Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 31 Pages 4239-4390 (13 July 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/31

Research article Full text access
Should older adult pneumococcal vaccination recommendations change due to decreased vaccination in children during the pandemic? A cost-effectiveness analysis
Kenneth J. Smith, Angela R. Wateska, Mary Patricia Nowalk, Chyongchiou J. Lin, … Richard K. Zimmerman
Pages 4278-4282

Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 31 Pages 4239-4390 (13 July 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/31

Research article Full text access
Early influenza vaccination rates decline in children during the COVID-19 pandemic
Benjamin Fogel, Eric W. Schaefer, Steven D. Hicks
Pages 4291-4295

Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 31 Pages 4239-4390 (13 July 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/31

Research article Open access
COVID-19 related immunization disruptions in Rajasthan, India: A retrospective observational study
Radhika Jain, Ambika Chopra, Camille Falézan, Mustufa Patel, Pascaline Dupas
Pages 4343-4350

Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 31 Pages 4239-4390 (13 July 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/31

Research article Abstract only
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of routine childhood immunizations in Ontario, Canada
Pierre-Philippe Piché-Renaud, Catherine Ji, Daniel S. Farrar, Jeremy N. Friedman, … Shaun K. Morris
Pages 4373-4382

Think Tanks et al
 
 
Brookings [to 14 Aug 2021]
http://www.brookings.edu/
Order from Chaos
Delta variant outbreak challenges Vietnam’s COVID-19 response strategy
Huong Le Thu
Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Report
Global governance after COVID-19: Survey report
Kemal Derviş and Sebastian Strauss
Monday, August 9, 2021
 
 
Center for Global Development [to 14 Aug 2021]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Podcast
Lagos to Mombasa: How Does the Pandemic End in Africa?
August 12, 2021
This first episode of the new Africa-centered podcast series Lagos to Mombasa examines how African governments can shape their responses to the pandemic and prepare for the future. Patrick Tippoo of Biovac and the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative and Prashant Yadav from CGD join Gyude Moore to discuss options and opportunities.
W. Gyude Moore

Malaria Case Management in the Private Sector in Africa: A Call for Action to Identify Sustainable Solutions
Publication
August 11, 2021
Over the past two decades, partnerships between bilateral and multilateral funders, philanthropy, national governments, and the private sector have substantially increased global access to effective malaria treatment. Nevertheless, further action on malaria case management is needed to meet global targets for reduced malaria morbidity and mortality.
 
 
Chatham House [to 14 Aug 2021]
https://www.chathamhouse.org/
Accessed 14 Aug 2021
[No new digest content identified]

CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 14 Aug 2021
Report
Beyond Emergency Pandemic Response: The Case for Prioritizing Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention
August 10, 2021 | By Erol Yayboke, Janina Staguhn

 
 
Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org/search/?post_type=press-release
August 13, 2021 News Release
Children Head Back to School Amid an Ongoing Pandemic That Has Had Significant Effects on Their Health and Well-Being
As students head back to in-person school this fall, a new KFF brief highlights the effects of the ongoing pandemic on the health and well-being of children, including missed routine vaccinations and preventive care, mental health challenges and economic setbacks that can influence health. There had been over 4 million…

August 12, 2021 News Release
Drug Overdose Deaths Rose During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Particularly Among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native People
Drug overdose deaths rose during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, with some of the biggest jumps occurring among people of color, a new KFF analysis finds. The analysis breaks out drug overdose deaths by race and ethnicity for the first nine months of 2020, when the pandemic triggered…

August 11, 2021 News Release
Most Parents Don’t Want Their Schools to Require COVID-19 Vaccination, But Most Favor Requiring Masks for Unvaccinated Children and Staff
Worries about Long-Term and Serious Side Effects are Parents’ Top Concern; Hispanic and Black Parents Are More Likely than White Parents to Cite Access and Cost Issues As schools around the country prepare to reopen, a majority of parents of school-age children say they do not want their children’s schools…

August 10, 2021 News Release
Direct Care Workforce Shortages Have Worsened in Many States During the Pandemic, Hampering Providers of Home and Community-Based Services
During the pandemic many states have experienced worsening direct care workforce shortages that have affected providers of home- and community-based long-term care services (HCBS), according to early findings of a new KFF survey of Medicaid HCBS programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Most states reported workforce…

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: 

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

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

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

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

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the Member State Information Session on COVID-19 – 5 August 2021
5 August 2021
Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening to all Member States, and thank you for joining us once again in our weekly session.

With the development of vaccines in record time we have come so far. But the world is now in a period of real danger. Many of the gains we have made are now being eroded.

The total number of reported cases will likely pass 200 million tomorrow. And we know the real figures are much higher. The highly transmissible Delta variant has now been detected in at least 132 countries. But the rise in cases is not just a natural process; it is being fuelled by increased social mixing, inconsistent public health and social measures, and inequitable vaccination.

Over 4 billion vaccines have been administered globally, but more than 80% have gone to high- and upper-middle income countries. Health workers and people most at risk in lower-income countries are not receiving vaccines, while some countries are vaccinating those at low risk of serious disease.

This is wrong.  The hard-won gains we have made are being lost, and health systems in many countries are being overwhelmed as the increased number of infections is creating a shortage of life-saving treatments.

Twenty-nine countries have high and rising oxygen needs, and many countries have inadequate supplies of basic equipment to protect frontline health workers. Meanwhile, testing rates in low-income countries are less than 2% of what they are in high-income countries. This leaves us blind to understanding where the disease is and whether new, more dangerous variants are emerging.

So far, the Secretariat has supported 117 countries with oxygen concentrators and generators; we’re providing guidance to help countries better detect variants; and we continue to work daily with our global networks of experts to understand why the Delta variant spreads so readily. But the needs are much greater than the resources we have to meet them.

The WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for 2021 faces a funding shortfall of US$900 million, almost half of what we need. Of the funds we have received, nearly all of them are earmarked. This shortfall is already having an impact on our operations, and the lack of flexibility, in particular, leaves us in real danger of not being able to sustain urgent priorities for vaccination, surveillance and response in countries experiencing surges in cases.

In addition, the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator is launching the Rapid ACT-Accelerator Delta Response, or RADAR, issuing an urgent call for US$7.7 billion for tests, treatments and vaccines. In parallel, we will need $3.8 billion in additional financing this year for COVAX to exercise its options to purchase vaccines for 2022.

At the same time, we are working to find new ways of scaling up vaccine production. Last week we took another step forward in setting up a technology transfer hub for mRNA vaccines in South Africa, with a letter of intent that sets out the terms of collaboration.

WHO’s goal remains to support every country to vaccinate at least 10% of its population by the end of September and at least 40% by the end of this year, and 70% of the world’s population by the middle of next year. 

Yet even while a large percentage of the world’s people are still waiting for their first dose, some countries are moving towards booster doses. I understand the concern of all governments to protect their people from the Delta variant. But we cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it, while the world’s most vulnerable people remain unprotected.            
                        
High-income countries have now administered almost 100 doses for every 100 people. Meanwhile, low-income countries have only been able to administer 1.5 doses for every 100 people, due to lack of supply.

We need an urgent reversal, from the majority of vaccines going to high-income countries, to the majority going to low-income countries. That’s why I am calling for a moratorium on boosters until at least the end of September, to enable at least 10% of the population of every country to be vaccinated.

To make that happen, we need everyone’s cooperation, especially the handful of countries and companies that control the global supply of vaccines. We call on those countries and vaccine producers to prioritize COVAX. 

At the same time, we must all remember that vaccines are not the only tool. Indeed, there is no single tool that will defeat this pandemic. We can only defeat it with a comprehensive approach of vaccines in combination with the proven public health and social measures that we know work.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Elevating political leadership for Pandemic Preparedness and Response Meeting with the UN General Assembly
28 July 2021
Statement [Excerpts]
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
…So today there is a choice – to carry on with business as usual with the inevitability of a future pandemic catastrophe, or to make real and lasting change.

That choice is clear: now we must act – this must be the last pandemic to cause devastation on the scale we are witnessing today. We need a stronger international system for pandemic preparedness and response that understands the threats, is alert, and is poised to take collective action. The job can’t be done by any single country working alone. It can’t even be done by a group of countries, no matter how willing, because we are only as strong as our weakest link. Therefore, the UN General Assembly has a decisive role to play in strengthening the multilateral infrastructure so that it can identify and respond more quickly to the next virus with pandemic potential.

Helen Clark
…The international system needs to work as a coherent and effective system – and it must also work across sectors and silos. The pandemic is not only a health crisis; it is also a social economic, political, and peace and security crisis. That is why we have come to you – the UN General Assembly. Our Panel believes that the General Assembly has a crucial role to play in ensuring that the international system is co-ordinated and empowered to identify and act against future diseases with pandemic potential.
We said earlier that our recommendations are a package. We propose that a negotiated political declaration be adopted by the UN General Assembly later this year, setting out the road map for a stronger international system for the future.  

That roadmap should set out the architecture required and the steps to be taken to create it. It should encompass support for a new high-level oversight council, a dedicated financing mechanism, a new pandemic convention, and a  redesigned, permanent mechanism replacing ACT-A based on a global public goods model.

At the top of that system, our Panel recommends the creation of a Global Health Threats Council at the level of Heads of State and Government and including private sector and civil society representation. Pandemic preparedness must be led from the top, and it must be multisectoral.

Indeed, that Council would be tasked with maintaining political commitment to pandemic preparedness and response. It would not be an operational body, but rather a body that monitors progress, draws attention to gaps, and holds actors accountable – all key functions that the Panel found were missing in the international system.

