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

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

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

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 them 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 COVID-19 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.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Editor’s Note:
We include this extended excerpt from the Secretary General’s address to the UN General Assembly earlier this week, noting his characterization of current state of COVID vaccine equity: “…This is a moral indictment of the state of our world. It is an obscenity…”

Secretary-General’s address to the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly
António Guterres, UN Secretary General
21 September 2021
[Editor’s text bolding]
Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies,
I am here to sound the alarm:  The world must wake up. We are on the edge of an abyss — and moving in the wrong direction.

Our world has never been more threatened. Or more divided. We face the greatest cascade of crises in our lifetimes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has supersized glaring inequalities. The climate crisis is pummeling the planet. Upheaval from Afghanistan to Ethiopia to Yemen and beyond has thwarted peace.

A surge of mistrust and misinformation is polarizing people and paralyzing societies. Human rights are under fire. Science is under assault. And economic lifelines for the most vulnerable are coming too little and too late — if they come at all.

Solidarity is missing in action — just when we need it most.

Perhaps one image tells the tale of our times. The picture we have seen from some parts of the world of COVID-19 vaccines … in the garbage.  Expired and unused.

On the one hand, we see the vaccines developed in record time — a victory of science and human ingenuity. On the other hand, we see that triumph undone by the tragedy of a lack of political will, selfishness and mistrust. A surplus in some countries.  Empty shelves in others. A majority of the wealthier world vaccinated.  Over 90 percent of Africans still waiting for their first dose.

This is a moral indictment of the state of our world. It is an obscenity. We passed the science test. But we are getting an “F” in ethics…

Excellencies,
COVID and the climate crisis have exposed profound fragilities as societies and as a planet.
Yet instead of humility in the face of these epic challenges, we see hubris. Instead of the path of solidarity, we are on a dead end to destruction.

At the same time, another disease is spreading in our world today:  a malady of mistrust.

When people see promises of progress denied by the realities of their harsh daily lives…
When they see their fundamental rights and freedoms curtailed…
When they see petty — as well as grand — corruption around them…
When they see billionaires joyriding to space while millions go hungry on earth…
When parents see a future for their children that looks even bleaker than the struggles of today…And when young people see no future at all…

The people we serve and represent may lose faith not only in their governments and institutions — but in the values that have animated the work of the United Nations for over 75 years.
Peace.  Human rights.  Dignity for all.  Equality.  Justice.  Solidarity.

Like never before, core values are in the crosshairs. A breakdown in trust is leading to a breakdown in values. 

Promises, after all, are worthless if people do not see results in their daily lives. Failure to deliver creates space for some of the darkest impulses of humanity. It provides oxygen for easy fixes, pseudo-solutions and conspiracy theories. It is kindling to stoke ancient grievances.  Cultural supremacy.  Ideological dominance.  Violent misogyny.  The targeting of the most vulnerable including refugees and migrants.

Excellencies,
We face a moment of truth. Now is the time to deliver. Now is the time to restore trust. Now is the time to inspire hope.

And I do have hope.

The problems we have created are problems we can solve. Humanity has shown that we are capable of great things when we work together. That is the raison d’être of our United Nations.

But let’s be frank.  Today’s multilateral system is too limited in its instruments and capacities, in relation to what is needed for effective governance of managing global public goods. It is too fixed on the short-term.

We need to strengthen global governance.  We need to focus on the future.  We need to renew the social contract.  We need to ensure a United Nations fit for a new era.

That is why I presented my report on Our Common Agenda in the way I did. It provides a 360 degree analysis of the state of our world, with 90 specific recommendations that take on the challenges of today and strengthen multilateralism for tomorrow.

Our Common Agenda builds on the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Climate Agreement. It is in line with the mandate I was given by the UN75 Declaration to seek a pathway to a better world.
But to reach that land of our promises, we must bridge Great Divides…

Excellencies,
I see 6 Great Divides — 6 Grand Canyons — that we must bridge now.

First, we must bridge the peace divide…
Second, we must bridge the climate divide…
Third, we must bridge the gap between rich and poor, within and among countries…
Fourth, we must bridge the gender divide…
Fifth, restoring trust and inspiring hope means bridging the digital divide…
Sixth, and finally, we need to bridge the divide among generations…

[Full text at title link above]

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Editor’s Note
We observe the restraint in quotations from COVAX leaders below, with the exception, perhaps, of the WHO DG.

Global leaders commit further support for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and COVAX
A joint statement from COVAX partners: CEPI, Gavi, WHO, UNICEF
09/23/2021
:: Leaders pledge financing, dose donations, support for country readiness and delivery and scale up of global manufacturing, to enable equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines

:: To improve access for lower-income economies, the United States will contribute an additional 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to be delivered through COVAX, beginning in 2022, and Sweden will provide an additional SEK 2.1 billion (approximately US$243 million) through 2021 and 2022

:: New dose commitments from the European Union, including Italy and Spain, as well as Sweden, Denmark, and Japan mean further doses will be available to COVAX participants in 2021 and 2022

Geneva/New York/Oslo 23 September 2021 – Global leaders attending the Global COVID-19 Summit hosted by the United States have again underlined their commitment to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries through COVAX – noting that equitable access is essential to end the acute stage of the pandemic. Building on the momentum and global solidarity generated over the past eighteen months by various commitments including at summits organised by the European Commission, the G20 under the Saudi and Italian presidencies, the United Kingdom (UK), including the G7 under the UK presidency, the United States, and the Prime Minister of Japan, yesterday’s Summit saw further pledges made to COVAX and equitable access.

As the host of the Summit, the United States presented a target to vaccinate the world and as part of its commitment, pledged an additional 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to be delivered to low- and lower-middle-income countries through COVAX. These doses are in addition the deal for 500 million Pfizer doses facilitated by the United States, announced in June, and more than 90 million surplus doses shared through COVAX, bringing the US total doses to be provided through COVAX to nearly 1.1 billion doses. With deliveries of previously pledged doses underway, these additional doses will be made available beginning in January 2022. In addition, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will provide more than $383 million in political risk insurance to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) to facilitate shipments around the world.

The United States and the European Union announced a joint agenda for combatting the global pandemic, reemphasising commitments to share doses with COVAX and support critical readiness activities, and calling on other nations to do the same – particularly emphasising the importance of predictable and effective dose-sharing to maximize sustainability of the process and minimize wastage of doses. Building on previous pledges, Team Europe committed to share 500 million doses by mid-2022.

Emphasising the close partnership between the African Union / AVAT and COVAX in delivering doses to African countries, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on higher-income countries to trade places in production queues and to support the AU and COVAX in their shared goal of increasing coverage across the African continent.

In addition to the US$ 285 million Sweden has already pledged to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), the financing mechanism which enables access to fully donor-funded doses for 92 lower-income economies, Sweden announced that a new pledge of SEK 2.1 billion (approximately US$ 243 million) in cash contributions and dose donations, will be made available to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to AMC-eligible economies through 2021 and 2022.

Alongside these commitments, several countries pledged additional dose donations to be made available to countries around the world, including through COVAX, with Spain pledging an additional 7.5 million doses, Italy pledging an additional 30 million doses to be made available by the end of the year, and Japan, which hosted the “One World Protected” Gavi COVAX AMC Summit in June 2021, pledging approximately 60 million doses. In addition, Denmark announced during the United Nations General Assembly this week that it would be doubling its dose donation commitment, bringing the total to 6 million doses pledged to be shared.

José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Gavi Board, said: “This Summit marks a major step forward in the global response against COVID-19 and a major step forward for multilateralism. I would like to thank President Biden and all leaders for their commitment to global access to vaccines and urge all partners and stakeholders to increase their support of COVAX, so that we can meet our objective of ending the acute phase of this pandemic as quickly as possible.”

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) “Science has made huge progress in the fight to save lives, restore the global economy, and end the pandemic. Now we must redress the central moral failing of the world’s response to the pandemic, which is the lack of equitable access to the life-saving tools we have developed. This will require continued investment in R&D so we are able to deploy more vaccines, more effectively and create equity between countries of all income levels with regard to access to these life-saving vaccines.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “I am grateful to President Biden and world leaders for the commitment they have shown to vaccinate the world. However, what we need to succeed is truly sustainable, ironclad support that gets delivered now – not in 6 months or 12 months time. If we are to meet the targets we have set of vaccinating 10% of the population of all countries by the end of this month, 40% by the end of 2021 and 70% by mid next-year, we need to drastically scale up access to vaccines now.”

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said: “We welcome world leaders’ renewed commitment to provide vaccine doses to low-income countries. We laud the US pledge of 500 million additional doses next year, as well as the announcements made by the European Union, Denmark, Japan, Italy and Spain, and hope to see these promises fulfilled urgently. With only 12 per cent of the pledges made earlier this year turning into actual doses, low-income countries can no longer wait. We urge dose-sharing countries to accelerate their donation plans.” 

Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, said: “With the rise of variants and the current gap in equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines we must urgently vaccinate those most at risk everywhere in the world. We cannot afford further delays in getting vaccines to the most vulnerable – to do so will mean a continuation of this pandemic and its impact on all of our lives.”

COVAX has recently published an updated supply forecast, which indicates that while COVAX deliveries to countries are accelerating and will continue to ramp up dramatically through the end of year, significant risks remain.

As a result COVAX partners have issued an urgent call to action – for the lifting of all export restrictions, for manufacturers to deliver on their commitments to COVAX and provide transparency on delivery schedules and queues. COVAX also calls for countries who are ahead in manufacturers’ queues and have already achieved high coverage to give up their place in the queue to COVAX and the low and middle-income participants it supports, and for the expansion, acceleration and systemization of dose donations to provide greater volumes, lead times, and shelf lives, allowing countries to better prepare for rollouts.

