine misinformation. The content and programs will be rapid field tested for tone, format and behavior change impact before being implemented…

Statement
04/26/2021
UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore’s remarks at the special press briefing with WHO and Gavi on the impact of COVID-19 on immunization
As prepared for delivery
[See Milestones above for detail]

Press release
04/26/2021
Immunization services begin slow recovery from COVID-19 disruptions, though millions of children remain at risk from deadly diseases – WHO, UNICEF, Gavi
Ambitious new global strategy aims to save over 50 million lives through vaccination
[See Milestones above for detail]

 

Unitaid [to 1 May 2021]
https://unitaid.org/
Featured News
28 April 2021
Unitaid and Wellcome statement regarding MSD’s global access plan for molnupiravir, a potential treatment for COVID-19 
Geneva – ACT-Accelerator Therapeutics co-leads Wellcome and Unitaid welcome MSD’s commitment to voluntary licensing agreements with five generic manufacturers to serve the needs of India and 100 other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is an important first step to accelerate and expand global access for molnupiravir, should upcoming clinical data prove it safe and effective.
Industry plays a central role in ensuring a rapid and effective COVID-19 response. Their commitment to the development of promising therapeutics for COVID-19 is critical in the race to end the pandemic and in meeting the continued need for treatments for COVID-19.
We also welcome MSD’s engagement with the Unitaid-supported Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to further broaden access to molnupiravir. In anticipation of a potential approval in the months to come, robust plans for affordable access in all low- and middle-income countries are required, including middle-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, given the trajectory of the pandemic.

28 April 2021
Access to HIV self-tests significantly expanded and costs halved thanks to Unitaid agreement
:: Self-testing vital tool to help people know HIV status – but market has been dominated by single oral-based self-test
:: New Unitaid-led agreement with Viatris (through its subsidiary Mylan) reduces price of blood-based HIV self-test by 50%, significantly expanding market and giving countries more options
:: New test will be available for less than $2 in 135 countries
:: Self tests key factor in achieving SDG target of 90% of people infected with HIV knowing their status

27 April 2021
ANTICOV: largest clinical trial in Africa for people with mild COVID-19 to test new drug combination
Need for effective COVID-19 treatments remains particularly acute, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where access to vaccines is still extremely limited
Geneva – The ANTICOV clinical trial, conducted in 13 African countries, has started the recruitment of participants to test a new drug combination, nitazoxanide + ciclesonide, to treat people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 before their cases become severe.
The ANTICOV study is being carried out by a consortium of 26 partners which include leading African research institutions and international health organizations, coordinated by the non-profit research and development (R&D) organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). It is the largest trial in Africa to identify early COVID-19 treatments that can prevent progression to severe disease and potentially limit transmission.
“In many African countries our worst fears are being realised, as already-strained intensive care units are beginning to fill up with COVID-19 patients,” said Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). “Yet the number of vaccine doses that are reaching the African continent is too limited. The rapid spread of new variants also threatens to reduce the efficacy of existing vaccines, which is another major cause for concern. We need urgently to identify affordable and easy-to-administer treatments that can prevent the evolution to a severe form of the disease and slow the rate of infection.”…

 

Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN) [to 1 May 2021]
https://vaccineacceptance.org/news.html#header1-2r
Announcements
No new digest content identified.

 

Vaccine Confidence Project [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
News, Research and Reports
Coronavirus global impact
Launched April 2, 2020 and recurring every 3 days, Premise Data is utilizing its global network of Contributors to assess economic, social, and health sentiment surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19).

 

Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
News
No new digest content identified.

 

Wellcome Trust [to 1 May 2021]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News and reports
Explainer
Why we need to share vaccine doses now and why COVAX is the right way to do it
26 April 2021
We need urgent international action to achieve more equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccines. Countries that have ordered more vaccine doses than they need are best placed to take the lead, by sharing doses now, through COVAX.

 

The Wistar Institute [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
Apr. 27, 2021
Wistar Expands International Training of the Next Generation of Scientists With the University of Bologna
Second international training program offers mentorship under top cancer research scientists.

 

WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News
COVID-19 a Springboard for Immunization for All Ages
News Apr 29, 2021
The WFPHA has used World Immunisation Week to call for greater coordination in the vaccination of people of all ages.