WHO has an indispensable role in responding to global health emergencies and ensuring longer-term public health and health security through the strengthening of primary health systems in all countries. WHO is and should remain the lead agency for health in the international system. The quality, timing, and clarity of the technical advice and direction WHO provides to the world are of the utmost importance and Member States must adequately resource, empower, and further strengthen it. We welcome the initiative taken by the World Health Assembly to establish a Working Group on strengthening WHO.

The Panel backs the calls for a new pandemic framework convention which should, among other things, fill gaps in the current legal system and clarify the responsibilities between States and international actors. This pandemic treaty or framework convention would give state parties the opportunity to commit to the principles of pandemic preparedness and response in the spirit of mutual obligation, and give a framework for the institutional architecture needed to prevent future pandemics. The Panel recommended that it be adopted using the powers under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, and be complementary to the International Health Regulations.

We propose the creation of an international pandemic financing facility. It must be able distribute up to ten billion dollars a year for preparedness and disburse up to one hundred billion in the event of a crisis. Ultimately, investing billions in preparedness now will save trillions in the future, as the current pandemic has so clearly illustrated. Funding for response to this pandemic generally was too little and came too late.

The facility should raise resources on an ability-to-pay formula with all countries contributing and allocations being made to those requiring solidarity funding. This should be a sustainable core commitment – not subtracted from an already stretched development assistance envelope. The facility could be hosted by an existing institution which is representative of countries big and small, rich and poor – we have proposed that the Global Health Threats Council be the allocator of funds.

The Panel considered that the current model of development and delivery of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for pandemics is not fit for purpose. We believe there is a need to shift away from a market-based model to one based on global public goods. This can be achieved through a transformation of ACT-A.

The Panel has recommended increasing the authority and independence of WHO, including by it having adequate, predictable, flexible and sustainable funding, and having its Director General and Regional Directors in future each serving a single term of seven years.

A greatly improved system for disease surveillance and alert is needed. WHO must have the authority to investigate outbreaks of concern rapidly, and publish information rapidly on its own authority. Future declarations of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO Director-General should be based on the precautionary principle where warranted, as in the case of respiratory infections. PHEIC declarations should be based on clear, objective, and published criteria.

The Panel recommended that WHO set measurable benchmarks for country preparedness and response capacities, and for countries to invest accordingly, with support coming from the dedicated financing mechanism for those with limited resources. WHO should formalise universal periodic peer reviews of country progress against the benchmarks it sets. We also brought the IMF into the picture – proposing that it incorporate assessments of preparedness as part of its Article Four consultations.

Ultimately preparedness rests on national governments setting up the right structures, developing the needed capacities, and investing in vital assets such as health and other system resilience and social protection. Governments can listen and learn from the best practices we illustrate in our report.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
…I speak with conviction when I say that this current pandemic must be the last to cause devastation to human life, societies, and economies. As a world, we must do better.

This time we must act and not bury this analysis and these recommendations in the vault as has happen many times before.

To implement a package of reforms like that which our Panel has developed will require the engagement of Heads of State and Government. Every Head of State and Government is currently focused on the problems created by the pandemic.

It is vital now to mobilise the political will to make the changes required for a more effective and timely global response next time a pandemic threat emerges. We owe this to future generations.

The General Assembly has the authority to convene at the highest level to endorse a negotiated political declaration which will drive reform. That is what our Panel has requested the General Assembly to do, and we hope that you will give this your most serious consideration.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Joint Statement of the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics for Developing Countries following its Second Meeting
New Global Database to Enhance Transparency and Improve Delivery of COVID-19 Tools

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2021 — The Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Developing Countries, established by the heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization to identify and resolve finance and trade impediments to vaccine, diagnostics, therapeutic production and deliveries, today launched a new website that includes the first phase of a global database and country dashboards on vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to guide their work and advocacy. It also today issued the following joint statement:

“We reiterate the urgency of providing access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments to people throughout the developing world. In the area of vaccines, a key constraint is the acute and alarming shortage in the supply of doses to low and low-middle income countries, especially for the rest of 2021. We call on countries with advanced COVID-19 vaccination programs to release as soon as possible as much of their contracted vaccine doses and options as possible to COVAX, AVAT, and low and low-middle income countries.

We are concerned that vaccine delivery schedules and contracts for COVAX, AVAT, and low and low-middle income countries are delayed or too slow. Less than 5% of vaccine doses that were pre-purchased by or for low-income countries have been delivered. Our common target is for at least 40% of people in low and low-middle income countries to be vaccinated by the end of 2021. We estimate that less than 20% of the necessary vaccines is currently scheduled for delivery to these countries, whether through COVAX, AVAT, or bilateral deals and dose-sharing agreements.

We urge COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to redouble their efforts to scale up production of vaccines specifically for these countries, and to ensure that the supply of doses to COVAX and low and low-middle income countries takes precedence over the promotion of boosters and other activities. We call on governments to reduce or eliminate barriers to the export of vaccines and all materials involved in their production and deployment. We underscore the urgent need for all parties to address supply chain and trade bottlenecks for vaccines, testing, and therapeutics as well as all of the materials involved in their production and deployment.

As per the IMF staff’s $50 billion proposal to end the pandemic, and in line with the priorities set out by WHO, WTO, IMF and the World Bank Group, over $35 billion in grant are needed with only one third of this financed to date. We welcome the recent announcement by COVAX and the World Bank to accelerate vaccine supplies for developing countries through a new financing mechanism. We also welcome the partnership between the World Bank and AVAT, noting that World Bank financing is now available to support the purchase and deployment of doses secured by both AVAT and COVAX.

It is critical to improve clarity and transparency around the evolving vaccine market, expected production volumes, delivery schedules, and pre-purchase options. We call on manufacturers to accelerate delivery to developing countries and we call on advanced economies to scale-up near-term deliveries to developing countries.”

The database and country-by-country dashboards, which also build on the IMF-WHO COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Tracker, seek to focus international attention and mobilize action by illuminating specific gaps, not just globally but also country-by-country. 

TASK FORCE ON COVID-19 VACCINES, THERAPEUTICS, AND DIAGNOSTICS
International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization, World Trade Organization
Through this web site, which includes a global database and country-by-country data dashboards, the Task Force is tracking and monitoring specific global and country-level gaps to support faster and more targeted solutions to accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and tests in developing countries. Read more on the purpose of this website and how to explore the data

Website accessed 7 Aug 2021: https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data

Featured Journal Content

National Academy of Medicine ̶ NAM Perspectives Discussion Paper
Biomedical Research COVID-19 Impact Assessment: Lessons Learned and Compelling Needs
By Nakela L. Cook and Michael S. Lauer
July 26, 2021 | Discussion Paper :: 28 pages
NAM Perspectives. Discussion Paper, National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.31478/202107e.
Open Access PDF: https://nam.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Biomedical-Research-COVID19-Impact-Assessment.pdf

Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic, a public health emergency of unprecedented scale and consequences, has revealed vulnerabilities in our health care system and public health infrastructure, yet also serves as a remarkable learning opportunity for transformational changes. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic touch every aspect of life in ways not previously imagined—the biomedical and health research enterprises are no exception. Preexisting stresses in the research sector’s workforce, processes, and organizations have been exacerbated in the sector’s quest to effectively generate meaningful information in response to the pandemic and deliver research in new and innovative ways.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the necessity to enhance the ability for researchers to share data through interoperable and customizable systems to enable rigor, reproducibility, and efficiency. This properly stewarded data essential for research is available and actionable, but trust remains a critical issue in establishing and maintaining data sharing entities [147].

Despite the rapid innovation occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, longstanding problems remain. The disproportionate burden of COVID-19 cases and outcomes amongst lower-income populations and communities of color underscores the need to address the lack of diversity of clinical research participants as a top priority. The type of causal, clinical, and population-related intervention studies that may have a critical impact on outcomes in this pandemic necessitated the inclusion of a large, diverse pool of participants most adversely affected and traditionally underrepresented in research.

Government funding focused on community engagement in research can certainly be a lever to promote diversity in study participation, as regulatory bodies seek to ensure the safety and efficacy of therapies across diverse populations [151]. This paper describes the current status of research and the challenges, lessons learned, and the potential, if the challenges are overcome, for a longer-term impact beyond the pandemic to enhance the resilience and diversity of the biomedical research workforce. These lessons learned can also be applied to help advance the rapid translation of research into practice (from basic science to clinical and population settings to applied public health), promote the sharing of data for delivering near real-time results in a clinical setting, and elevate community and participants as equal partners in research…

Summary and Priorities 
Assessing the Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic will have long-standing implications for the research enterprise, which may not return to pre-pandemic operations. A critical priority over the next 6–12 months will be to assess, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the ongoing and longer-term impact of the pandemic, including opportunities for research to continue to help mitigate and  overcome the pandemic, ensuring the future of the research enterprise is protected, and learning and transforming research to capitalize on lessons from the pandemic response. The Council on Governmental Relations posted a working paper in August 2020 describing a Research Impact Metric by which institutions can assess their operations. The working paper describes a new “Pandemic Normal” characterized by ongoing slow-downs, changes in operations (e.g., shift work, required protective equipment), supply challenges, core facility disruptions, slowed hiring and promotion, and perhaps above all, a great deal of uncertainty [36]. A recently published landscape review described some of the uncertainties: the trajectory of federal funds and policies, the role of charitable foundations, the impact of declines in non-research revenues on research operations, whether future shut-downs may be needed as the pandemic worsens, what the long-term effects on research collaborations (positive and negative) will be, how changes in rapid scientific communication and peer review will evolve, whether research will return to “normal” levels of productivity and on what timeline, and what will happen to the scientific workforce [140]…

Research Participants and Public Participation in Research
This pandemic has created an imperative for communication, collaboration, and coordination across sectors that could not be stronger. Actions and considerations include the following:
:: The establishment of meaningful partnerships and trust with affected communities as research partners is central to the path forward to combat high levels of distrust of scientists and researchers. Partnerships begin with the identification and involvement of community brokers and subsequently identified community entities in understanding the purpose of research studies, setting research priorities, and translating information to communities.