So far COVAX has delivered more than 300 million doses to 142 economies, and according to the latest forecast, a total of approximately 1.2 billion doses will be available for the lower income economies supported by the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) by the end of 2021. This is enough to protect 20% of the population, or 40% of all adults, in all 92 AMC economies with the exception of India. The key COVAX milestone of two billion doses released for delivery is now expected to be reached in the first quarter of 2022.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Editor’s Note:
This statement is presented in the form of an invitation “to all Global COVID-19 Summit participants to join us in aligning around the global targets and taking the associated required actions to end the COVID-19 pandemic and build back better.” The statement presents, with varying detail and sometimes no detail, a number of targets and (aspirational) requests to different sectors. The first target is presented from the original text below. We also note that the Biden Administration’s stated goal [bullet one below] around vaccinating 70% of the world’s population by the next UNGA in late September 2022 does not seem to align with the WHO statements about a 70% target by “middle of next year” (WHO DG statement of Sep 23, 2021 below).

White House, USA
FACT SHEET: Targets for Global COVID-⁠19 Summit
September 22, 2021 • Statements and Releases
[Fact Sheet Excerpt]
TARGETS: VACCINATE THE WORLD
Vaccinate the world: Support the WHO’s goal of at least 70 percent of the population fully vaccinated with quality, safe, and effective vaccines in every country and income category by UNGA 2022.
Deliver doses urgently: Endorse the G20 target of, “in line with the World Health Organization (WHO), we support the goal to vaccinate at least 40 percent by the end of 2021 of the global population.”
Manufacture doses over the medium and long-term: Additional doses and adequate supplies are available to all countries in 2022. As scientific evidence develops, make sufficient financing available for production of additional doses for future booster needs in LIC/LMICs.

Asks for Governments & International Institutions with Relevant Capabilities: Fall 2021
Close the financing and supply gap for low-income countries (LICs)/ low middle-income countries (LMICs) to reach 70 percent coverage by providing funds, purchasing or donating 1 billion additional doses of quality, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, including through COVAX to support global equitable distribution.
Accelerate vaccination in LIC/LMICs in 2021 by expediting delivery of approximately 2.0 billion already committed doses of quality, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, including by converting existing dose sharing pledges into near-term deliveries, swapping delivery dates to secure earlier delivery of doses to LIC/LMICs, and eliminating cross-border bottlenecks in the supply of vaccines and critical inputs.
Get shots into arms by making available at least $3 billion in 2021 and $7 billion in 2022 in financing for LIC/LMICs for vaccine readiness and effective deployment, including supporting the health workforce needed to deliver vaccines, combatting hesitancy, addressing legal and contractual requirements, and procuring ancillary supplies.
Make doses available for the medium and long-term by supporting sufficient global and regional production, as well as financing for possible booster needs and future vaccine production; expanding mRNA, viral vector, and protein subunit vaccine manufacturing (if authorized) and technology transfer; and procuring up to 3 billion additional doses of quality, safe and effective vaccines for LIC/LMICs if boosters become recommended by WHO.
Enhance accountability and coordination by establishing a robust vaccine, consumables, and ancillary supplies global dashboard in 2021, taking into account existing efforts toward this goal.

Proposed Private Sector Commitments: Fall 2021
Launch COVID-19 Corps for vaccine readiness & delivery.
Enhance transparency on the volume of actual and projected manufacture of vaccines; provide data on production projections and delivery sequencing for vaccine dashboard, in order to prioritize delivery for LIC/LMICs.
Expand global and regional manufacturing for mRNA, viral vector, and/or protein subunit COVID-19 vaccines, with a plan for development and financing…

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Africa CDC, IFRC, and USAU call for Equitable Vaccine Coverage in Africa
Press Releases
Addis Ababa, 23 September 2021— The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the United States Mission to the African Union (USAU) called on partners and governments to do more to end vaccine inequity.

This call was made today, during a high-level event entitled “Saving Lives, Saving Livelihoods: Achieving high-level, equitable, COVID-19 vaccine coverage in African Union (AU) Member States”, aimed to follow-up the Global COVID-19 summit convened by U.S. President Joseph R. Biden on September 22 with local African partners on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Much of the population of Africa is being left behind, even as other parts of the world begin their path to recovery from this deadly pandemic. The deep inequities in vaccine distribution are also linked to the devastating socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. According to a report released in April 2021, economic disruption is likely to persist in Africa due to COVID-19 restrictions—and the slow pace of vaccine rollouts. Worryingly, Africa has been facing multiple, chronic crises, including poverty and food insecurity, which have been exacerbated by COVID-19.

Africa CDC, IFRC and USAU warned that, in addition to slow vaccine rollouts, the presence of several crises, including COVID-19, in many African countries, is resulting in the continued loss of lives and livelihoods. The three institutions also indicated that having the vaccine doses alone won’t be enough.

“As we call for the end of vaccine equity, we know that the work doesn’t end there. We also need to be able to deliver those vaccines to the communities; ensure that people are prepared to be vaccinated and that the doses are being delivered where they are needed. It is crucial to continue working more closely with communities.” Dr John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC emphasized.

The response to COVID-19 has been made more complex by decreasing perceptions of risk, pandemic fatigue, vaccine hesitancy and mistrust of authorities. The IFRC and member National Societies have been tackling the spread of misinformation by providing educational materials, running radio campaigns and information hotlines for the community.

…With increasing concerns that the secondary impacts of COVID-19 could have long-lasting affects across Africa, particularly for those living in poverty, IFRC is increasing its focus on livelihood support, particularly through cash-transfer programming where appropriate. But the humanitarian organisation warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could not be defeated unless more vaccine doses reached the arms of the most vulnerable on the continent.

H.E. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former President of the Republic of Liberia, delivered a keynote address during the COVID-19 Summit today. She said: “Vaccine inequity is putting many lives and livelihood in danger. There has been a lot of talking, but now we must see these words turned into action. We call upon governments, partners and vaccine manufacturers to pull out all the stops to ensure that everyone has access to COVID-19 vaccines without any further delay.”

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

The Africa CDC joins the Global Citizen Live concert to push for vaccine equity.
25 September 2021
Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr John Nkengasong, and Head of the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, Strive Masiyiwa to Address Vaccine Equity and Production Needs to Tackle COVID-19. Ms Bonang Matheba and Nomzamo Mbatha to are set to host the Global Citizen Live on the Great Lawn in Central Park on Sept. 25, 2021.

They join a list of incredible hosts donating their time and talent to this once-in-a-generation, 24-hour worldwide event. This announcement sees the continuation of our partnership between our Global Advocates and the organization, which recently included the Vax Live campaign and global broadcast, which secured 26 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for those who need it most.

Also appearing as part of the global broadcast event are United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed, World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Dr John Nkengasong, African Union Special Envoy and Head of the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team Strive Masiyiwa, Executive Director of the World Food Programme David Beasley, Education Cannot Wait Director Yasmine Sherif, Vivek Maru CEO of Namati, Rotary President-elect Jennifer Jones, SDG Champion and Advocate Eddie Ndopu, President of the Ford Foundation Darren Walker, President of the Paris Peace Forum Steering Committee Trisha Shetty, Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., U.N. Next Generation fellow Valeria Colunga, advocate Eunice Akoth and more.

Global Citizen Live calls on leaders to deliver by September:
1 billion trees planted and preserved to help prevent global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels by curbing emissions and supporting 1t.org
1 billion vaccines to the poorest countries
Meals for the 41 million people on the brink of famine

Global Citizen Live events will be broadcast across Africa from Sept. 25, 2021 on television, radio, and online.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

COVID Vaccines – OCHA:: HDX

COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
Sep 25, 2021 | COVAX (WHO,GAVI,CEPI), UNDESA, Press Reports | DATA
Global COVID-19 Figures: 230M total confirmed cases; 4.7M total confirmed deaths
Global vaccines administered: 6.10B
Number of Countries: 29 [29 week ago]
COVAX Allocations Round 4-6 (Number of Doses): 120M [120M week ago]
COVAX Delivered (Number of Doses): 93M [87M week ago]
Other Delivered (Number of Doses): 140M [130M week ago]
Total Delivered (Number of Doses): 230M [200M week ago]
Total Administered (Number of Doses): 210M [190M week ago]

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

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 September 9, 2021, the World Bank approved operations to support vaccine rollout in 55 countries amounting to $4.6 billion. See the latest project financing, project documents and procurement information in the list here.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 [IMF, World Bank Group, WHO, WTO]
A joint initiative from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization, and World Trade Organization to accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics by leveraging multilateral finance and trade solutions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Website accessed 25 Sep 2021: https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data The global view below is complemented by country-specific dashboards here.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

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: 10 Sep 2021

Confirmed cases ::                         230 418 451     [226 844 344 week ago]

Confirmed deaths ::                          4 724 876               [4 666 334 week ago]

Vaccine doses administered:    5 874 934 542   [5 634 533 040 week ago]

::::::

::::::

WHO Director-General’s remarks at the Member State Information Session on COVID-19

Remarks

23 September 2021

[Excerpt]

…Yesterday I had the honour of speaking at the Global COVID-19 Summit hosted by the United States of America, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

I welcome the support from so many Member States for the Secretariat’s global targets to vaccinate 40% of the population of every country by the end of this year, and 70% by the middle of next year.

And I thank President Biden, not only for hosting, but also for the pledges of 500 million doses, which is significant.

As you know, earlier this year we also set a target to see 10% of the population of every country vaccinated by the end of September. Almost 90% of wealthier countries have now reached the 10% target. But 50 countries will not get there, mostly in Africa.

At yesterday’s summit, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres repeated his call for a global vaccination plan. I’m pleased to say that the WHO Secretariat has developed that plan. Today, Dr Bruce Aylward and Dr Kate O’Brien will present the WHO Strategy for achieving our 70% goal by mid-2022.

Reaching this target requires 11 billion doses of vaccines. So far, 6 billion doses have been administered worldwide. Global production has been scaling up, and we estimate there is enough supply, but we are failing to provide equitable access.

But about 80 percent of the vaccines have gone to high and upper-middle income countries. Low income countries have received less than 1%. Let’s be clear: COVID-19 cannot be beaten one country at a time.

My friends, the investment needed to achieve global vaccination coverage is substantial, but compared to the costs we face if this is not brought under control, it is peanuts. Let’s get this finished…

:::::::

Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 – 21 September 2021

Overview

   The numbers of weekly COVID-19 cases and deaths globally continued to decline this week, with over 3.6 million cases and just under 60 000 deaths reported between 13-19 September. This brings the cumulative numbers of confirmed cases and deaths globally to nearly 228 million and over 4.6 million respectively. While the Region of the Americas as well as the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions reported a decrease in weekly case incidence, the African and European regions reported a similar number of deaths as compared to the previous week. Similarly, COVID-19 weekly mortality decreased in the African, Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asian regions over the past week, with the South-East Asia Region reporting the largest percentage decrease (27%). In contrast, the Western Pacific Region reported an increase (7%) in the number of deaths while the Region of the Americas and the European Region reported a similar number of deaths as compared to the previous week.