 

World Bank [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
Selected News, Announcements
World Bank Expands Colombia Amazon Conservation Project with US$18.4 Million Grant
Washington, D.C., April 30, 2021 – The World Bank Board of Directors today approved an additional grant of US$18.4 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Forest Conservation…
Date: April 30, 2021 Type: Press Release

Lebanon Financing Facility Approves $55 million Recovery Program Targeting Vulnerable Households and Small Businesses to Respond to the Port of Beirut Explosion
Beirut, April 30, 2021 – The World Bank convened yesterday the first meeting of the Partnership Council for the Lebanon Financing Facility (LFF) to discuss the priorities, proposed funding allocations…
Date: April 29, 2021 Type: Press Release L

Lebanon Financing Facility for Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction (LFF)- Questions and Answers
Following the Port of Beirut explosion on August 4, 2020, the World Bank Group, the European Union and the United Nations developed the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) in order to address…
Date: April 29, 2021 Type: Brief

Living with Debt: How Institutions Can Chart a Path to Recovery in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Gatti, Roberta; Lederman, Daniel; Nguyen, Ha M.; Alturki, Sultan Abdulaziz.; Fan, Rachel Yuting; Islam, Asif M.; Rojas, Claudio More than a year after the World Health Organization declared…
Date: April 28, 2021 Type: Brief

Supporting teachers using technology: 400 solutions from 80 countries
The World Bank Group and HundrED teamed up, supported with funding from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), to launch the Teachers for a Changing World: Transforming Teacher Professional Development…
Date: April 28, 2021 Type: Feature Story

What is learning poverty?
All children should be able to read by age 10. Reading is a gateway for learning as the child progresses through school—and conversely, an inability to read slams that gate shut. Beyond this, when children…
Date: April 28, 2021 Type: Brief

Moldova’s Vaccination System to be Strengthened, with World Bank Support
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2021 – The World Bank has approved Additional Financing for the Moldova COVID-19 Emergency Response Project in the amount of EUR 24.8 million, which will support the Government of…
Date: April 27, 2021 Type: Press Release

World Bank Supports Fair and Effective Deployment of COVID-19 Vaccines in Sri Lanka
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2021—The World Bank today approved $80.5 million additional financing to help Sri Lanka access and distribute COVID-19 vaccines and to strengthen the country’s vaccination system…
Date: April 27, 2021 Type: Press Release

 

World Customs Organization – WCO [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.wcoomd.org/
Latest News – Selected Items
No new digest content identified.

 

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2021/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

WTO – World Trade Organisation [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
WTO News and Events
No new digest content identified.

 

 

::::::

 

ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 1 May 2021]
Press Releases – Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (alliancerm.org)
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

BIO [to 1 May 2021]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News; Upcoming events
No new digest content identified.

 

ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 1 May 2021]
https://internationalbiotech.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.

 

IFPMA [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
IFPMA statement at the close of the 3rd Fair Pricing Forum 13 to 22 April
Published on: 23 April 2021
We thank the organizers, World Health Organization and Ministry of Health of Argentina for convening this meeting and for inviting representatives from the innovative biopharmaceutical industry to share our experience and perspectives on how we can work collectively toward improved access to medicines worldwide.

It is with this mindset that we engaged in a constructive and open dialogue, aimed at co-creating solutions to our common objective of bringing innovative medicines to more patients around the world. We remain committed to maintaining the course in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals health targets, despite the coronavirus pandemic. The innovative biopharmaceutical industry is sensitive to the debate about affordability and access.  We are making progress through new partnerships in reaching many more patients and supporting health systems for sustainable and longstanding improvements to patient health outcomes.  There is still work to be done; and there is no room for complacency.

The coronavirus pandemic has shown how the innovative biopharmaceutical industry has risen to the occasion and to meet societal expectations in developing and scaling up manufacturing of tests, treatments, and vaccines, driven by a strong belief that in the end science will win and help us to overcome the pandemic. There are challenges to overcome in meeting the goal of “no one is safe until everyone is safe”, but we have also seen the power of public-private partnerships, such as Covax, and the critical role of vaccine manufacturers from industrialized as well as developing countries in scaling up production from zero to billions of doses in record time.