:: Engagement of stakeholders, patients, and communities leveraging community brokers toward building trust and trustworthiness and enhancing diverse participation in research.

:: Broad scientific communications enhance the value of research conveyed to the public and build trust among individuals, organizations, and broader communities.

In the face of unprecedented challenges and urgent necessity, the biomedical and health research enterprise has the potential to deliver the discovery, translation, and implementation science related to vaccines and therapeutics required to end the COVID-19 pandemic. To propel the entire sector toward a holistic approach, it is crucial that all components of the research ecosystem collaborate on a multifaceted transformation that enhances the resilience and diversity of the research workforce and innovates in funding processes and partnerships to maintain the viability of research efforts during a crisis. The research sector of the future accelerates the translation of knowledge to care and public health action, delivers on long-standing data sharing efforts, and coordinates across health and health care. Essential to the sector’s efforts to innovate and achieve is the elevation of communities and participants as equal partners in research while engaging the public in science.

Featured Journal Content

COVID

Editor’s Note:
As is obvious to all, the sheer volume of strategic announcements, regulatory actions, country program decisions, commentary, and, indeed, misinformation around COVID response continues at extraordinary levels. Our weekly digest strives to present a coherent and comprehensive snapshot, but cannot be exhaustive, If you recognize a missed strategic development, a new source of rigorous analysis, or an insight/commentary that would benefit our common understanding, please advise me…we will review all suggestions and consider for inclusion in a subsequent edition: david.r.curry@ge2p2global.org

We are seeking access to modelling which engages scenarios and articulates imperatives around a pandemic end-game through at least a 2025 horizon. We assess that WHO must be conducting or contracting for such modeling – or should recognize an imperative to be doing so in its global health governance role. If we have missed such modeling in progress, we would be delighted to be advised of it and will include it in our coverage.

Featured Journal Content

COVID Vaccines – OCHA:: HDX

COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
Aug 07, 2021 | COVAX (WHO,GAVI,CEPI), UNDESA, Press Reports | DATA

Global COVID-19 Figures: 201M total confirmed cases; 4.3M total confirmed deaths
Global vaccines administered: 4.40B
Number of Countries: 26 [26]
COVAX Delivered (Number of Doses): 44M
Other Delivered (Number of Doses): 57M
Total Delivered (Number of Doses): 100M
Total Administered (Number of Doses): 96M

Featured Journal Content

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: 2 Jul 2021
Confirmed cases :: 200 840 180
Confirmed deaths :: 4 265 903
Vaccine doses administered: 3 984 596 440

Featured Journal Content

Weekly operational update on COVID-19 – 4 August 2021
Overview
In this edition of the COVID-19 Weekly Operational Update, highlights of country-level actions and WHO support to countries include:
Supporting COVID-19 emergency preparedness and response in Thailand
Supporting treatment of COVID-19 patients across Yemen
Facilitating the implementation of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) assays to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants in Ukraine
More than one million COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Lao People’s Democratic Republic through the COVAX Facility
Driving COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Ghana’s hard-to-reach communities
Progress on a subset of indicators from the SPRP 2021 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
Updates on WHO’s financing to support countries in SPRP 2021 implementation and provision of critical supplies.

Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 – 3 August 2021
Overview
Globally, weekly cases have been increasing for more than a month, with over 4 million cases reported in the past week. An average of over 570 000 cases were reported each day over the past week as compared to a little over     540 000 cases reported daily the week before. This increasing trend is largely attributed to substantial increases in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific Regions which reported a 37% and 33% increase respectively as compared to the previous week. Overall, the number of deaths reported this week decreased by 8% as compared to the previous week, with over 64 000 deaths reported. However, the Western Pacific Region and the Eastern Mediterranean Region showed a sharp increase in new deaths as compared to the previous week, 48% and 31% respectively. The cumulative number of cases reported globally is now nearly 197 million and the number of cumulative deaths has reached 4.2 million.

In this edition, a special focus updates are provided on:
SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta which includes updates on the geographic distribution of VOCs.

Featured Journal Content

Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process 15 July 2021
For 22 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
[No update since 15 July 2021; click on the link above for full scale view]

Featured Journal Content

COVID Vaccine Developer/Manufacturer Announcements [relevant press releases/announcement from organizations from WHO EUL/PQ listing above]

AstraZeneca
Press Releases 
Vaxzevria and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines showed similar and favourable safety profiles in a population-based cohort study of over a million people
28 July 2021

Vaxzevria showed no increased incidence of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia after second dose
28 July 2021

BioCubaFarma – Cuba
Últimas Noticias
[Website not responding at inquiry; receiving 403=Forbidden message]]

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
Jul 29, 2021
Johnson & Johnson Statement on U.S. FDA Approval of Shelf Life Extension for Company’s COVID-19 Vaccine

Moderna
Press Releases
August 3, 2021
Moderna Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine (mRNA-1345)

August 2, 2021
Moderna Announces First Participant Dosed in Phase 1 Study of Its IL-2 mRNA Therapeutic

Novavax
Press Releases
Novavax Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Data Demonstrating Four-Fold Increase in Neutralizing Antibody Levels Versus Peak Responses After Primary Vaccination
Aug 5, 2021

Novavax and Serum Institute of India Announce Submission to Regulatory Agencies in India, Indonesia, Philippines for Emergency Use Authorization of Novavax’ Recombinant Nanoparticle COVID-19 Vaccine
Aug 5, 2021

Novavax and European Commission Finalize Advance Purchase Agreement for up to 200 million doses of COVID-19 Vaccine
Aug 4, 2021

Pfizer
Recent Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

Sanofi Pasteur
Press Releases
August 03 2021 Press releases
Sanofi to acquire Translate Bio; advances deployment of mRNA technology across vaccines and therapeutics development
Accelerates development of current Sanofi licensed programs in vaccines and potential to explore other therapeutic areas
Fast tracks establishment of Sanofi’s recently announced mRNA Center of Excellence
Full integration upgrades drug formulation capabilities and enhances US talent in a promising new technology
PARIS and LEXINGTON, Mass – August 3, 2021 – As part of Sanofi’s endeavor to accelerate the application of messenger RNA (mRNA) to develop therapeutics and vaccines, the company has entered into a definitive agreement with Translate Bio (NASDAQ: TBIO), a clinical-stage mRNA therapeutics company, under which Sanofi will acquire all outstanding shares of Translate Bio for $38.00 per share in cash, which represents a total equity value of approximately $3.2 billion (on a fully diluted basis). The Sanofi and Translate Bio Boards of Directors unanimously approved the transaction…

Serum Institute of India
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS – No corporate announcements identified
[Last media release still posted is dated February 15, 2021; media release of April 21, 2021 apparently removed]

Sinopharm/WIBPBIBP
News – No new digest announcements identified

Sinovac
Press Releases
SINOVAC Announces Positive Data on Booster Dose of CoronaVac®
021/07/21

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]

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GSK
Press releases for media
28 July 2021
GSK and Vir Biotechnology announce Joint Procurement Agreement with European Commission for COVID-19 treatment, sotrovimab
GlaxoSmithKline plc and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. announce the supply of 220,000 doses of sotrovimab for adults and adolescents with COVID-19.

26 July 2021
Shingrix approved in the US for prevention of shingles in immunocompromised adults
Immunocompromised individuals are at greater risk of shingles and associated complications than immunocompetent individuals

SK Biosciences
Press releases – No new digest announcements identified

Featured Journal Content

UNICEF COVID-19 Vaccine Market Dashboard :: Agreements Table Accessed 7 Aug 2021
An overview of information collected from publicly announced bilateral and multilateral supply agreements [agreements view since last week’s edition]

Featured Journal Content

World Bank Vaccine Operations Portal
https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/news/coronavirus-covid19/world-bank-support-for-country-access-to-covid-19-vaccines
As of July 29, 2021, the World Bank approved operations to support vaccine rollout in 54 countries amounting to $4.6 billion. See the latest project financing, project documents and procurement information in the list below:

Countries receiving World Bank support for vaccines
As of July 29, 2021
This list of countries, project documents, and procurement notices and contracts will be updated as data becomes available.

Featured Journal Content

Duke – Launch and Scale Speedometer

The Race for Global COVID-19 Vaccine Equity
A flurry of nearly 200 COVID-19 vaccine candidates are moving forward through the development and clinical trials processes at unprecedented speed; more than ten candidates are already in Phase 3 large-scale trials and several have received emergency or limited authorization. Our team has aggregated and analyzed publicly available data to track the flow of procurement and manufacturing and better understand global equity challenges. We developed a data framework of relevant variables and conducted desk research of publicly available information to identify COVID vaccine candidates and status, deals and ongoing negotiations for procurement and manufacturing, COVID burden by country, and allocation and distribution plans. We have also conducted interviews with public officials in key countries to better understand the context and challenges facing vaccine allocation and distribution
[accessed 24 July 2021]
See our COVID Vaccine Purchases research
See our COVID Vaccine Manufacturing research
See our COVID Vaccine Donations & Exports research

Featured Journal Content

Global Dashboard on COVID-19 Vaccine Equity
The Dashboard is a joint initiative of UNDP, WHO and the University of Oxford with cooperation across the UN system, anchored in the SDG 3 Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All.