   In this edition, we provide updates on the impacts of the phenotypic characteristics (transmissibility, disease severity, risk of reinfection, and impacts on diagnostics and vaccine performance) of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs), the geographic distribution of VOCs as well as changes to VOI classifications.

Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process  19 August 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 updates since 19 Aug 2021]
::::::

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

AstraZeneca
Press Releases
AstraZeneca to discover and develop self-amplifying RNA therapeutics in new collaboration with VaxEquity
23 September 2021
AstraZeneca will invest in VaxEquity, an Imperial College spin-off
AstraZeneca has reached an agreement to collaborate with VaxEquity for the discovery, development and commercialisastion of the proprietary self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) therapeutics platform developed at Imperial College London.
The strategic, long-term research collaboration aims to optimise and validate VaxEquity’s saRNA platform and apply it to advance novel therapeutic programmes. AstraZeneca will support VaxEquity with research and development funding and should AstraZeneca advance any of the research programmes into its pipeline, VaxEquity could receive development, approval and sales based milestones totalling up to $195 million and royalties in the mid-single digits per programme.
AstraZeneca has the option to collaborate with VaxEquity on up to 26 drug targets and will also make an investment in VaxEquity to further the development of the saRNA platform. VaxEquity was founded by Imperial College London and Morningside in 2020 based on the innovative saRNA technology developed by Professor Robin Shattock and his colleagues at Imperial College London, UK…

AstraZeneca to invest $360m in advanced manufacturing facility in Ireland
21 September 2021

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

CanSinoBIO
News – [Website not responding at inquiry]

Clover Biopharmaceuticals – China
News
Sep 22,2021
Clover’s COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Demonstrates 79% Efficacy Against Delta in Global Phase 2/3 SPECTRA Trial Dominated by Variants of Concern and Interest
Trial enrolled over 30,000 adult & elderly participants across 4 continents; 100% of SARS-CoV-2 strains observed in efficacy analysis were variants (Delta was predominant strain)
Primary and secondary efficacy endpoints were successfully met
100% efficacy against severe COVID-19 & hospitalization and 84% efficacy against moderate-to-severe COVID-19 caused by any strain of SARS-CoV-2 in SPECTRA
79% efficacy against COVID-19 of any severity caused by the globally dominant Delta variant
Favorable safety profile; no significant differences in systemic adverse events or severe/serious adverse events compared to placebo
First COVID-19 vaccine to demonstrate significantly reduced risk of COVID-19 disease in previously infected individuals

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
Sep 21, 2021 United States
Johnson & Johnson Announces Real-World Evidence and Phase 3 Data Confirming Strong and Long-Lasting Protection of Single-Shot COVID-19 Vaccine in the U.S.
Additional data show a booster increases protection 94 percent protection in the U.S. with booster given at two months Four-fold increase in antibodies when given at two months 12-fold increase in antibodies when booster given at six months

Moderna
Press Releases
September 24, 2021
Moderna Announces Supply Agreement with Peru for 20 Million Doses of Its COVID-19 Vaccine

Novavax
Press Releases
Novavax and Serum Institute of India Announce Submission to World Health Organization for Emergency Use Listing of Novavax’ COVID-19 Vaccine
Sep 23, 2021
Novavax and Serum Institute of India file regulatory submission for World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing of Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, with its partner, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (SII), today announced a regulatory submission to the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency use listing (EUL) of Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate with Matrix-M™ adjuvant. The submission to WHO is based on the companies’ previous regulatory submission to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
“Today’s submission of our protein-based COVID-19 vaccine to WHO for emergency use listing is a significant step on the path to accelerating access and more equitable distribution to countries in great need around the world,” said Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax. “It represents another major milestone in Novavax’ transformation into a commercial global vaccine company and reinforces the value of global collaboration and need for multiple approaches to help control the pandemic.”…

Pfizer
Recent Press Releases
09.22.2021
Pfizer and BioNTech Receive First U.S. FDA Emergency Use Authorization of a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster
Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) granted for individuals 65 years of age and older, and individuals ages 18 through 64 within certain high-risk groups
EUA is supported by clinical data showing a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine elicits high neutralization titers against SARS-CoV-2 and all currently tested variants
Reactogenicity profile within seven days of the booster dose was typically mild to moderate, with frequency of reactions similar to or lower than after the primary vaccination series
A booster dose given at least six months after completion of the primary vaccination series may help preserve a high level of protection against COVID-19

09.22.2021
Pfizer and BioNTech Expand Collaboration with U.S. to Provide 500 Million Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Doses at Not-for-Profit Price for Donation to Poorest Countries
Expanded agreement brings the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses to be supplied to the U.S. government for donation to one billion
Effort contributes to companies’ pledge to deliver two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2022
NEW YORK & MAINZ, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) today announced plans to expand their agreement with the U.S. government by providing an additional 500 million doses of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine at a not-for-profit price for donation to low- and lower-middle-income countries and the organizations that support them. This expanded agreement brings the total number of doses to be supplied to the U.S. government for donation to these countries to one billion…

Sanofi Pasteur
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

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

Sinopharm/WIBPBIBP
News – [Website not responding at inquiry]

Sinovac
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

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

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

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GSK
Press releases for media
22 September 2021
Changing attitudes to vaccination after the COVID-19 pandemic could increase adult vaccination rates, improving health outcomes over the longer term
GSK-sponsored Kantar survey shows that people 50 years of age and older value good health and improved quality of life significantly more than financial security in a post-pandemic world.
Public health messaging to encourage vaccination could be more successful if it focused on immune fitness rather than age.

SK Biosciences
Press releases – No new digest announcements identified

PAHO
BioManguinhos and Sinergium Biotech selected by PAHO to develop COVID-19 mRNA vaccines
Washington DC, September 21, 2021 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has announced the selection of Sinergium Biotech, in Argentina and Bio-Manguinhos, in Brazil, as regional hubs for the development and production of mRNA-based vaccines in Latin America in a bid to tackle COVID-19 and future infectious-disease challenges.
The Bio-Manguinhos Institute of Technology on Immunobiologicals at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) has a long tradition in vaccine manufacturing and has made promising advances in the development of an innovative mRNA vaccine against COVID-19. Sinergium Biotech, a private sector biopharmaceutical company, will partner with pharmaceutical mAbxience, to develop and manufacture active vaccine ingredients. The two companies have extensive experience in the production and development of vaccines and biotechnological medicines..

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

UNICEF COVID-19 Vaccine Market Dashboard :: Agreements Table Accessed 25 Sep 2021
An overview of information collected from publicly announced bilateral and multilateral supply agreements [agreements view since last week’s edition]

No new bilateral deals reported.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

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

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

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 on Vaccine Equity [accessed 25 Sep 2021]: https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/
See also visualization on Vaccine Access and Vaccine Affordability

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Our World in Data
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations [Accessed 25 Sep 2021]
:: 44.3% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
:: 6.1 billion doses have been administered globally, and 29.41 million are now administered each day.
:: Only 2.2% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.

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

CDC [ACIP]

CDC Statement on ACIP Booster Recommendations

Friday, September 24, 2021

Today, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in certain populations and also recommended a booster dose for those in high risk occupational and institutional settings. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization and CDC’s guidance for use are important steps forward as we work to stay ahead of the virus and keep Americans safe.

This updated interim guidance from CDC allows for millions of Americans who are at highest risk for COVID-19 to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot to help increase their protection.

CDC recommends:

• people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
• people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditionsshould receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
• people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditionsmay receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
• people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

Many of the people who are now eligible to receive a booster shot received their initial vaccine early in the vaccination program and will benefit from additional protection. With the Delta variant’s dominance as the circulating strain and cases of COVID-19 increasing significantly across the United States, a booster shot will help strengthen protection against severe disease in those populations who are at high-risk for exposure to COVID-19 or the complications from severe disease.

CDC will continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure appropriate recommendations to keep all Americans safe. We will also evaluate with similar urgency available data in the coming weeks to swiftly make additional recommendations for other populations or people who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

The following is attributable to Dr. Walensky:

As CDC Director, it is my job to recognize where our actions can have the greatest impact. At CDC, we are tasked with analyzing complex, often imperfect data to make concrete recommendations that optimize health. In a pandemic, even with uncertainty, we must take actions that we anticipate will do the greatest good.

I believe we can best serve the nation’s public health needs by providing booster doses for the elderly, those in long-term care facilities, people with underlying medical conditions, and for adults at high risk of disease from occupational and institutional exposures to COVID-19. This aligns with the FDA’s booster authorization and makes these groups eligible for a booster shot. Today, ACIP only reviewed data for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. We will address, with the same sense of urgency, recommendations for the Moderna and J&J vaccines as soon as those data are available.

While today’s action was an initial step related to booster shots, it will not distract from our most important focus of primary vaccination in the United States and around the world. I want to thank ACIP for their thoughtful discussion and scientific deliberation on the current data which informed my recommendation.

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Changes in booster shot guidance lead to confusion for doctors, patients

Washington Post, 9/25/2021

The muddle came to a head with this week’s showdown between the CDC’s advisers and its director. Health care providers are now trying to get answers to patients’ questions — and their own.

By Carissa Wolf, Frances Stead Sellers, Ashley Cusick and Kim Mueller

…Confusion over boosters, which has been brewing for months, heightened over the past week as government regulators and advisers met to hash out the pros and cons of administering third doses.

Hours of meetings culminated in a showdown Thursday: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisory group narrowed the Food and Drug Administration’s recommendation for who should get a third Pfizer shot, only to be overruled in a late-night announcement by the CDC director: Along with Americans 65 and older, nursing home residents and people ages 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions, who the advisory panel had suggested should get shots, Rochelle Walensky added the people in high-risk jobs.