As discussed in prior editions of the Fair Pricing Forum, “fair pricing and fair access” should be achieved while ensuring continued support for an innovation ecosystem that allows future discoveries for today and tomorrow’s unmet medical needs. The COVID-19 innovations and roll out that have been achieved for the pandemic as a response to the biggest public health crisis of our age, cannot be assumed to be the norm.  The unprecedented actions industry has taken for the coronavirus public health pandemic IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL.  We have been able to respond in the manner that we have by leaning on the knowledge, know-how and pillars of a functioning innovation eco-system, built on decades of on-going investment.

We want to be better-prepared for future pandemics. To enable this, the fundamentals that have enabled our industry’s readiness to swiftly take on the COVID challenge should not be compromised.

 

PhRMA [to 1 May 2021]
http://www.phrma.org/
Selected Press Releases, Statements
New PhRMA report shows nearly 90 medicines in development to fight drug-resistant infections, but future pipeline remains challenging
April 29, 2021
New PhRMA report shows nearly 90 medicines in development to fight drug-resistant infections, but future pipeline remains challenging
Blog Post

Patient safety is at the heart of COVID-19 vaccine R&D
April 26, 2021
Patient safety is at the heart of COVID-19 vaccine R&D. Robust clinical research standards, safety monitoring, expert guidance, and genomic surveillance efforts all contribute to a robust safety practice surrounding our vaccine manufacturing and distribution ecosystem.
Blog Post

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

Ending the HIV Epidemic

Posted on by

AMA Journal of Ethics
Volume 23, Number 5: E371-433 May 2021
https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/issue/ending-hiv-epidemic

 

Ending the HIV Epidemic
A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic began in the United States in the 1970s. “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America” was launched in October 2019 by the US Department of Health and Human Services, with the goal of stopping the spread of HIV by 2030. Accomplishing this goal demands not only expanding existing programs, but recognizing and responding to clinically, ethically, socially, and culturally relevant features of contemporary patients’ experiences of stigma, oppression, and living with HIV. This issue considers ethical and clinical complexities patients and clinicians encounter in HIV care today.

Trends in place of early-season influenza vaccination among adults, 2014-15 through 2018-19 influenza seasons—The importance of medical and nonmedical settings for vaccination

Posted on by

American Journal of Infection Control
May 2021 Volume 49 Issue 5 p533-656
http://www.ajicjournal.org/current

 

Major Articles
Trends in place of early-season influenza vaccination among adults, 2014-15 through 2018-19 influenza seasons—The importance of medical and nonmedical settings for vaccination
Peng-jun Lu, Anup Srivastav, Tammy A. Santibanez,…Jessica Roycroft, Marshica Stanley Kurtz, Walter W. Williams
Published online: October 07, 2020
p555-562

Paediatric nurses’, children’s and parents’ adherence to infection prevention and control and knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship: A systematic review

Posted on by

American Journal of Infection Control
May 2021 Volume 49 Issue 5 p533-656
http://www.ajicjournal.org/current

 

State of the Science Review
Paediatric nurses’, children’s and parents’ adherence to infection prevention and control and knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship: A systematic review
Mataya Kilpatrick, Ana Hutchinson, Elizabeth Manias, Stéphane L. Bouchoucha
Published online: December 04, 2020
p622-639
Open Access
Highlights
:: This review provides compelling evidence that there is a lack of understanding of infection prevention and control precautions and appropriate antimicrobial use by parents, children, and nurses in paediatric settings.
:: Identified practice gaps highlight health care workers’, parents’ and children’s vulnerability to pathogen exposure in the context of pandemic spread of highly contagious pathogens.
:: Parents and children had limited knowledge in relation to antimicrobials, and thus were making poor decisions on antibiotic use.
:: Nurses were unaware of their leadership role in antimicrobial stewardship but they nevertheless had a good understanding of antimicrobial stewardship principles and the barriers to good antimicrobial stewardship.

The Benefits of Vaccinating With the First Available COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine

Posted on by

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
May 2021 Volume 60 Issue 5 p595-736
http://www.ajpmonline.org/current

 

Research Articles
The Benefits of Vaccinating With the First Available COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine
Sarah M. Bartsch, Kelly J. O’Shea, Patrick T. Wedlock, …Sarah N. Cox, Peter J. Hotez, Bruce Y. Lee
Published online: January 18, 2021
p605-613