Dashboard [accessed 07 Aug 2021]: https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/

Featured Journal Content

Our World in Data
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations[Accessed 7 Aug 2021]
29.7% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 15.3% is fully vaccinated.
4.4 billion doses have been administered globally, and 40.04 million are now administered each day.
Only 1.1% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.

Featured Journal Content

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

Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Commi ttee
:: No meetings scheduled

::::::

White House [U.S.]
Briefing Room – Selected Major COVID Announcements
Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
August 05, 2021 • Press Briefings

Remarks by President Biden on Fighting the COVID-⁠19 Pandemic
August 03, 2021 • Speeches and Remarks

FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Major Milestone in Administration’s Global Vaccination Efforts: More Than 100 Million U.S. COVID-⁠19 Vaccine Doses Donated and Shipped Abroad
August 03, 2021 • Statements and Releases

Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
August 02, 2021 • Press Briefings

Featured Journal Content

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

European Medicines Agency

News & Press Releases
News: ECDC and EMA update on COVID-19 (new)
Last updated: 04/08/2021
Full vaccination is key to protecting against serious COVID-19, including disease caused by the Delta variant
With the increasing circulation of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in EU/EEA countries, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) strongly encourage those who are eligible for vaccination but have not yet been vaccinated to start and complete the recommended COVID-19 vaccination schedule in a timely manner…

News: Increased manufacturing capacity and supply for Spikevax (new)
CHMP, Last updated: 30/07/2021

::::::

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en
Latest Updates
News
ECDC and EMA update on COVID-19
News story 4 Aug 2021
Full vaccination is key to protecting against serious COVID-19, including disease caused by the Delta variant.

::::::

Data as of 2021-08-07
https://vaccinetracker.ecdc.europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/vaccine-tracker.html#uptake-tab

::::::

European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en
Press release 4 August 2021
Coronavirus: Commission approves new contract for a potential COVID-19 vaccine with Novavax
Today, the European Commission has approved its seventh Advanced Purchase Agreement (APA) with a pharmaceutical company to ensure access to a potential vaccine against COVID-19 in Q4 of 2021 and in 2022.

Press release 4 August 2021
Lebanon: EU mobilises €5.5 million for coronavirus response
The Commission is allocating €5.5 million in humanitarian funding to help strengthen the COVID-19 response in Lebanon. The funding comes as Lebanon faces high infection rates, with the national health system close to collapse as well as low vaccination rates.

Statement 27 July 2021
Statement by President von der Leyen on a new milestone in the EU Vaccines Strategy
President von der Leyen announced that the EU has achieved its goal of vaccinating 70% of its adult population with at least one dose in July.

Featured Journal Content

Africa: COVID-19 – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

Current at 21 Jul 2021; Full scale, interactive dashboard available at: https://africacdc.org/covid-19-vaccination/

::::::

Africa announces the rollout of 400m vaccine doses to the African Union Member States and the Caribbean
ADDIS ABABA, 5 August, 2021 – His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and African Union (AU) COVID-19 Champion, is pleased to announce the start of monthly shipments of vaccines acquired by the AU / African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to the AU Member States today. An initiative by the AU Member States to pool their purchasing power, the AVAT, on 28 March 2021, had signed the historic agreement for the purchase of 220 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, with the potential to order an additional 180 million doses. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was selected for this first pooled procurement for three reasons: first of all, as a single-shot vaccine, it is easier and cheaper to administer; second, the vaccine has a long shelf-life and favourable storage conditions. Last but not least, the vaccine is partly manufactured on the African continent, with fill-finish activities taking place in South Africa.

President Ramaphosa said: “This is a momentous step forward in Africa’s efforts to safeguard the health and well-being of its people. By working together and by pooling resources, African countries have been able to secure millions of vaccine doses produced right here in Africa. This will provide impetus to the fight against COVID-19 across the continent and will lay the basis for Africa’s social and economic recovery.”…

…This vaccine acquisition is a unique milestone for the African continent. It is the first time Africa has undertaken a procurement of this magnitude involving all Member States. It also marks the first time that the AU Member States have collectively purchased vaccines to safeguard the health of the African population – 400m vaccines are sufficient to immunise a third of the African people and bring Africa halfway towards its continental goal of vaccinating at least 60 per cent of the population. International donors have committed to deliver the remaining half of the doses required through the COVAX initiative.

It is significant that these vaccine doses are being produced on the African continent at the Aspen Pharmacare facility in Gqeberha in South Africa. This is part of the concerted effort by African countries to rally the world to support the TRIPS waiver for technology transfer and active pharmaceutical ingredients to develop our own manufacturing capabilities.

Mr Strive Masiyiwa, African Union Special Envoy, said: “Delivering our first doses to African Union Member States is an unprecedented milestone. We are deploying relentless efforts to help each Member State to reach its goal of immunising 60 per cent of Africans, as recommended by the Africa CDC. Johnson & Johnson AVAT-purchased single-shot vaccines will enable us to considerably improve our vaccination level across the continent.”

Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said: “During the last months, we have seen the vaccination gap between Africa and other parts of the world widen, and a devastating third wave hit our continent. The deliveries starting now will help us get to the vaccination levels necessary to protect African lives and livelihoods.”

The agreement with Johnson & Johnson was made possible through a USD 2 billion facility provided by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), who are also the Financial and Transaction Advisers, Guarantors, Instalment Payment facility providers and Payment Agents…

AVAT to partner with UNICEF in scaling up vaccine deliveries to African Union Member States
DDIS ABABA/NEW YORK, 2 August 2021 – Having secured access to up to 400 million doses of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, the African Union (AU), African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) and UNICEF are partnering to ensure the seamless procurement and delivery of vaccines to AU Member States. This partnership will help ramp up efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic as less than 2 per cent of people on the continent are fully vaccinated so far.

“We are building a platform for deeper collaboration that will pave the way to a more robust African response to the pandemic and move the continent towards recovery, leveraging the opportunities to strengthen health systems and support the manufacturing sector for job creation,” said Dr. Vera Songwe, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa…

Established by African leaders, AVAT has spearheaded African efforts on fair equitable access and distribution of vaccines, negotiating vaccine acquisition with pharmaceutical companies to at least 60 per cent of the African population with safe and efficacious vaccines to achieve “herd immunity” by 2022…

Featured Journal Content

Russia: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Russia: Sputnik V – “the first registered COVID-19 vaccine”
https://sputnikvaccine.com/newsroom/pressreleases/
Press Releases
Argentina and Russia continue to successfully work together to accelerate the vaccination campaign and generate scientific evidence regarding the interchangeability of vaccines
Press release, 04.08.2021

Combination of the first component of Sputnik V vaccine (Sputnik Light vaccine) with vaccines by AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Moderna demonstrates high safety profile during the study in Argentina’s Buenos-Aires province
Press release, 04.08.2021

SPUTNIK V TEAM STATEMENT ON PRODUCTION SCALE UP IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER
Press release, 04.08.2021

Laboratorios Richmond to provide Argentina with over 3 million doses of the second component of the Sputnik V vaccine in August with the first 150,000 doses to become available for vaccination this week
Press release, 03.08.2021

Test batch of the Sputnik V vaccine produced in Uzbekistan
Press release, 31.07.2021

The world’s first study of a combination between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the first component of the Sputnik V vaccine (Sputnik Light) in Azerbaijan shows no serious adverse events or COVID infection cases following the vaccination
Press release, 30.07.2021

Featured Journal Content

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

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

Government of India – Press Information Bureau
Latest Press Releases
India’s fight against COVID-19 receives a strong impetus as vaccination numbers cross the 50 crore mark: PM Posted on: 06 Aug 2021

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

Featured Journal Content

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

China to provide 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines globally this year: Xi
2021-08-06
BEIJING — China will strive to provide 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to the world throughout this year and offer 100 million U.S. dollars to COVAX, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Aug 5 in a written message to the first meeting of the international forum on COVID-19 vaccine cooperation.
The 100 million U.S. dollars to COVAX will mainly go to the distribution of vaccines to developing countries, he said, adding that China would do its best to help developing countries cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
China is committed to building a global community of health for all and has provided vaccines to the world, especially developing countries. The country actively carried out joint production, which illustrates the concept of vaccines as global public goods, Xi stressed.
“I hope this forum will promote the accessibility and fair distribution of vaccines around the world, strengthen solidarity and cooperation in developing countries, and make new contributions for an early victory against the pandemic,” he said…

China pledges US$ 100 million towards equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for lower-income countries
6 August 2021 Gavi Media Release
:: The government of the People’s Republic of China has pledged US$ 100 million to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC)
:: This latest pledge brings the total raised for the Gavi COVAX AMC to nearly US$ 10 billion
…“China will continue to do its best to help other lower income countries cope with the COVID-19 pandemic”, said President Xi Jinping of China, “and we stand ready to work with international organizations to advance vaccine cooperation to protect communities for a shared future…

Emergencies

POLIO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

Polio this week as of 04 August 2021
:: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on July 24 announced an additional US$9.5 million support to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI). The funding will be used to vaccinate approximately 16 million children during door-to-door immunization campaigns in 84 highest-risk districts as well as an additional US$376,000 to provide personal protective equipment against COVID-19 for the frontline campaign workers. Read more…

Summary of new WPV and cVDPV viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
:: Pakistan: one WPV1 positive environmental sample
:: Afghanistan: one cVDPV2 case
:: DR Congo: one cVDPV2 case
:: Madagascar : seven cVDPV1 positive environmental samples
:: Nigeria: 16 cVDPV2 cases and six cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: Tajikistan: seven cVDPV2 cases

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::::::

WHO/OCHA Emergencies

Editor’s Note:
WHO has apparently reorganized and fundamentally shifted how it judges and tracks “emergencies”. We found no announcement of descriptive information to share and present the webpage structure as encountered below. Obviously, the dates associated with some of these emergencies suggest that this is an archival platform as well as a current emergencies resource.