“It’s a communications crisis,” said Robert Murphy, executive director of the Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who said he received worried calls Thursday evening from health-care workers who thought they would not be eligible for the shots, followed by messages Friday from colleagues wondering when and where to get them…

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White House [U.S.]
Briefing Room – Selected Major COVID Announcements
Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
September 24, 2021 • Press Briefings

Global COVID-⁠19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better
September 24, 2021 • Statements and Releases
Editor’s Note:
This statement provides the U.S. narrative on the “Virtual Global COVID-19 Summit” as further detailed by the speeches, statement and releases below. It includes quotations attributable to and a list of “more than 100 governments and other partners” which participated and the “more than 100 International Organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector, and philanthropies” which participated. We recognize the limited alignment between this statement and the tone and detail of the COVAX partners announcement on the Biden Summit above.

Remarks by President Biden on the COVID-⁠19 Response and the Vaccination Program
September 24, 2021 • Speeches and Remarks

Remarks by Vice President Harris At Virtual Global COVID-⁠19 Summit
September 22, 2021 • Speeches and Remarks

Remarks by President Biden at Virtual Global COVID-⁠19 Summit
September 22, 2021 • Speeches and Remarks

A U.S.-EU Agenda for Beating the Global Pandemic Vaccinating the World, Saving Lives Now, and Building Back Better Health Security
September 22, 2021 • Statements and Releases

United States–European Commission Joint Statement
September 22, 2021 • Statements and Releases
Editor’s Note:
This statement provides details on the launch of the joint COVID-19 Manufacturing and Supply Chain Taskforce first announced in June. This week, the Taskforce met in Washington, D.C., to finalize the Mission Statement of this Taskforce, which will focus on the following three priority “work strands” including: [1] Monitor global supply chains for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics through assessment of global demand and supply of these items and their production and ancillary supplies, and through identification of supply chain bottlenecks; [2] Address critical supply chain bottlenecks and other disruptive factors for global COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics production, and [3] Coordinate initiatives to boost global production of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and their production and ancillary supplies.

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Global COVID-⁠19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better
September 22, 2021 • Statements and Releases

FACT SHEET: Targets for Global COVID-⁠19 Summit
September 22, 2021 • Statements and Releases
[See Milestones above for detail]

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

European Medicines Agency
News & Press Releases
No new digest content identified

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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en
Latest Updates
Publication
Overview of the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination strategies and deployment plans in the EU/EEA
Technical report – 23 Sep 2021
This report provides an updated overview of the progress of national COVID-19 vaccination strategies in EU/EEA countries, including updates on: vaccine uptake overall and by target group; current vaccination phases and priority groups, as well as any adjustments made to priority groups during the rollout; vaccination strategies and policies in place; and the use of vaccination certificates and challenges countries face with the rollout and good practices to mitigate these challenges.

Publication
Protocol for a focused after-action review on evidence-based decision-making for selected COVID-19 response measures
Technical report – 22 Sep 2021
This ECDC protocol for a focused after-action review (AAR) on evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) for selected COVID-19 response measures uses the standard AAR/IAR approach but focuses on a single category or function – EBDM – as opposed to a whole range of activities. We consider the decision (or group of decisions) made as the event to be reviewed, whereby the event comprises both the process that leads to the decision outcome and the impact of that outcome. It follows a case study-based research design. In the social sciences, a case study approach looks at one selected event in depth and explores what can be learned about broader, systemic interrelationships and linkages. Due to the complex impact of COVID-19 on all aspects of society, an investigation of the intricacies of EBDM demands a focused approach.

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Data as of 2021-09-24
https://vaccinetracker.ecdc.europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/vaccine-tracker.html#uptake-tab

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European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en
Press release 17 September 2021
Statement 25 September 2021
Statement by President von der Leyen at the Global Citizen live event ‘A Recovery Plan for the World’

Press release 23 September 2021
Europeans strongly support science and technology according to new Eurobarometer survey
A new Eurobarometer survey on ‘European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology’ released today shows that 9 in 10 EU citizens (86%) think that the overall influence of science and technology is positive.

Statement 22 September 2021
United States–European Commission Joint Statement: Launch of the joint COVID-19 Manufacturing and Supply Chain Taskforce

Statement 22 September 2021
An U.S.-EU Agenda for Beating the Global Pandemic: Vaccinating the World, Saving Lives Now, and Building Back Better Health Security

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

Current at 09/01/2021 Full scale, interactive dashboard available at:
https://africacdc.org/covid-19-vaccination/

Russia: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Russia: Sputnik V – “the first registered COVID-19 vaccine”
https://sputnikvaccine.com/newsroom/pressreleases/
Press Releases
The single-component Sputnik Light vaccine authorized in Egypt
Press release, 24.09.2021

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

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

Latest Updates
No new digest content identified

Government of India – Press Information Bureau
Latest Press Releases
No new digest content identified

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

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

No new digest content identified. See China CDC below for additional announcements.

Emergencies

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

Polio this week as of 23 September 2021
:: “Afghanistan is one of two countries in the world where polio remains endemic. With only one case of wild poliovirus reported so far this year, compared to 56 in 2020, there has never been a better time to eradicate polio. However, the polio programme will struggle to respond if the basic immunization infrastructure begins to collapse around it.” – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on their visit to Kabul. Read more…

Summary of new WPV and cVDPV viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
No new WPV and cVDPV cases reported this week

::::::

Event – Eradicating Polio: What more Is Needed?
WFPHA – World Federation of Public Health Associations
Sep 22, 2021
Polio cases have fallen 99.9% since 1988. In 2020 Africa was certified polio free by the World Health Organization. However, polio will remain a key public health concern until such time as there are no wild… On October 12, 2021, at 10:00 – 11:00 (CEST), “Eradicating Polio: What more Is Needed?” webinar will be held to focus on the barriers, challenges and leverages to reach every child and eradicate polio globally. Register

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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 [Last apparent update: 5 Aug 2021]

Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021 [Last apparent update: 17 Aug 2021]

Ebola outbreak outbreak, N’Zerekore, Guinea, 2021 [Last apparent update: 17 Aug 2021]

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

Ebola outbreak, Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2020
[Last apparent update: 17 Aug 2021]

Ebola outbreak, North Kivu, Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018 – 2020
[Last apparent update: 17 Aug 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: 17 Aug 2021]

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

Ebola outbreak: West Africa, 2014-2016 [Last apparent update: 17 Aug 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: 13 September 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
Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Snapshot (As of 24 September 2021)
OVERVIEW
Forty years of war, recurrent natural disasters, chronic poverty, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic have devastated the people of Afghanistan. The recent escalation in conflict and resulting upheaval has only exacerbated needs and further complicated an extremely challenging operational context. Even prior to the events of 15 August, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan was one of the worst in the world. By the mid-year mark, nearly half of the population — some 18.4m people — were already in need of humanitarian and protection assistance in 2021.

Northern Ethiopia
Ethiopia – Northern Ethiopia Humanitarian Update Situation Report, 23 Sept 2021

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CDC/ACIP [U.S.] [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html
Latest News Releases, Announcements
Studies Show More COVID-19 Cases in Areas Without School Masking Policies
Friday, September 24, 2021

CDC Statement on ACIP Booster Recommendations
Friday, September 24, 2021
[See US regulatiory action ab

Next ACIP Meetings
No registration is required to watch the webcast.
:: September 29, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting at https://video.ibm.com/channel/VWBXKBR8af4
Agenda draft: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/agenda-archive/Draft_Meeting-Agenda_Sept-29-2021_for-posting-508.pdf

MMWR News Synopsis Friday, September 24, 2021
Selected Content
:: Comparative Effectiveness of Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) Vaccines in Preventing COVID-19 Hospitalizations Among Adults Without Immunocompromising Conditions — United States, March–August 2021
:: Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in Persons Aged ≥16 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, September 2021
:: Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant Infections Among Incarcerated Persons in a Federal Prison — Texas, July–August 2021

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)– CDC
Approximately 25 announcements/reports/data summaries.
:: Overall US COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Fri, 24 Sep 2021 06:00:00 EST

Africa CDC [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Press Releases
The Africa CDC joins the Global Citizen Live concert to push for vaccine equity.
25 September 2021
[See Milestones above for detail]

Press Releases
Africa CDC, IFRC, and USAU call for Equitable Vaccine Coverage in Africa
23 September 2021
[See Milestones above for detail]

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

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
Sept 25: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
On Sept 24, 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on the Chinese mainland reported 38 new cases of confirmed infections

Xi stresses beating COVID-19
Updated: 2021-09-22 | Xinhua
BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sept 21 that we must beat COVID-19 and win this decisive fight crucial to the future of humanity.
Xi made the remarks in his statement delivered via video at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“The history of world civilization is also one of fighting pandemics. Rising to challenges, humanity has always emerged in triumph and achieved greater development and advancement. The current pandemic may appear overwhelming, but we humanity will surely overcome it and prevail,” said Xi.

National Medical Products Administration – PRC [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://english.nmpa.gov.cn/news.html
News
Nearly 2.19b COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in China
2021-09-24
Nearly 2.19 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in China as of Sept 22, data from the National Health Commission showed Sept 23.

China to provide more vaccines, international assistance
2021-09-22
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China will provide more vaccines against COVID-19 to the world, as well as international assistance.

CCDC Weekly – Weekly Reports: Current Volume (3)
2021-09-24 / No. 39
View  PDF of this issue
:: Foreword: Accelerate the Progress Towards Elimination of Dog-Mediated Rabies in China
:: Vital Surveillances: Epidemiology of Animal Rabies — China, 2010–2020
:: Vital Surveillances: Epidemic Characteristics of Human Rabies — China, 2016–2020
:: Preplanned Studies: Epidemiological Study of Outpatients in Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Clinics — Tianjin Municipality, China, 2020
:: Commentary: Progress in the Development of Animal Rabies Vaccines in China
:: Commentary: Progress and Prospects of Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination in China

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

Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
News
No new digest content identified.

BARDA – U.S. Department of HHS [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.phe.gov/about/barda/Pages/default.aspx
News
No new digest content identified.

BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center
Press Releases and Statements
Press release
Sep 23, 2021
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Commits $922 Million to Advance Global Nutrition to Help Women and Children

Press release
Sep 20, 2021
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Honors Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Former Executive Director of UN Women, With 2021 Global Goalkeeper Award

Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 25 Sep 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 25 Sep 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 25 Sep 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 – September 2021 is now posted here

CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://cepi.net/
Latest News
Global leaders commit further support for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and COVAX
Joint statement from COVAX following the Global COVID-19 Summit hosted by the United States
COVAX
23 Sep 2021
[See Milestones above for detail]

Clover Biopharmaceuticals announces positive efficacy data from Phase 2/3 trial
SCB-2019 (CpG 1018/Alum) demonstrated significant efficacy against multiple variants of COVID-19, including Delta
COVID-19
22 Sep 2021

DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [to 25 Sep 2021
https://www.darpa.mil/news
News
No new digest content identified.

Duke Global Health Innovation Center [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://dukeghic.org/
Our Blog
No new digest content identified.

EDCTP [to 25 Sep 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
News
No new digest content identified.

Emory Vaccine Center [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
Vaccine Center News
No new digest content identified.

European Vaccine Initiative [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/
Latest News
No new digest content identified.

Fondation Merieux [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
No new digest content identified.

Gavi [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.gavi.org/
23 September 2021
Global leaders commit further support for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and COVAX
[See Milestones above for detail]

22 September 2021
DFC and Citi Risk Management Solution Helps Gavi Strengthen the Foundations of the COVAX Facility
:: DFC financing for vaccine-related efforts now totals nearly $600m committed during the Biden Administration
:: U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, in conjunction with Citi, launch risk management solution for COVAX Facility
:: Helps to insure against risk in 9 self-financing countries participating in COVAX
:: COVAX aims to provide fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for every country in the world
Washington, New York and Geneva, 22 September 2021 – U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), in conjunction with Citi, today announced it is providing a risk management solution to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), to mitigate risk and overcome financial hurdles with governments that are funding COVID-19 vaccine purchases through the COVAX Facility. One of many actions unveiled at the U.S. COVID-19 Summit and highlighted by the White House, this risk management partnership embodies the collective and global action that will be required to address and end the COVID-19 pandemic.
DFC support will help Gavi’s efforts to pre-purchase up to 2 billion vaccines directly from manufacturers and allocate these vaccines rapidly and equitably throughout the world. DFC’s financing will offer protection against political risks in nine self-financing countries – across Latin and Central America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe – participating in COVAX, covering a total amount of more than $383 million in insurance…

20 September 2021
Iceland renews commitment to global equitable access to vaccines: first doses arrive in Côte d’Ivoire
:: As part of a donation of 125,726 doses to COVAX, the first shipment of 35,700 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by Iceland has arrived in Côte d’Ivoire. This Icelandic commitment to global health comes on top of a pledge of ISK 750 million to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (Gavi COVAX AMC).
:: Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation: “Iceland is firmly committed to play its part. Equitable access to vaccines is not only a fundamental matter of global solidarity but a shared interest of us all.”
:: Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: “Iceland has long punched above its weight in development and global health: this shipment of Icelandic doses through COVAX underlines the government’s commitment to global equitable access to vaccines.”…

GHIT Fund [to 25 Sep 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 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
No new digest content identified.

Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness [GloPID-R] [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.glopid-r.org/news/
22/09/2021
COVID-19: Advances and Remaining Challenges international conference opens September 29
Institut Pasteur will hold this international conference in collaboration with Inserm ANRS – Maladies infectieuses émergentes from September 29 to October 1, 2021. COVID-19 experts from around the globe will attend the event which will be broadcast live in English and held under the high patronage of the French President.
Leading researchers and clinicians will present the progress made and remaining challenges in virology, clinical presentations and management, epidemiology, and vaccinology for COVID-19. Topics to be covered include:
Viral entry and replication/neutralization
Viral persistence and Long COVID
Patient management and future treatments
Evaluation of impact of interventions
Children and SARS-CoV-2 transmission and control
Vaccine regimens and effectiveness
Why and how should we get the planet vaccinated?
Learn more & register

Hilleman Laboratories [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
Website reports “under maintenance” at inquiry

Human Vaccines Project [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/
News
Global COVID Lab Meeting
Sep 23, 2021
Aaron Ring: Autoantibodies in COVID-19

IAVI [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.iavi.org/newsroom
Latest News
No new digest content identified.

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

ICRC [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
Selected News Releases, Statements, Reports
President Peter Maurer UNGA 2021: International Humanitarian Law – Enhancing Monitoring, Improving Compliance
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,This year I have visited ICRC operations in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Syria, and Yemen, among others. Unique contexts but the same equation: when wars are fought in violation of the law,
22-09-2021 | Statement

ICRC Statement for the 2021 Security Council Open Debate: Climate and Security
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) welcomes today’s important debate held during high level week at the initiative of the Irish Presidency and chaired by his excellency Prime Minister Micheál Martin.As an exclusively humanitarian org
22-09-2021 | Article

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

IFRC [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
Africa CDC, IFRC, and USAU call for equitable vaccine coverage in Africa
Addis Ababa, 23 September 2021 – Today, during a high-level event on COVID-19, on the margins of the UN General Assembly, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the U.S. Mission to the African Union (USAU) called on partners and governments to do more to end vaccine inequity. The event entitled “Saving Lives, Saving Livelihoods: Achieving high-level, equitable, COVID-19 vaccine coverage in African Union (AU) Member States” aimed to follow-up the Global COVID-19 summit convened by U.S. President Joseph R. Biden on September 22, with local African partners.

Much of the population of Africa is being left behind, even as other parts of the world begin their path to recovery from this deadly pandemic. The deep inequities in vaccine distribution are also linked to the devastating socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. According to a report released in April 2021, economic disruption is likely to persist in Africa due to COVID-19 restrictions—and the slow pace of vaccine rollouts. Worryingly, Africa has been facing multiple, chronic crises, including poverty and food insecurity, which have been exacerbated by COVID-19.

Africa CDC, IFRC and USAU warned that, in addition to slow vaccine rollouts, the presence of several crises, including COVID-19, in many African countries, is resulting in the continued loss of lives and livelihoods. The three institutions also indicated that having the vaccine doses alone won’t be enough.
John Nkengasong, Africa CDC Director, said: “As we call for the end of vaccine inequity, we know that the work doesn’t end there. We also need to be able to deliver those vaccines to the communities; ensure that people are prepared to be vaccinated and that the doses are being delivered where they are needed. It is crucial to continue working more closely with communities.”…

IFRC ramps up humanitarian assistance as record number of migrants cross the perilous Darién Gap
The IFRC is ramping up efforts to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to migrants travelling through the Darién Gap, one of the most dangerous migratory routes in the world.
Panama City/Geneva, 20 September 2021

Institut Pasteur [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
Press Documents
2.09.2021
SARS-CoV-2-related viruses capable of infecting human cells discovered in bats in northern Laos

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases
News – Selected
News 22 Sep 2021
Yemen: Millions of Displaced Persons and Migrants Desperate for Aid Amid Funding Shortfalls

ISC / International Science Council [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://council.science/current/
ISC is a non-governmental organization with a unique global membership that brings together 40 international scientific Unions and Associations and over 140 national and regional scientific organizations including Academies and Research Councils.
Blog
Seven organizations we want to hear more from on diversity in science
20.09.2021

IVAC [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates; Events
No new digest content identified.

IVI [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.ivi.int/
No new digest content identified.

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/news/center-news/
Center News
New Report: Mental Health and Social Support for Healthcare and Hospital Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
September 23, 2021

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements]
Democratic Republic of Congo
Deadly typhoid outbreak under control in Popokabaka
Project Update 24 Sep 2021

Ukraine
Fighting tuberculosis with medication, mental health and social support
Project Update 19 Sep 2021

National Academy of Medicine – USA [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://nam.edu/programs/
Selected News/Programs
Four NAM Members Appointed to President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)
September 23, 2021
President Joseph Biden announced the members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) on September 22, 2021, including four members of the National Academy of Medicine and 20 members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and/or NAM. The NAM members appointed to PCAST include: Lisa A. Cooper […]

More Than 150 Innovators Awarded in Global Competition Seeking Solutions with the Aim to Improve Healthy Longevity
September 22, 2021
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), together with eight global collaborators representing over 50 countries and territories, today announced the awardees of the 2021 Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards. These awards are part of the Healthy Longevity Global Competition, a multiyear, multistage, and multimillion-dollar international competition seeking potential breakthrough innovations aiming to extend human health and […]

National Academy of Sciences – USA [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/
News
No new digest content identified.

National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
Upcoming Meetings/Latest Updates
No new digest content identified.

NIH [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
News Releases
No new digest content identified.

PATH [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Press Releases
PATH signs action plan against COVID-19 at the US Global COVID-19 Summit
PATH commits to helping vaccinate 70 percent of the world by September 2022, to saving lives now, and to better preparing the world for the next health threat.
… Finally, we will hold global leaders accountable to the funding and commitments they have made to make sure we reach the goal of 70 percent of the world vaccinated by next year.

Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

UNAIDS [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
24 September 2021
Partnering to get back on track to end AIDS by 2030

21 September 2021
Community-led initiative helps LGBTI migrants to learn their rights in Ecuador

21 September 2021
New report outlines the impact of United Kingdom aid cut on the global HIV response

21 September 2021
Empty promises will not save the world from COVID, campaigners warn ahead of Biden Global Vaccine Summit

20 September 2021
Inequalities at the heart of uneven progress in the AIDS response

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/media-centre.htmlS
Selected News Releases, Announcements
UNHCR and Council of Europe discuss statelessness, urge States to uphold the right to a nationality in Europe
24 Sep 2021

UNHCR and IOM shocked and dismayed by deaths near Belarus-Poland border
21 Sep 2021

UNICEF [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Press Releases, News Notes, Statements [Selected]
Press release
09/24/2021
New storybook to help children stay hopeful during COVID-19
Resource for parents, teachers and health professionals follows successful first edition

Press release
09/23/2021
Global leaders commit further support for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and COVAX
A joint statement from COVAX partners
[See Milestones above for detail]

Press release
09/23/2021
Over 2 in 3 people expelled to Haiti from US border are women and children – UNICEF
UNICEF also concerned about situation of Haitian families at US-Mexico border

Remarks
09/21/2021
UNICEF Executive Director remarks at the virtual Ministerial-Event on safeguarding the achievements of 20 years of international engagement in Afghanistan
Checked against delivery

Press release
09/21/2021
Young children’s diets show no improvement in last decade, ‘could get much worse’ under COVID-19
During crucial period when children begin to transition to solid foods, just 1 in 3 are fed a diet diverse enough to grow well

Unitaid [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://unitaid.org/
Featured News
24 September 2021
Unitaid’s statement on the recommendation of casirivimab/imdevimab for COVID-19 treatment
Geneva, 24 September 2021 – Unitaid welcomes the WHO guidelines published today that recommend the use of the combination of two monoclonal antibodies for the treatment for both outpatients and patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
The need to have effective treatments for COVID-19 has never been greater, with many countries around the world facing case surges driven by Delta and other variants. These surges are having a particularly devastating impact on low- and middle- income countries, which continue to have limited access to vaccines.
Global, equitable access to new tools against COVID-19 is crucial if we are to ensure that hard-won developments in the fight against the pandemic can reach all those who may benefit. We now need to see how new therapeutic options, as they become recommended, can reach their potential in all settings, including in low- and middle-income countries.
With this newly recommended treatment, Unitaid notes the feasibility challenges, severely constrained supply, and – for non-hospitalized patients – limited benefit for all but those at highest risk, as detailed in the guidelines. WHO allocation criteria will be critical in helping identify people who may benefit from this treatment. A proposed initial donation from Roche/Regeneron, to be managed by UNICEF, could help meet immediate needs and ensure casirivimab/imdevimab reaches people who could benefit. However a limited donation – on its own – is not enough to ensure equitable, global access to lifesaving COVID-19 treatments. Broader access commitments are needed from industry to ensure that pricing and supply conditions enable this product to reach all people regardless of where they live…

Vaccine Equity Cooperative [nee Initiative] [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://vaccineequitycooperative.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.

Vaccination Acceptance & Demand Initiative [Sabin) [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.vaccineacceptance.org/
Announcements
No new digest content identified.

Vaccine Confidence Project [to 25 Sep 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).

Goals House @UNGA | HOW COVID-19 IS CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD THINKS ABOUT VACCINES
Prof. Heidi Larson participated in the UK Government-hosted virtual roundtable “How COVID-19 is changing the way the world thinks about vaccines: lessons for the future of global health” as part of the Global Goals House series of events that coincide with United Nations General Assembly Week. The debate explored the evolution of public sentiment around vaccines from before the pandemic to present day and identified the most effective approaches adopted – from enhanced public perception and misinformation tracking to rapid message deployment – to build confidence in vaccines and promote uptake.

Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
News
No new digest content identified.

Wellcome Trust [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News and reports
News
Learning from pandemics
Head of Prevention, Charlie Weller spoke to us about how the lessons of previous epidemics helped us respond to Covid-19.
21 September 2021

The Wistar Institute [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
Sep. 22, 2021
Wistar and Penn Medicine Awarded $11.7 Million Melanoma Research Grant from the National Cancer Institute
PHILADELPHIA — (Sept. 22, 2021) —The Wistar Institute and Penn Medicine have been awarded a prestigious $11.7 million Specialized Programs of Research Excellence, or SPORE, grant from the National Cancer Institute. The five-year award will fund three new melanoma research projects that translate fundamental laboratory discoveries made at The Wistar Institute and in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania into new therapeutics to treat skins cancers.

WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News
Eradicating Polio: What more Is Needed?
Sep 22, 2021
Polio cases have fallen 99.9% since 1988. In 2020 Africa was certified polio free by the World Health Organization. However, polio will remain a key public health concern until such time as there are no wild… On October 12, 2021, at 10:00 – 11:00 (CEST), “Eradicating Polio: What more Is Needed?” webinar will be held to focus on the barriers, challenges and leverages to reach every child and eradicate polio globally. Register

World Bank [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
Selected News, Announcements
Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass for UNGA21 Global COVID-19 Summit
Date: September 22, 2021 Type: Speeches and Transcripts
President Biden, excellencies, and distinguished colleagues.
The World Bank Group is strongly supporting widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in developing countries. We welcome the global target of having at least 70 percent of the population fully vaccinated in all countries by UNGA 2022.

To help support this, the World Bank Group has a $20 billion facility to help developing countries purchase vaccines and set up vaccination systems. We have funded vaccination programs in 54 countries.  We are eager to increase both the amounts of funding and the range of countries, including through COVAX.

We have partnered with the African Union’s African Vaccine Acquisition Trust – AVAT – to increase delivery of vaccine doses for African and Caribbean countries and to tackle persistent vaccine delivery, manufacturing, and trade issues.

Shortages of vaccine deliveries remain a critical bottleneck.  The World Bank Group, with the IMF, WHO, and WTO have formed a Task Force to accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines. The Multilateral Task Force’s data and analysis show that advanced economies have billions of excess doses beyond what is required to vaccinate their entire populations.

We’re urging countries with excess vaccine supplies to release doses quickly and transparently and to fulfill their generous donation pledges.

The Task Force is also urging governments to eliminate trade and regulatory barriers to the export of vaccines and other COVID-19 health tools. To help build supply, the IFC, which is the World Bank Group’s private sector development arm, is investing in vaccine manufacturing and working to boost local production capacity in Africa.

Stopping the spread of COVID-19 through widespread vaccine distribution will increase health security for everyone and is critical to a full return to inclusive growth everywhere.
Thank you.

World Customs Organization – WCO [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.wcoomd.org/
Latest News – Selected Items
24 September 2021
Gender equality and inclusion in Customs at the forefront of high-level discussions

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2021/
Press Releases, Statements
No new digest content identified.

WTO – World Trade Organisation [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
WTO News and Events
DG Okonjo-Iweala: Leverage trade to build sustainable food systems
23 September 2021
In a video message to the United Nations’ Food Systems Summit on 23 September, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala underscored the importance of international trade in building sustainable food systems. Noting the opportunity provided by the 12th Ministerial Conference in late November to make progress on critical agricultural issues, she called on world leaders to support and reinvigorate the trading system to ensure greater sustainability.
News item

Access to COVID-19 vaccine, ministerial outcomes key to driving development in LLDCs
23 September 2021
Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang called on the global community to increase the access of landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) to the COVID-19 vaccine and to achieve outcomes at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference that will support sustainable development. DDG Zhang was speaking at the LLDC ministerial meeting held virtually on the margins of the UN General Assembly on 23 September. “The decisions and agreements reached at the WTO will determine the future of the multilateral trading system and its potential to keep driving development,” he said.
[Excerpt]

…Countries’ economic prospects are bifurcating in line with their access to vaccines and their fiscal and monetary capacity to provide economic relief and stimulus. LLDCs are in a weaker position with regard to access to the vaccine and the financial capacity to adopt stimulus measures. The multilateral community needs to step forward to make up for these shortcomings.
A rapid, equitable vaccine rollout is a prerequisite for inclusive economic growth and continuing progress towards the achievement of the objectives of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Vienna Program of Action.
The WTO, together with our partners WHO, the IMF and the World Bank, has been working with vaccine manufacturers to enhance production, including new investments in emerging markets and developing countries and ensure equitable access to vaccines for all. Our joint task force has a website with vaccine data and news — COVID19taskforce.com.
The response to the pandemic will be a central issue during our conversations at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference in just over two-months time. To achieve meaningful results that will make a difference in responding to this and any future pandemics, we are focusing on three key areas:
One, free up vaccine supply chains by lowering export restrictions and facilitating trade.
Two, work with manufacturers to identify supply chain bottlenecks and increase production in developing countries.
And three, find pragmatic solutions to technology transfer, knowhow, and intellectual property questions…
News item

DG Okonjo-Iweala: Vaccine policy key to sustainable economic and trade recovery
23 September 2021
Speaking at the virtual White House Global COVID-19 Summit on 22 September, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said sustainable economic and trade recovery can only be achieved with a policy that ensures rapid global access to vaccines.
[Excerpt]
…Vaccinating the world is a moral, practical, and economic imperative.

Moral, because we cannot accept that in a world where the technology exists to save lives, we let people die because they live in poor countries that have neither the resources, nor the access to vaccines and other medical countermeasures needed to save their populations. It is not acceptable that 58% of people in developed countries are fully vaccinated, with vaccines available to anybody who wants one, while in low-income countries, barely 1% of people are vaccinated, and even frontline medical workers are denied access for want of supply.

Practical, because the longer the virus circulates freely, the likelier it is that variants even more dangerous than Delta will emerge and go global.

And economic, because the present K-shaped economic recovery is not sustainable. Currently, economies with abundant vaccines and ample fiscal and monetary firepower — which is to say, mostly rich countries and some Emerging Markets — have rebounded strongly. But other countries are being left behind. Extreme poverty is rising after decades of decline. According to the IMF, advanced economies will grow 5.6% this year, compared to only 3.9% for low-income developing countries. WTO projections show a similar trend in trade: Asia, North America, and Europe are on track for stronger trade growth than Africa and Latin America.

We have a choice. Either we converge downwards, by allowing the virus to drag us all back down, or we converge upwards, by vaccinating the world…

::::::

ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://alliancerm.org/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

BIO [to 25 Sep 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 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News; Upcoming events
BioManguinhos and Sinergium Biotech selected by PAHO to develop COVID-19 mRNA vaccines
Washington DC, September 21, 2021 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has announced the selection of Sinergium Biotech, in Argentina and Bio-Manguinhos, in Brazil, as regional hubs for the development and production of mRNA-based vaccines in Latin America in a bid to tackle COVID-19 and future infectious-disease challenges.

The Bio-Manguinhos Institute of Technology on Immunobiologicals at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) has a long tradition in vaccine manufacturing and has made promising advances in the development of an innovative mRNA vaccine against COVID-19. Sinergium Biotech, a private sector biopharmaceutical company, will partner with pharmaceutical mAbxience, to develop and manufacture active vaccine ingredients. The two companies have extensive experience in the production and development of vaccines and biotechnological medicines.