Health emergencies list – WHO
“The health emergencies list details the disease outbreaks, disasters and humanitarian crises where WHO plays an essential role in supporting countries to respond to and recover from emergencies with public health consequences.”

Crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia
:: Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update Situation Report Last updated: 5 Aug 2021

Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021
[Last apparent update: 3 May 2021]

Ebola outbreak outbreak, N’Zerekore, Guinea, 2021 [Last apparent update: 3 May 2021]

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic [See COVID above]

Ebola outbreak, Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2020 [Last apparent update: 19 July 2021]

Ebola outbreak, North Kivu, Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018 – 2020 [Last apparent update: 3 May 2021]

Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018 [Last apparent update: 24 July 2018]

Yemen crisis [Last apparent update: 12 February 2021]

Syria crisis [Last apparent update: 18 June 2021]

Somalia crisis [Last apparent update: 24 March 2018]

Nigeria crisis [Last apparent update: 9 May 2018]

Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2017 [Last apparent update: 3 May 2021]

Zika virus disease outbreak, 2015-2016 [Last apparent update: 24 Jan 2020]

Ebola outbreak: West Africa, 2014-2016 [Last apparent update: 3 May 2021]

Iraq crisis [Last apparent update: 9 Jan 2008]

South Sudan crisis [Last apparent update: 23 Sep 2020]

Avian influenza A (H7N9) virus outbreak [Last apparent update: 21 May 2021]

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) outbreak [Last apparent update: 8 July 2019]

Influenza A (H1N1) virus, 2009-2010 pandemic [Last apparent update: 10 Aug 2010]

::::::

UN OCHA – Current Emergencies
Current Corporate Emergencies
Northern Ethiopia
Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update Situation Report, 05 August 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, made a six-day mission to Ethiopia.
Over 100,000 children could suffer from severe acute malnutrition in the next 12 months in Tigray – a tenfold increase compared to the average annual caseload.
Some 175 trucks with humanitarian supplies arrived in Mekelle during the reporting period but this is still not enough, with an estimated 100 trucks needed daily.
Since mid-May, over one million people were reached with food assistance in Southern, North-Western, Eastern, and South-Eastern Zones.
Humanitarian partners are scaling up response in neighbouring Afar and Amhara Regions affected by the conflict.

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

WHO & Regional Offices [to 7 Aug 2021]

6 August 2021
News release
Fraudulent “COVID-19 Compensation Lottery Prize” scam, falsely alleges association with WHO and others

6 August 2021
Departmental news
COVID-19 vaccines available for all healthcare workers in the Western Pacific Region

30 July 2021
Departmental news
Call to Action on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021

30 July 2021
Statement
Joint Statement of the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics for Developing Countries following its Second Meeting

30 July 2021
Joint News Release
New consortium working to boost vaccine production in South Africa

30 July 2021
Departmental news
Updated recommendations for use of the ChAdOx1-S [recombinant] vaccine against COVID-19

30 July 2021
Departmental news
Health Workforce in COVID-19 Action Series: Time to Protect. Invest. Together.

28 July 2021
News release
HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Rt Hon. Helen Clark brief Member States at the United Nations General Assembly on pandemic response

28 July 2021
Statement
Elevating political leadership for Pandemic Preparedness and Response Meeting with the UN General Assembly
The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

::::::

WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: On the frontlines in the fight against dangerous misinformation  30 July 2021
Fast-spreading misinformation online is hard to measure, but the 10 organizations and 10 African fact-checking groups that make up the Africa Infodemic Response Alliance are working to track and debunk dangerous myths on the pandemic and COVID-19 vaccines.
:: COVID-19 widens routine immunization gaps in Africa 29 July 2021
Around 7.7 million African children missed out on vital first doses of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Measles and Polio vaccines in 2020. The nearly 10% rise in missed vaccinations on the previous year in Africa was driven by disruptions to health services by the COVID-19 pandemic, new data by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World health Organization (WHO) show.
:: Driving COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Ghana’s hard-to-reach communities  29 July 2021

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
No new digest content identified

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: 6 August 2021 News release
Over half a billion COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in WHO South-East Asia Region as countries scale up vaccination efforts

WHO European Region EURO
:: WHO recommends continuing breastfeeding during COVID-19 infection and after vaccination 04-08-2021
:: COVID-19 cases top 60 million in European Region, says WHO/Europe 02-08-2021
:: Supporting the implementation of COVID-19 contact tracing in Ukraine 28-07-2021

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: KSrelief partners with WHO in Yemen to save lives from COVID-19 5 August 2021
:: Identifying challenges and solutions for pandemic influenza preparedness in the Region
2 August 2021
:: Delta variant sparks current COVID-19 surge in Region amid low vaccination coverage
29 July 2021

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: 6 August 2021 | News release
COVID-19 vaccines available for all healthcare workers in the Western Pacific Region

::::::

New WHO Publications [Selected]
https://www.who.int/publications/i
3 August 2021
Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030
…The purpose of the action plan is to provide strategic direction for all stakeholders for eliminating avoidable harm in health care and improving patient safety in different practice domains through policy actions on safety and quality of health services, as well as for implementation of recommendations at the point of care. The action plan provides a framework for countries to develop their respective national action plans on patient safety, as well to align existing strategic instruments for improving patient safety in all clinical and health-related programmes.
PDF: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1360307/retrieve

3 August 2021
2020 Annual Meeting Report- International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision for Cholera, Meningitis, and Yellow Fever

30 July 2021
Interim recommendations for use of the ChAdOx1-S [recombinant] vaccine against COVID-19
Interim guidance 30 July 2021
Overview
These WHO interim recommendations on the use of the Astra Zeneca – Oxford University AZD1222 vaccine against Covid-19 were developed on the basis of advice issued by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and the evidence summary included in the background document referenced below.
PDF: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1359655/retrieve

CDC/ACIP [U.S.] [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html
Latest News Releases, Announcements
New CDC-Funded Pilot Program in Georgia Uses Public Art to Increase Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccination Friday, August 6, 2021

New CDC Study: Vaccination Offers Higher Protection than Previous COVID-19 Infection Friday, August 6, 2021

CDC Issues Eviction Moratorium Order in Areas of Substantial and High Transmission Tuesday, August 3, 2021

CDC Extends Order at the Southern and Northern Land Borders Monday, August 2, 2021

Statement from CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH on Today’s MMWR Friday, July 30, 2021

CDC awards $117 Million to Advance Innovation and Health Equity in Federal Initiative to End HIV Tuesday, July 27, 2021

MMWR News Synopsis Friday, August 6, 2021
:: COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in Adolescents Aged 12–17 Years — United States, December 14, 2020–July 16, 2021 (Early Release July 30, 2021)
:: Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Including COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections, Associated with Large Public Gatherings — Barnstable County, Massachusetts, July 2021 (Early Release July 30, 2021)

MMWR News Synopsis Friday, July 30, 2021
:: Progress Toward Hepatitis B Control — World Health Organization European Region, 2016–2019
:: Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel Working in Long-Term Care Facilities, by Job Category — National Healthcare Safety Network, United States, March 2021
:: SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Public School District Employees Following a District-Wide Vaccination Program — Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, March 21–April 23, 2021 (Early Release July 23, 2021)
:: Guidance for Implementing COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in the Context of Varying Community Transmission Levels and Vaccination Coverage (Early Release July 27, 2021)

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)– CDC
Approximately 50 announcements/reports/data summaries.

Africa CDC [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Africa announces the rollout of 400m vaccine doses to the African Union Member States and the Caribbean
5 August 2021

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

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
Aug 7: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
On Aug 6, 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on the Chinese mainland reported 107 new cases of confirmed infections.

China to provide 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines globally this year: Xi
2021-08-06

China says latest COVID-19 resurgence more complicated but ‘controllable’
2021-08-06
BEIJING — The latest resurgence of COVID-19 in China, caused mainly by the Delta variant, is more complicated but the epidemic is generally controllable, Chinese officials said on Aug 5.
In the latest wave, 15 provincial-level regions — out of 31 — on the Chinese mainland have reported COVID-19 infections, said He Qinghua, a senior official with the National Health Commission (NHC), at a press conference organized by the State Council inter-agency task force.
“CONTROLLABLE”
“As long as local authorities strictly implement various prevention and control measures, I think the epidemic will be largely under control within two to three incubation periods,” he said…

China imposes massive travel restrictions to combat Delta outbreak
2021-08-04
— China has imposed massive travel restrictions to contain the spread of the Delta variant.
— All 31 provincial-level regions in the Chinese mainland have urged citizens not to go to medium and high-risk areas for COVID-19 or leave the provinces where they live unless it is necessary.
— Twenty-three railway stations have halted ticket sales for Beijing-bound passengers departing from these stations.

National Medical Products Administration – PRC [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://english.nmpa.gov.cn/news.html
News
Over 1.72b doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in China
2021-08-06
More than 1.72 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in China by Wednesday, the National Health Commission said on Aug 5.

CCDC Weekly – Weekly Reports: Current Volume (3)
2021-08-06 / No. 32
PDF of this issue
Preplanned Studies: Changes in Public Perception and Behaviors under Compound Heatwave in COVID-19 Epidemic — Beijing, China, 2020
Outbreak Reports: A COVID-19 Outbreak Emerging in a Food Processing Company — Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China, January–February 2021
Notes from Field: An Immunocompetent Patient with High Neutralizing Antibody Titers Who Shed COVID-19 Virus for 169 days — China, 2020

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 7 Aug 2021]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
News
No new digest content identified.