The announcement was made by PAHO Assistant Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa and Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Scientist, during a side event on the margins of PAHO’s 59th Directing Council. The “Technology Transfer for the Production of mRNA Vaccines in the Americas” event brought together health ministers and authorities from countries in the region to discuss vaccine production. “Delays in production have meant that many countries [in the region] are still awaiting the doses they purchased months ago. Limited vaccine supplies continue to set us back,” PAHO Director Dr. Carissa F. Etienne said in her opening remarks to the side event.

The region of the Americas has borne the brunt of COVID-19 infections to date, with 87.6 million cases recorded and over 2.16 million lives lost. Vaccine distribution continues to be unequal, with few countries in the region reaching the 40% COVID-19 vaccine target set out by WHO.

ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://internationalbiotech.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.

IFPMA [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
IFPMA EFPIA PhRMA BIO ABPI Statement – Global COVID-19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and Building
22 September 2021
Innovative biopharmaceutical companies are at the forefront of the response to the pandemic; not least by developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines in record time. Our industry joins today’s global summit to demonstrate our commitment towards working with governments and global health partners to align on a common vision to expand and enhance our shared efforts to defeat COVID-19.

This month COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing output will reach 7.5 billion doses, and 12 billion vaccines will be produced by the end of 2021. At this rate, on the basis of the most conservative projections (Airfinity report), even if governments in G7 countries decide to vaccinate teenagers and adults at a rate of more than 80% and decide to give boosters to at-risk populations, there would still be over 1.2 billion doses available for distribution by the end of this year. By June 2022, if there are no major bottlenecks and trade barriers, output will reach over 24 billion.

We are fully committed to “vaccinate the world” as articulated in our “Five steps to urgently advance COVID-19 vaccine equity” we are working with governments and partners to:
step up dose sharing,
continueefforts to optimize production,
eliminatetrade barriers,
support country readiness, and
continue to drive innovation.

The G7 and G20 countries are making strides to increase dose sharing and we welcome the increased focus from these leaders to respond to the challenge of greater dose sharing.  Now, in addition to doses already committed, each month, over 200 million doses secured by G7 countries could be available for low- and lower-middle-income countries. Political leadership is critical to distributing the 1.2 billion doses by the end of 2021; and developing robust plans to enable the efficient distribution of these doses with due regard to the capacity in low- and lower-income countries to roll out immunization plans across their priority populations and achieve vaccine equity.

To “save lives now”, treatments remain integral to COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Thankfully, a handful of COVID-19 treatments are already standard of care. The biopharmaceutical industry is continuing to research, develop and scale up manufacturing capacity for existing and novel treatments, but their effective roll out to patients is dependent on country readiness to ensure the right patient gets the right treatment at the right time.

Strengthening health systems to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines and treatments get to all who need them will be the foundation for “building back better” and ensuring all patients will benefit from future innovation. To stave off future pandemics, society needs a thriving innovation eco-system alongside a resilient, sufficiently resourced, health infrastructure that will sustain the development, production and deployment of vaccines and therapeutics vital to continued global health progress.

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

International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations – IAPO [to 25 Sep 2021]
https://www.iapo.org.uk/news/topic/6
Press and media [Selected]
No new digest content identified.

PhRMA [to 25 Sep 2021]
http://www.phrma.org/
Latest News [Selected]
A global focus on ending the COVID-19 pandemic
September 22, 2021
Stephen J. Ubl is president and chief executive officer of PhRMA.
Today, President Biden convened global leaders to confront the challenges around ending this pandemic. We stand with the president, all governments, organizations and sectors in a shared commitment to:
Vaccinate the world; Save lives now; and Be better prepared for the next public health crisis.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s biopharmaceutical companies have come together in unprecedented ways to attack the virus. These include enhancing testing availability, working closely with hospitals and physicians on thousands of clinical trials, and teaming up with competitors and new partners through hundreds of collaborations in countries around the world to manufacture and deliver vaccines.
Biopharmaceutical companies have ramped up COVID-19 vaccine production from zero to as many as 12 billion doses this year. We are also working to address barriers standing in the way of global vaccination, including vaccine hesitancy and further increasing production and partnerships. As I’ve said previously, waiving commitments to protect vaccine intellectual property would threaten our collective ability to meet the ambitious global vaccination goals by compromising efforts to expand global manufacturing capacity and jeopardize safety.
Plus, our companies continue to innovate as the virus evolves, with ongoing research into new and existing treatments and vaccines. Today, there are more than 600 global unique therapies for COVID-19 in trial, including several that have already made their way to patients. Furthermore, COVID-19 has demonstrated that we need a more resilient health care system that works for all patients and robust support for innovation. For instance, we were prepared to fight COVID-19 due to years of industry investments in technology, like mRNA. We need to make these same smart investments today to prepare for tomorrow’s world.
Our industry will continue to drive coordination, collaboration and joint problem-solving across the research and development, manufacturing and distribution ecosystems to fight the pandemic. Our work is not done. I was honored to participate in this international gathering focused on solutions that will end this pandemic and get our world back to normal. The biopharmaceutical industry is committed to being a partner with all stakeholders to beat COVID-19.
Blog Post

PhRMA awards $150,000 to community-based projects aimed at tackling inequities in access to COVID-19 testing, vaccines and therapeutics
September 21, 2021
Today, we are thrilled to announce the PhRMA CAREs grant program has awarded $150,000 to fund four additional initiatives aimed at reducing inequities.
Blog Post

PhRMA releases 2021 industry profile
September 20, 2021
Today, PhRMA released its 2021 Biopharmaceutical Industry Profile, a resource that highlights the latest from the industry on innovation, access, and affordability.
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

AJOB Empirical Bioethics
Volume 12, 2020 Issue 3
https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/uabr21/current

Research Article
Deliberation on Childhood Vaccination in Canada: Public Input on Ethical Trade-Offs in Vaccination Policy
Kieran C. O’Doherty, Sara Crann, Lucie Marisa Bucci, Michael M. Burgess, Apurv Chauhan, Maya J. Goldenberg, show all
Published online: 30 Jul 2021
Abstract
Background
Policy decisions about childhood vaccination require consideration of multiple, sometimes conflicting, public health and ethical imperatives. Examples of these decisions are whether vaccination should be mandatory and, if so, whether to allow for non-medical exemptions. In this article we argue that these policy decisions go beyond typical public health mandates and therefore require democratic input.
Methods
We report on the design, implementation, and results of a deliberative public forum convened over four days in Ontario, Canada, on the topic of childhood vaccination.
Results
25 participants completed all four days of deliberation and collectively developed 20 policy recommendations on issues relating to mandatory vaccinations and exemptions, communication about vaccines and vaccination, and AEFI (adverse events following immunization) compensation and reporting. Notable recommendations include unanimous support for mandatory childhood vaccination in Ontario, the need for broad educational communication about vaccination, and the development of a no-fault compensation scheme for AEFIs. There was persistent disagreement among deliberants about the form of exemptions from vaccination (conscience, religious beliefs) that should be permissible, as well as appropriate consequences if parents do not vaccinate their children.
Conclusions
We conclude that conducting deliberative democratic processes on topics that are polarizing and controversial is viable and should be further developed and implemented to support democratically legitimate and trustworthy policy about childhood vaccination.

American Journal of Public Health
September 2021 111(9)
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/toc/ajph/current

EDITORIALS
Puncturing Hubris . . . and Insularity: The 1942 Yellow Fever Vaccine Disaster and COVID-19
Immunization/Vaccines, History, Global Health
Scott H. Podolsky

American Journal of Public Health
September 2021 111(9)
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/toc/ajph/current

STUDENT CORNER
Direct and Indirect Mental Health Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic Parallel Prior Pandemics
Mental Health, Community Health, History
Mark É. Czeisler, Mark E. Howard and Shantha M. W. Rajaratnam

American Journal of Public Health
September 2021 111(9)
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/toc/ajph/current

EDITORIALS
Still in the Dark Regarding the Public Health Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual and Gender Minorities
Government, Other Statistics/Evaluation/Research, Statistics/Evaluation/Research, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Persons, Health Policy
Sean R. Cahill

American Journal of Public Health
September 2021 111(9)
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/toc/ajph/current

ETHICS
Best Practices for Conducting Clinical Trials With Indigenous Children in the United States
Jennifer L. Shaw, Erin Semmens, May Okihiro, Johnnye L. Lewis, Matthew Hirschfeld, Timothy M. VanWagoner, Lancer Stephens, David Easa, Judith L. Ross, Niki Graham, Sara E. Watson, Edgardo G. Szyld, Denise A. Dillard, Lee A. Pyles, Paul M. Darden, John C. Carlson, Paul G. Smith, Russell J. McCulloh, Jessica N. Snowden, Sarah H. Adeky and Rosalyn Singleton

Annals of Internal Medicine
September 2021 Volume 174, Issue 9
http://annals.org/aim/issue

Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV): Designing Master Protocols for Evaluation of Candidate COVID-19 Therapeutics
FREE

Annals of Internal Medicine
September 2021 Volume 174, Issue 9
http://annals.org/aim/issue

Mandating COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers
FREE

Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, David J. Skorton, MD
Pages:1308–1310
…It is imperative that all 17 million health care workers in the United States be vaccinated (⁵). The best way to achieve this is for them to choose vaccination. However, in the current situation, health care employers should mandate vaccination…

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 25 Sep 2021)

Household expenditure for immunization among children in India: a two-part model approach
Despite the Indian government’s Universal Immunization Program (UIP), the progress of full immunization coverage is plodding. The cost of delivering routine immunization varies widely across facilities within …
Authors: Shobhit Srivastava, Pradeep Kumar, Shekhar Chauhan and Adrita Banerjee
Citation: BMC Health Services Research 2021 21:1001
Content type: Research
Published on: 22 September 2021

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 25 Sep 2021)

Ethical considerations for involving adolescents in biomedical HIV prevention research
Involvement of adolescent girls in biomedical HIV research is essential to better understand efficacy and safety of new prevention interventions in this key population at high risk of HIV infection. However, t…
Authors: Rita Nakalega, Carolyne Akello, Brenda Gati, Clemensia Nakabiito, Monica Nolan, Betty Kamira, Juliane Etima, Teopista Nakyanzi, Doreen Kemigisha, Sophie C. Nanziri, Stella Nanyonga, Maria Janine Nambusi, Emmie Mulumba, Florence Biira, Hadijah Kalule Nabunya, Simon Afrika Akasiima…
Citation: BMC Medical Ethics 2021 22:127
Content type: Research
Published on: 23 September 2021

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 25 Sep 2021)

Influenza vaccine uptake among at-risk adults (aged 16–64 years) in the UK: a retrospective database analysis
In the UK, annual influenza vaccination is currently recommended for adults aged 16–64 years who are in a clinical at-risk group. Despite recommendations, rates of vaccine uptake in the UK have historically be…
Authors: Simon Oakley, Julien Bouchet, Paul Costello and James Parker
Citation: BMC Public Health 2021 21:1734
Content type: Research
Published on: 24 September 2021

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 25 Sep 2021)

Evaluation of the impact of childhood 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction on adult pneumonia in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: study protocol for an observational study
Community-acquired pneumonia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in adults. Approximately one-third of pneumonia cases can be attributed to the pneumococcus. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs)…
Authors: Claire von Mollendorf, Mukhchuluun Ulziibayar, Bradford D. Gessner, Lien Anh Ha Do, Cattram D. Nguyen, Rohini Beavon, Bujinlkham Suuri, Dashtseren Luvsantseren, Dorj Narangerel, Adam Jenney, Eileen M. Dunne, Catherine Satzke, Badarchiin Darmaa, Tuya Mungun and E. Kim Mulholland
Citation: BMC Public Health 2021 21:1731
Content type: Study protocol
Published on: 23 September 2021

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 25 Sep 2021)

Childhood immunisation timeliness and vaccine confidence by health information source, maternal, socioeconomic, and geographic characteristics in Albania
Albania is facing decreasing childhood immunisation coverage and delay in timeliness of vaccination despite a growing economy and universal health insurance. Our aim is to estimate childhood immunisation timel…
Authors: Daniela Mayerová and Kaja Abbas
Citation: BMC Public Health 2021 21:1724
Content type: Research
Published on: 22 September 2021

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume 99(9);  2021 Sep 1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/issues/388476/

Editorials
Strengthening the evidence base for decisions on public health and social measures
Delia Enria, Zijian Feng,, Atle Fretheim, Chikwe Ihekweazu, Trygve Ottersen, Anne Schuchat, Kumnuan Ungchusak,, Sylvie Briand, Victoria Haldane, Jaya Lamichhane, Ramona Ludolph, Margaux Mathis, Tim Nguyen, Nahoko Shindo
Bull World Health Organ. 2021 Sep 1; 99(9): 610–610A. Published online 2021 Sep 1. doi: 10.2471/BLT.21.287054
PMCID: PMC8381089

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume 99(9);  2021 Sep 1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/issues/388476/

Vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 of migrants and refugees, Jordan
Saverio Bellizzi, Chinara Aidyralieva, Lora Alsawhala, Ala’a Al-Shaikh, Alessio Santoro, Maria Cristina Profili
Bull World Health Organ. 2021 Sep 1; 99(9): 611. Published online 2021 Sep 1. doi: 10.2471/BLT.21.285591
PMCID: PMC8381092

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume 99(9);  2021 Sep 1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/issues/388476/

Research
Subnational inequalities in diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis immunization in 24 countries in the African Region
Katherine Kirkby, Nicole Bergen, Anne Schlotheuber, Samir V Sodha, M Carolina Danovaro-Holliday, Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor
Bull World Health Organ. 2021 Sep 1; 99(9): 627–639. Published online 2021 Jul 1. doi: 10.2471/BLT.20.279232
PMCID: PMC8381099

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume 99(9);  2021 Sep 1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/issues/388476/

Perspectives
Improvements to a framework for gender and emerging infectious diseases
Lynn Lieberman Lawry, Roberta Lugo-Robles, Vicki McIver
Bull World Health Organ. 2021 Sep 1; 99(9): 682–684. Published online 2021 Jul 2. doi: 10.2471/BLT.20.275636
PMCID:
PMC8381096

The European Journal of Public Health
SUPPLEMENT – Volume 31, Issue Supplement_1, July 2021
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/issue/31/Supplement_1

Supplement: E-Mental-Health: Exploring the Evidence Base and Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Internet-Based Interventions for the Prevention of Mental Health Conditions
Mental illness represents an enormous personal, social and societal burden for European citizens1 calling for the need to expand existing models of mental healthcare delivery. In Europe, the Internet is a key source of health information,2 and technology-enhanced (psychological) interventions such as Internet- and mobile-delivered applications (‘eHealth’3 and ‘m-Health’4) have become increasingly popular and studied. There is already strong evidence of the efficacy of online interventions for the prevention and treatment of several psychological disorders5,6 and meta-analyses show effect sizes similar to face-to-face interventions.7

Gates Open Research
https://gatesopenresearch.org/browse/articles
[Accessed 25 Sep 2021]

Study Protocol metrics
Revised
Rejoice architecture meets social norms to accelerate vaccination in Nepal: Protocol for a mixed-method quasi-experimental study [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
Alicia Paul, Kamana Upreti, Shraddha Nepal, Jeevan Lohani, Kriti Adhikari, Rajiv Rimal
Peer Reviewers Ann M. Weber; Nimesh Poudyal and Ondari D. Mogeni; Robert A. Bednarczyk
Funder – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
LATEST VERSION PUBLISHED 22 Sep 2021
Abstract
Background: Each year, 600,000 children under 5 years old die from vaccine-preventable diseases globally. Immunization is an effective way to prevent many diseases, saving two to three million lives per year. The Nepal National Government recommends vaccinations for all children for 11 diseases by 15 months of age. However, only 78% of children between 1-2 years of age have received all recommended vaccines and only 43% receive them at the age-appropriate times for which they are scheduled.
Objectives: This protocol describes the development of an intervention – called “Rejoice Architecture” – that is informed by three theoretical perspectives: choice architecture, the broken windows theory, and the theory of normative social behavior. We also describe a mixed-methods approach to develop the intervention, which will improve the physical and social environments of health facilities in Makwanpur, Nepal. We hypothesize this intervention will improve immunization behaviors and intentions among mothers of children younger than 2 years, pregnant women, and prospective mothers.
Methods: We describe the qualitative formative assessment to understand existing attitudes, norms, and behaviors among caregivers, healthcare workers, and government representatives. The formative assessment will include in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. We also describe the overall quasi-experimental study design, used to assess intervention impact.
Impact: This study will contribute to the social and behavioral change communication intervention research by offering a novel strategy for increasing immunization. This study will also illustrate to policymakers the value of structural change for health service delivery.

Globalization and Health
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/
[Accessed 25 Sep 2021]

Substandard and falsified medical products: bibliometric analysis and mapping of scientific research
Substandard and falsified (SF) medical products are a global public health threat. The presence and spread of SF drugs negatively affect (1) patients’ safety and health outcomes, (2) national economy, (3) publ…
Authors: Waleed M. Sweileh
Citation: Globalization and Health 2021 17:114
Content type: Research
Published on: 23 September 2021

Globalization and Health
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/
[Accessed 25 Sep 2021]

Risky business: COVAX and the financialization of global vaccine equity
During the first year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVAX has been the world’s most prominent effort to ensure equitable access to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Launched as part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools A…
Authors: Felix Stein
Citation: Globalization and Health 2021 17:112
Content type: Research
Published on: 20 September 2021

Globalization and Health
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/
[Accessed 25 Sep 2021]

Interrogating the World Bank’s role in global health knowledge production, governance, and finance
In the nearly half century since it began lending for population projects, the World Bank has become one of the largest financiers of global health projects and programs, a powerful voice in shaping health age…
Authors: Marlee Tichenor, Janelle Winters, Katerini T. Storeng, Jesse Bump, Jean-Paul Gaudillière, Martin Gorsky, Mark Hellowell, Patrick Kadama, Katherine Kenny, Yusra Ribhi Shawar, Francisco Songane, Alexis Walker, Ryan Whitacre, Sumegha Asthana, Genevie Fernandes, Felix Stein…
Citation: Globalization and Health 2021 17:110
Content type: Review
Published on: 19 September 2021

Humanitarian Exchange Magazine
Number 79, May 2021
https://odihpn.org/magazine/localisation-and-local-humanitarian-action/

Localisation and local humanitarian action
by HPN October 2020
The theme of this edition of Humanitarian Exchange is localisation+ and local humanitarian action. Five years ago this week, donors, United Nations (UN) agencies,  non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) committed within the Grand Bargain to increase multi-year investments in the institutional capacities of local and national responders, and to provide at least 25% of humanitarian funding to them as directly as possible. Since then, there is increasing consensus at policy and normative level, underscored by the Covid-19 pandemic, that local leadership should be supported.  Localisation has gone from a fringe conversation among policy-makers and aid agencies in 2016 to a formal priority under the Grand Bargain. Wider global movements on anti-racism and decolonisation have also brought new momentum to critical reflections on where power, knowledge and capacity reside in the humanitarian system. Yet progress has been slow and major gaps remain between the rhetoric around humanitarian partnerships, funding and coordination and practices on the ground.

JAMA
September 21, 2021, Vol 326, No. 11, Pages 993-1116
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

Research Letter
Antibody Response After a Third Dose of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Kidney Transplant Recipients With Minimal Serologic Response to 2 Doses
Ilies Benotmane, MD; Gabriela Gautier, MD; Peggy Perrin, MD; et al.
free access has active quiz
JAMA. 2021;326(11):1063-1065. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.12339
This study examines the antibody responses to a third dose (100 μg) of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among kidney transplant recipients in France who had not responded to 2 doses of the vaccine.

JAMA
September 21, 2021, Vol 326, No. 11, Pages 993-1116
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

Viewpoint
Confronting the Delta Variant of SARS-CoV-2, Summer 2021
Carlos del Rio, MD; Preeti N. Malani, MD, MSJ; Saad B. Omer, MBBS, PhD
free access has active quiz has multimedia
JAMA. 2021;326(11):1001-1002. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.14811
This Viewpoint discusses the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, including its epidemiology, transmissibility, how uneven vaccination coverage in the US encouraged its spread, and the most effective public health responses to curb it.