BARDA – U.S. Department of HHS [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.phe.gov/about/barda/Pages/default.aspx
News
No new digest content identified.

BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center
Press Releases and Statements
No new digest content identified.

Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 7 Aug 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 7 Aug 2021]
https://carb-x.org/
News
07.29.2021  |
CARB-X celebrates five years of progress in early-stage product development against antibiotic-resistant bacteria
CARB-X, a global non-profit partnership led by Boston University, is celebrating five years of progress in funding and supporting the development of innovative products targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Since it was founded in July 2016, CARB-X has invested $361 million in non-dilutive funding to develop innovative therapeutics including new classes of antibiotics and non-traditional agents, vaccines and other preventatives such as CRISPR-phage, microbiome-modifying agents and antibodies, and rapid diagnostics.

Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy – GE2P2 Global Foundation [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.net/
News/Analysis/Statements
:: Past weekly editions and posting of all segments of Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review are available here.
:: [NEW] Informed Consent: A Monthly Review – August 2021 is now posted here

CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://cepi.net/
Latest News
Efforts to advance Rift Valley fever vaccines progress with new CEPI partnership
Serum material donated from patients recovered from Rift Valley fever will support the development of a reference tool used to assess Rift Valley fever vaccines undergoing clinical trials.
End Pandemics
06 Aug 2021

CEPI and Universiti Malaya announce new collaboration to advance Nipah virus research
The research aims to characterize and better understand immune responses generated against the virus – one of the deadliest pathogens known to infect humans.
End Pandemics
29 Jul 2021

Largest ever Lassa fever study expands to more countries in West Africa
Up to 23,000 participants will be enrolled into the research programme in Benin, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, as well as Nigeria, which began collecting data in December 2020.
End Pandemics
28 Jul 2021

CIOMS – COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF MEDICAL SCIENCES [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://cioms.ch/
News; Publications
No new digest content identified.

DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [to 7 Aug 2021
https://www.darpa.mil/news
News
8/6/2021
DARPA Selects Teams to Develop Novel Therapeutics for Combating Multi-Drug Resistant Microbial Infections
DARPA today announced that it has selected three performer teams to support the Harnessing Enzymatic Activity for Lifesaving Remedies (HEALR) program. Groups from Yale University, University of Washington, and Broad Institute plan to utilize a new therapeutic approach and novel protein degradation strategies/modalities to permit a flexible and rapid response for targeting emerging microbial threats.

Duke Global Health Innovation Center [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://dukeghic.org/
Our Blog
No new digest content identified.

EDCTP [to 7 Aug 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
No new digest content identified.

Emory Vaccine Center [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
Vaccine Center News
COVID-19 survivors may possess wide-ranging resistance to the disease
Woodruff Health Sciences Center | July 22, 2021

European Vaccine Initiative [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/
Latest News
EVI to lead Inno4vac, a new European public-private partnership to innovate vaccine development
The Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 (IMI2) Joint Undertaking mobilised more than € 33 million to support Inno4vac, an innovative public-private partnership to accelerate vaccine R&D timelines. It will focus on the design and application of new and highly advanced predictive models to allow a faster development and manufacturing of novel vaccines.
July 29th, 2021

FDA [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
Press Announcements
August 6, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: August 6, 2021

August 3, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: August 3, 2021
:: In mid-July, the FDA held a stakeholder call to discuss COVID-19 vaccines, including preliminary reports of Guillain-Barré Syndrome following Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccination. Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. and the Director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D. were featured speakers. The call can be found on the FDA’s YouTube pageExternal Link Disclaimer.

July 30, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: July 30, 2021
:: Today, the FDA revised the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for REGEN-COV (casirivimab and imdevimab, administered together) to add an authorization of REGEN-COV for emergency use as post-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) for COVID-19 in adults and pediatric individuals (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms) who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
:: On Wednesday, the FDA authorized an extension for the shelf life of the refrigerated Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine, allowing the product to be stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius for six months. This extension from four and a half months to six months was granted following a thorough review of data submitted by Janssen and applies to all refrigerated vials of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine that have been held in accordance with the manufacturer’s storage conditions. The concurrence letter can be read here.

Fondation Merieux [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
No new digest content identified.

Gavi [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.gavi.org/
News Releases
6 August 2021
China pledges US$ 100 million towards equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for lower-income countries
[See COVID above for detail]

5 August 2021
First doses donated by Spain through COVAX arrive to Peru, Guatemala, Paraguay and Nicaragua

4 August 2021
New financing agreement boost for malaria vaccine

30 July 2021
First Swedish doses delivered through COVAX

30 July 2021
First deliveries of Norway-donated COVID-19 vaccines to COVAX

26 July 2021
COVAX and World Bank to Accelerate Vaccine Access for Developing Countries

GHIT Fund [to 7 Aug 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 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
No new digest content identified.

Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness [GloPID-R] [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.glopid-r.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.

Hilleman Laboratories [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
Website reports “under maintenance” at inquiry

Human Vaccines Project [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/
News
News webpage not responding at inquiry

IAVI [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.iavi.org/newsroom
Latest News
FEATURES
August 3, 2021
Europe-Africa research partnership launches HIV vaccine clinical trial in three African countries
Vaccine candidate targets vulnerabilities common across many HIV-1 variants.
The first volunteers have been vaccinated in Lusaka, Zambia, in a Phase I HIV vaccine trial led by a consortium of researchers in Africa and Europe. The trial, known as HIV-CORE 006, will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of an HIV vaccine candidate known as HIVconsvX. This novel vaccine construct comprises three immunogens that target vulnerable regions common across most HIV variants. Studies using an earlier version of HIVconsvX showed that the most vulnerable parts of HIV neglected by the immune system during natural infection can induce robust immune responses1.
HIV-CORE 006 builds on extensive research expertise, infrastructure, and community engagement programs within IAVI’s network of Africa clinical research center (CRC) partners. The following CRCs are GREAT consortium members and will participate in HIV-CORE 006:
Uganda: MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit
Kenya: KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research; KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme
Zambia: Center for Family Health Research Zambia
The trial is sponsored by the Globally Relevant AIDS Vaccine Europe-Africa Trials Partnership (GREAT)2 consortium and is supported by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), with co-funding from IAVI and Oxford University…

International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities [ICMRA]
http://www.icmra.info/drupal/en/news
Selected Statements, Press Releases, Research
Supply Chain Integrity
Recommendations on common technical denominators for track and trace systems to allow for interoperability
August 6, 2021
The International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA) published recommendations to facilitate the use of track and trace systems at global level. The paper identifies common technical denominators that allow different systems to exchange and use the available information on medicines and their supply chains in order to protect public health.
In this paper, international regulators emphasise that the interoperability of track and trace systems helps to protect public health by improving information sharing in case of quality defects, reducing shortages, contributing to the fight against falsified medicines and supporting pharmacovigilance activities. A common understanding of these potential benefits of interoperability is fundamental to promoting global planning and implementation of interoperable systems for medicines.
The ICMRA paper was open for public consultation from November 2020 to February 2021. The extensive and helpful feedback was carefully analysed and reviewed in order to refine and finalise the recommendations on common technical denominators for track and trace systems. More details on the comments received and the ICMRA analysis of these comments is available in a separate document.
Recommendations on common technical denominators for track and trace systems to allow for interoperability
Overview of responses to public consultation on track and trace recommendations

ICRC [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
Selected News Releases, Statements, Reports
Health Situation in Yemen
Most of the population lack access to health care due to the destruction of the health facilities in their areas or due to lack of financial resources.
05-08-2021 | Article

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 7 Aug 2021]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Europe, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine
IFRC: Delta variant a huge threat in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia
Budapest/Geneva, 6 August 2021 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling for more assistance and for vaccinations to be stepped up in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia, where rising COVID-19 …
6 August 2021

Algeria, Libya, Middle East and North Africa, Morocco, Tunisia
IFRC: Inclusive vaccination and protection measures urgently needed to stop the new pandemic waves in North Africa
Beirut, 02 August 2021 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in the Middle East and North Africa, is concerned that the increasing COVID-19 transmissions in the region could spark a domino effect with catastrophi …
2 August 2021

Institut Pasteur [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
Press Documents
No new digest content identified.

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases
News
No new digest content identified.

IVAC [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates; Events
No new digest content identified.

IVI [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.ivi.int/
Selected IVI News, Announcements, Events
THECA consortium begins Vi-TT typhoid conjugate vaccine phase IV effectiveness study in Ghana
July 26, 2021

JEE Alliance [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
Selected News and Events
No new digest content identified.

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/news/center-news/
Center News
New Addendum 2021 Report: COVID-19 Planning Guide and Self-Assessment Toolkit for Higher Education
July 30, 2021

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements]
Central American Migration
COVID-19 forces thousands of migrants to cross perilous jungle from Colombia to Panama in search of saf…
Project Update 5 Aug 2021

Public health partnership launched to tackle silent epidemic of hepatitis C
Press Release 27 Jul 2021

National Academy of Medicine – USA [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://nam.edu/programs/
Selected News/Programs
Expert Papers from the NAM Identify Lessons Learned and Compelling Needs for Quality, Safety, and Standards Organizations and Biomedical Research after COVID-19
July 26, 2021
In response to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the American health system, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has convened experts in 9 sectors of health, health care, and biomedical research to review how each sector responded to COVID-19, identify challenges encountered in combating the pandemic, and outline what opportunities exist to reinforce, revitalize, and transform the health system. These insights are being released as 9 NAM Perspectives discussion papers between April and August of 2021, and then bundled into a NAM Special Publication titled Emerging Stronger After COVID-19: Priorities for Health System Transformation, scheduled to be released in Fall 2021…
[See COVID above for example]

National Academy of Sciences – USA [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/
News
No new digest content identified.

National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
Upcoming Meetings/Latest Updates
No new digest content identified.

NIH [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
News Releases
No new digest content identified.

PATH [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Press Releases
PATH welcomes landmark financing agreement for GSK’s malaria vaccine
Seattle, WA, August 4, 2021 — PATH congratulates Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, GSK, and MedAccess for joining forces to help ensure an ongoing supply of the first malaria vaccine, GSK’s RTS,S/AS01E. This is another important step toward ensuring access to the vaccine for every child that could benefit from it.
PATH has collaborated in the development of the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine since 2001, first with GSK to advance the vaccine through Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials in Africa, and, since 2017, with GSK and the World Health Organization (WHO) to support pilot implementation of the vaccine in areas of Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. At the same time, PATH continues efforts to accelerate development of next-generation vaccines and biologics, working with a wide range of academic, business, and governmental organizations.
“It is very encouraging to see leaders in the global health community step up to help ensure access to the RTS,S vaccine,” says Carla Botting, Director of Malaria Market Access and Strategy at PATH. “GSK took a bold step when they agreed to donate millions of doses of vaccine for use in the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program (MVIP). That donation is helping to make it possible to generate data for a potential WHO recommendation for wider use of the vaccine. Now, Gavi and MedAccess are helping to share the risk so that GSK can continue manufacturing the RTS,S antigen, which will help enable early access to the vaccine and the ability to vaccinate millions more children.”…

Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

UNAIDS [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
UNAIDS report shows that people living with HIV face a double jeopardy, HIV and COVID-19, while key populations and children continue to be left behind in access to HIV services
People living with HIV are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death, yet the vast majority are denied access to COVID-19 vaccines. Key populations and their sexual partners account for 65% of new HIV infections but are largely left out of both HIV and COVID-19 responses—800 000 children living with HIV are not on the treatment they need to keep them alive

GENEVA, 14 July 2021—The UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2021, launched today, highlights evidence that people living with HIV are more vulnerable to COVID-19, but that widening inequalities are preventing them from accessing COVID-19 vaccines and HIV services.

Studies from England and South Africa have found that the risk of dying from COVID-19 among people living with HIV was double that of the general population. In sub-Saharan Africa, which is home to two thirds (67%) of people living with HIV, less than 3% had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by July 2021. At the same time, HIV prevention and treatment services are eluding key populations, as well as children and adolescents.

COVID-19 vaccines could save millions of lives in the developing world but are being kept out of reach as rich countries and corporations hold on tightly to the monopoly of production and delivery of supplies for profit. This is having a severe impact around the world as health systems in developing countries become overwhelmed, such as in Uganda, where football stadiums are being turned into makeshift hospitals.

“Rich countries in Europe are preparing to enjoy the summer as their populations have easy access to COVID-19 vaccines, while the global South is in crisis,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “We have failed to learn the lessons of HIV, when millions were denied life-saving medicines and died because of inequalities in access. This is totally unacceptable.”

The new UNAIDS report shows how COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions have badly disrupted HIV testing—in many countries this has led to steep drops in HIV diagnoses, referrals to care services and HIV treatment initiations. In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, for example, there was a 48% drop in HIV testing after the first national lockdown was imposed in April 2020. There were also fewer new HIV diagnoses and a marked drop in treatment initiation. This occurred as 28 000 HIV community health-care workers were shifted from HIV testing to COVID-19 symptom screening.

The report, Confronting inequalities, shows that in 2020 the 1.5 million new HIV infections were predominantly among key populations and their sexual partners. People who inject drugs, transgender women, sex workers and gay men and other men who have sex with men, and the sexual partners of these key populations, accounted for 65% of HIV infections globally in 2020. Key populations accounted for 93% of new HIV infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa, and 35% within sub-Saharan Africa. However, they remain marginalized and largely out of reach of HIV services in most countries…

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/media-centre.htmlS
Selected News Releases, Announcements
UNHCR welcomes U.S. continued efforts to implement measures that protect refugees and asylum-seekers
29 Jul 2021

The 1951 Refugee Convention: 70 years of life-saving protection
28 Jul 2021

UNHCR urges states to protect refugees’ rights, not to instrumentalize their plight
27 Jul 2021

UNICEF [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Press Releases, News Notes, Statements [Selected]
Press release
08/02/2021
AVAT to partner with UNICEF in scaling up vaccine deliveries to African Union Member States

News note
07/27/2021
Geneva Palais briefing note on the current COVID-19-induced education crisis
This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

Press release
07/26/2021
UNICEF signs supply agreement for Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine

Unitaid [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://unitaid.org/
Featured News
04 August 2021
Research begins into new digital tools to support patients and healthcare workers through tuberculosis treatment

27 July 2021
Unitaid paving the way for hepatitis C elimination

26 July 2021
Innovative agreement launches affordable, optimal second-line HIV treatment in low- and middle-income countries

Vaccine Equity Initiative [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://vaccineequitycooperative.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.

Vaccination Acceptance & Demand Initiative [Sabin) [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.vaccineacceptance.org/
Announcements
No new digest content identified.

Vaccine Confidence Project [to 7 Aug 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 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
News
Vaccine Update for Providers
July 2021
New animation! How mRNA vaccines work 

Wellcome Trust [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News and reports
Q&A
Charlie Weller
Why do we need a new generation of Covid-19 vaccines?
4 August 2021
The first Covid-19 vaccines have been very effective, but there’s plenty of room for improvement, especially for dealing with new variants. Charlie Weller talks about the potential benefits of new generations of Covid-19 vaccines.

Explainer
How can the world adapt to Covid-19 in the long term?
28 July 2021
As the acute phase of the pandemic passes, Covid-19 will remain with us as an endemic disease – still around, but a manageable threat. What does this mean, and what must we do to stop it from erupting again?

The Wistar Institute [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News
No new digest content identified.

World Bank [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
Selected News, Announcements
Africa announces the rollout of 400m vaccine doses to the African Union Member States and the Caribbean
ADDIS ABABA, 5 August, 2021 – His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and African Union (AU) COVID-19 Champion, is pleased to announce the start of monthly…
Date: August 05, 2021 Type: Press Release
[See COVID above for detail]

Gulf Economic Update: COVID-19 Pandemic and the Road to Diversification
In this issue of the Gulf Economic Update, the focus is on fiscal revenues and structural reforms including strategic investments in digitalization and telecommunications. Strategic investment in advanced…
Date: August 04, 2021 Type: Publication

World Bank Support to Bangladesh to Address Challenges Created by Influx of Displaced Rohingya Population (FAQs)
1. What is the World Bank’s position on the repatriation of the displaced Rohingya population? The World Bank is helping Bangladesh address the needs of the displaced Rohingya population until their…
Date: August 03, 2021 Type: Statement

World Bank Group Mobilizes Over $29 billion to Support Latin America and the Caribbean Region Respond to Pandemic
WASHINGTON, August 3, 2021—In response to COVID-19 severely damaging the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in Latin America and the Caribbean countries, the World Bank Group deployed a record…
Date: August 02, 2021 Type: Press Release

Joint Statement of the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics for Developing Countries following its Second Meeting
New Global Database to Enhance Transparency and Improve Delivery of COVID-19 Tools WASHINGTON, July 30, 2021 — The Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Developing Countries…
Date: July 30, 2021 Type: Statement
[See COVID above for detail]

COVAX and World Bank to Accelerate Vaccine Access for Developing Countries
New mechanism builds on Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) cost-sharing arrangement WASHINGTON, July 26, 2021 – COVAX and the World Bank will accelerate COVID-19 vaccine supply for developing…
Date: July 26, 2021 Type: Press Release

World Customs Organization – WCO [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.wcoomd.org/
Latest News – Selected Items
02 August 2021
WCO Secretary General addresses G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Rome

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2021/
Press Releases, Statements
Press Release
Urgent action needed to curb the spread of African swine fever in the Americas
30 July 2021

News
Global report indicates decreasing trend in antimicrobials intended for use in the animal sector
27 July 2021

WTO – World Trade Organisation [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
WTO News and Events
STDF Annual Report highlights efforts to boost SPS capacity despite pandemic challenges
2 August 2021
The latest annual report from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), launched on 2 August, highlights the continued efforts by developing and least developed countries to strengthening their food safety, animal and plant health capacity despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

IMF, World Bank, WHO, WTO launch joint vaccine information website
30 July 2021
The heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization launched a new website on 30 July which will serve as a platform for information on access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics and on the activities of the organizations in tackling the pandemic.

WTO report: Full trade recovery at risk without equitable vaccine roll-out
29 July 2021
WTO economies from mid-October 2020 to mid-May 2021 exercised trade policy restraint and refrained from an acceleration of protectionism that would have further harmed a world economy reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Director-General’s mid-year report on trade-related developments presented to members on 29 July. The report calls on WTO members to ensure that markets remain open and predictable, and warns that failing to ensure wider access to COVID-19 vaccines could undermine the global economic and trade recovery.

::::::

ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 7 Aug 2021]
Press Releases – Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (alliancerm.org)
Selected Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

BIO [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases, Letters, Testimony, Comments [Selected]
No new digest content identified.

DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News; Upcoming events
No new digest content identified.

ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://internationalbiotech.org/news/
News
ICBA Statement on WHO Recommendations on Human Genome Editing
Jul. 28 2021

IFPMA [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
R&D-based pharmaceutical industry’s innovative partnerships to meet urgent global supply needs
21 July 2021
IFPMA member companies are at the forefront of the global effort to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine and scale up manufacturing to ensure equitable access to people around the world. In less than a year, several vaccines candidates have been approved or are in advanced Phase III clinical trials with encouraging results. An impressive and unprecedented manufacturing scale-up is also taking place. Most collaborations – if not all – involved some sort of licensing and transfer of technology, which would not be possible in the absence of a robust global IP system.

International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations – IAPO [to 7 Aug 2021]
https://www.iapo.org.uk/news/topic/6
Press and media [Selected]
No new digest content identified.

PhRMA [to 7 Aug 2021]
http://www.phrma.org/
Latest News [Selected]
Ensuring global vaccine equity requires eliminating trade and regulatory barriers
August 5, 2021
Trade barriers hamper the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing process and have direct consequences for global vaccine production and supply…
For example, tariffs and export restrictions on finished vaccines slow the global response to COVID-19 by limiting the ability of people in countries throughout the world to acquire life-saving vaccines. Tariffs and export restrictions on raw materials needed for the vaccine production also slow the global response to COVID-19 by disrupting vaccine manufacturing processes and undermining efforts to promote equitable global vaccine distribution.
The vaccine manufacturing process relies on a complex global network of suppliers that source the raw materials and equipment needed for vaccine production. One COVID-19 vaccine, for example, requires 280 components, relies on 86 suppliers in 19 different countries and utilizes three different manufacturing plants for production. Other industries also depend on many of these same raw materials and equipment, which means that vaccine manufacturers must compete for these essential supplies. The imposition of a tariff or export restriction on any one of these components impedes global vaccine production and distribution.
In addition to being dependent on a vast network of raw materials and equipment suppliers, the vaccine production process depends heavily on highly skilled technical workers, trained to execute specialized and critical functions across the vaccine manufacturing lifecycle. Currently, vaccines are being produced in approximately 70 countries, all of which are home to collaborative efforts to close the vaccine gap. A highly skilled workforce is required on the ground wherever vaccine production occurs, and governments should prioritize the movement of these necessary workers for COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing.
These and other trade and regulatory barriers hamper the manufacturing process and have direct consequences for global vaccine production and supply. ..
Blog Pos

Setting the record straight: Addressing common misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine
August 4, 2021
We all must do our part to keep our communities safe, and getting vaccinated is the best protection against COVID-19.
Blog Post

Increasing global access to vaccines by optimizing production
July 29, 2021
Companies have established an unprecedented number of new manufacturing partnerships, creating a global network to produce vaccines at unprecedented speed.
Blog Post

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

American Journal of Infection Control
August 2021 Volume 49 Issue 8p973-1092
http://www.ajicjournal.org/current

Major Articles
Lived experiences of frontline workers and leaders during COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care: A qualitative study
Brandon Yau, Rohit Vijh, Jessica Prairie, Geoff McKee, Michael Schwandt
Published online: March 21, 2021

American Journal of Infection Control
August 2021 Volume 49 Issue 8p973-1092
http://www.ajicjournal.org/current

The role of mask mandates, stay at home orders and school closure in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic prior to vaccination
Bhuma Krishnamachari, Alexander Morris, Diane Zastrow, Andrew Dsida, Brian Harper, Anthony J. Santella
Published online: February 09, 2021
p1036-1042

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
August 2021 Volume 61 Issue 2 p149-310
https://www.ajpmonline.org/current

Research Letters
Demographic Benchmarks for Equitable Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccination
Kushagra Vashist, Tabia Akintobi, Robert A. Bednarczyk, K.M. Venkat Narayan, Shivani A. Patel
Published online: April 28, 2021
p291-293

American Journal of Public Health
July 2021 111(52)
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/toc/ajph/current

Supplement 2 2021
When Dying Really Counts
This new fully Open Access supplement issue looks at the urgent need to improve the quality of mortality data and routine surveillance in the context of COVID-19 and beyond. Consequences of inaccuracies in mortality data threaten the mission of public health, while challenges facing the professions of those who encounter and study death are facing unprecedented pressures

BMJ Global Health
August 2021 – Volume 6 – Suppl 5
https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/Suppl_5

Digital Innovations for Community and Primary Health in India
Analysis
Rebooting consent in the digital age: a governance framework for health data exchange (22 July, 2021)
Nivedita Saksena, Rahul Matthan, Anant Bhan, Satchit Balsari
Abstract
In August 2020, India announced its vision for the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), a federated national digital health exchange where digitised data generated by healthcare providers will be exported via application programme interfaces to the patient’s electronic personal health record. The NDHM architecture is initially expected to be a claims platform for the national health insurance programme ‘Ayushman Bharat’ that serves 500 million people. Such large-scale digitisation and mobility of health data will have significant ramifications on care delivery, population health planning, as well as on the rights and privacy of individuals. Traditional mechanisms that seek to protect individual autonomy through patient consent will be inadequate in a digitised ecosystem where processed data can travel near instantaneously across various nodes in the system and be combined, aggregated, or even re-identified. In this paper we explore the limitations of ‘informed’ consent that is sought either when data are collected or when they are ported across the system. We examine the merits and limitations of proposed alternatives like the fiduciary framework that imposes accountability on those that use the data; privacy by design principles that rely on technological safeguards against abuse; or regulations. Our recommendations combine complementary approaches in light of the evolving jurisprudence in India and provide a generalisable framework for health data exchange that balances individual rights with advances in data science.

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 7 Aug 2021)

Quantifying Covid19-vaccine location strategies for Germany
Vaccines are an important tool to limit the health and economic damage of the Covid-19 pandemic. Several vaccine candidates already provided promising effectiveness data, but it is crucial for an effective vac…
Authors: Neele Leithäuser, Johanna Schneider, Sebastian Johann, Sven O. Krumke, Eva Schmidt, Manuel Streicher and Stefan Scholz
Citation: BMC Health Services Research 2021 21:780
Content type: Research
Published on: 7 August 2021

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 7 Aug 2021)

Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Egyptian healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination has raised concerns about vaccine hesitancy in general and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in particular. Understanding the factors driving the uncertainty regarding …
Authors: Rehab H. El-Sokkary, Omnia S. El Seifi, Hebatallah M. Hassan, Eman M. Mortada, Maiada K. Hashem, Mohamed Rabie Mohamed Ali Gadelrab and Rehab M. Elsaid Tash
Citation: BMC Infectious Diseases 2021 21:762
Content type: Research
Published on: 5 August 2021

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 7 Aug 2021)

School-based surveillance of acute infectious disease in children: a systematic review
Syndromic surveillance systems are an essential component of public health surveillance and can provide timely detection of infectious disease cases and outbreaks. Whilst surveillance systems are generally emb…
Authors: A. L. Donaldson, J. L. Hardstaff, J. P. Harris, R. Vivancos and S. J. O’Brien
Citation: BMC Infectious Diseases 2021 21:744
Content type: Research article
Published on: 3 August 2021

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 7 Aug 2021)

School-based surveillance of acute infectious disease in children: a systematic review
Syndromic surveillance systems are an essential component of public health surveillance and can provide timely detection of infectious disease cases and outbreaks. Whilst surveillance systems are generally emb…
Authors: A. L. Donaldson, J. L. Hardstaff, J. P. Harris, R. Vivancos and S. J. O’Brien
Citation: BMC Infectious Diseases 2021 21:744
Content type: Research article
Published on: 3 August 2021

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 7 Aug 2021)

Personalized and long-term electronic informed consent in clinical research: stakeholder views
The landscape of clinical research has evolved over the past decade. With technological advances, the practice of using electronic informed consent (eIC) has emerged. However, a number of challenges hinder the…
Authors: Evelien De Sutter, Pascal Borry, David Geerts and Isabelle Huys
Citation: BMC Medical Ethics 2021 22:108
Content type: Research
Published on: 31 July 2021

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 7 Aug 2021)

Motivation to participate and experiences of the informed consent process for randomized clinical trials in emergency obstetric care in Uganda
Informed consent, whose goal is to assure that participants enter research voluntarily after disclosure of potential risks and benefits, may be impossible or impractical in emergency research. In low resource …
Authors: Dan Kabonge Kaye
Citation: BMC Medical Ethics 2021 22:104
Content type: Research article
Published on: 28 July 2021

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 7 Aug 2021)

A scoping review of considerations and practices for benefit sharing in biobanking
Despite the rapid global growth of biobanking over the last few decades, and their potential for the advancement of health research, considerations specific to the sharing of benefits that accrue from biobanks…
Authors: Allan Sudoi, Jantina De Vries and Dorcas Kamuya
Citation: BMC Medical Ethics 2021 22:102
Content type: Research
Published on: 27 July 2021

BMC Medicine
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/content
(Accessed 7 Aug 2021)

Evaluation of the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines: a rapid review
The rapid process of research and development and lack of follow-up time post-vaccination aroused great public concern about the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccine candidates. To provide comprehensive overview…
Authors: Qianhui Wu, Matthew Z. Dudley, Xinghui Chen, Xufang Bai, Kaige Dong, Tingyu Zhuang, Daniel Salmon and Hongjie Yu
Citation: BMC Medicine 2021 19:173
Content type: Research article
Published on: 28 July 2021

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 7 Aug 2021)

Onset of effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 infection rates in 176 countries
During the initial phase of the global COVID-19 outbreak, most countries responded with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). In this study we investigate the general effectiveness of these NPIs, how long d…
Authors: Ingo W. Nader, Elisabeth L. Zeilinger, Dana Jomar and Clemens Zauchner
Citation: BMC Public Health 2021 21:1472
Content type: Research article
Published on: 28 July 2021