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
:: Coronavirus [COVID-19] – WHO
:: Emergencies
:: Organization Announcements
:: Journal Watch

Editor’s Note: Publication to resume on Saturday, January 8
Historically, we have suspended publication of Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review over the end-of-year, holiday season. We do not plan to publish the next two weekend editions [December 25; January 1], and expect to resume regularly weekly digests on Saturday, January 8.
Of course, if developments in the COVID-19 PHEIC warrant, we will publish special updates over this period.

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo
16 December 2021
On 16 December 2021, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the end of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak that affected Beni Health Zone (HZ) in North Kivu Province, DRC. The declaration was made in accordance with WHO recommendations , 42-days after the second negative test of the last confirmed case.
Between 8 October to 16 December, a total of 11 cases (eight confirmed, three probable) including nine deaths and two survivors have been reported from Beni HZ. Of the nine deaths, seven were in the community and two occurred at the Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC). The overall case fatality ratio (CFR) is 82% (9/11) among total cases while 75% (6/8) among confirmed cases.
This outbreak was declared on 8 October 2021 when the index case; a 3-year-old boy developed symptoms including physical weakness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, breathing difficulty, dark stool and blood in their vomit and later died on 6 October (for more details, please see the Disease Outbreak News published on 10 October 2021)…

Africa

First International Conference on Public Health in Africa Closes With Urgent Call for a New Public Health Order
Press Release
16 December 2021 | Addis Ababa – The first international Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2021), hosted by the African Union (AU) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) concluded its main programme today following three days of sessions focused on the need to address long-standing health challenges on the continent, including vaccine inequity and weak health systems. Over 140 African policymakers, scientists, public health experts, data experts, and civil society representatives presented the latest learnings and research from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the actions needed to better guard against current and future health crises…

”The AU’s New Public Health Order calls for continental collaboration to bolster African manufacturing capacity for vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics; strengthen public health institutions for people-centred care; expand the public health workforce; establish respectful, action-oriented partnerships; and engage with the private sector. These pillars are part of the continent’s approach to meeting the aspirations of the Agenda 2063 – the Africa We Want.

“There is a need for renewed commitments by governments and national parliaments to increase domestic financing for health in Africa. This has been a priority of the African Union for several years, but progress has not been fast enough. We cannot continue to rely on external funding for something so important to our future,” said H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and AU Champion for Domestic Health Financing. “We need to invest much more in national health systems. The ability to implement critical health programmes, including regular mass vaccination campaigns depends on the quality of national health services and the trust the public have in them.”…

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Communique on Progress Made on Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa – Kigali, Rwanda 06 07 December 2021
14 December 2021
On 6th-7th December 2021, the African Union, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the AUDA-NEPAD, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) convened a stakeholder’s meeting in Kigali, Rwanda to review progress made in manufacturing vaccines in Africa.

The objective of the meeting included:
a) an update on progress made so far on the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa (PAVM),
b) agreement on an AU-endorsed approach to facilitate regulatory approval of vaccines produced in Africa,
c) discuss critical market shaping needs once African countries produce vaccines, and
d) review progress on vaccine manufacture hubs and pilot a drug Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)-final drug product Hub program.

The meeting was attended, either by online or in person, by some African Union Heads of State (or their representatives), partners, stakeholders, and over 15,000 participants from Africa and the world…

[Excerpt from Communique]
…NOTED that after considering several options the regulators agreed on two potential pathways for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) of vaccines including those for the SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19:

1) Use and strengthen the Africa Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH), as a mechanism to provide EUA for COVID-19 vaccines produced in Africa pending the full operationalization of AMA.

2) Create a network of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) from countries with intent to produce vaccines and other NRAs with advanced maturity levels, using AMRH structure with close coordination by PAVM, and develop a step-wise process for strengthening them to facilitate the issuance of EUA.

3) Collaborate with the AfCFTA Secretariat to support manufacturing and Intra-Africa Trade for COVID-19 vaccines and pharmaceuticals products through appropriate Intellectual Property Framework.
PROPOSE the submission of the options proposed above to the AMA Conference of States Parties in January2022.

New England Journal of Medicine
December 15, 2021
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2118468
Perspective
Universal Coronavirus Vaccines — An Urgent Need
David M. Morens, M.D., Jeffery K. Taubenberger, M.D., Ph.D., and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.

The past 20 years have witnessed four fatal coronavirus outbreaks: SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome, 2002 and 2003), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome, since 2012), and now Covid-19 (since 2019). Scientific evidence and ecologic reality suggest that coronaviruses will emerge again in the future, potentially posing an existential threat.¹ The betacoronaviruses that caused these epidemics are globally distributed in numerous species of bats. The full virologic and geographic extent of this enzootic reservoir is unknown; however, it has been increasingly spilling over into humans and other mammals.² Because of genetic and structural receptor conservation among mammalian species, many of these animal betacoronaviruses are “preadapted” for infecting humans by binding to angiotensin-converting–enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, which facilitates viral spillovers and ongoing transmission.³ Some animal coronaviruses that may have pandemic potential have already been identified, and many more remain to be detected.

We need a research approach that can characterize the global “coronaviral universe” in multiple species, characterize the natural history and pathogenesis of coronaviruses in laboratory animals and in humans, and apply this information in developing broadly protective “universal” vaccines (protecting against all betacoronaviruses, and ideally all coronaviruses).

At this point, we have little understanding of the universe of endemic and potentially emerging coronaviruses. Though coronaviruses are distributed globally, the most important betacoronavirus hot spots are in southeast Asia and contiguous areas of southern and southwestern China. Preliminary identification and sequencing of bat and other mammal-adapted coronaviruses from this region reveal rapid evolution and enormous viral complexity. Numerous bat species transmit sarbecoviruses (SARS-like viruses including SARS-CoV-2) to one another and to numerous mammals, including humans, at a high rate. Generation of new genomes through mixed infection and homologous genetic recombination leads to substantial coronaviral genetic diversity, analogous to that observed in influenza A virus evolution in wild birds, other animals, and humans. The fact that different coronaviruses, each containing most of the genome of SARS-CoV-2, have been found in one locale in Laos suggests that the building blocks for pandemic coronaviruses are being continually exchanged through genetic recombination.

To fully characterize the coronavirus ecosystem, a collaborative international effort should include extensive viral sampling of multiple bat species in multiple locales and of wild and farmed animals — including masked palm civet cats (Paguma larvata) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides), which are frequently infected with coronaviruses — as well as viral and serologic study of humans involved in wildlife and farmed animal trades and those who are occupationally exposed to bats. Such sampling could facilitate identification of an emergence in time to prevent or control a pandemic; it would also permit study of cross-reacting epitopes, which is important for vaccine development, and support epidemiologic and serologic studies of human infection.

To gain insights into natural history and pathogenesis, it will be important to study the coronaviruses that were probably once pandemic but have now become endemic. These four viruses ― the betacoronaviruses OC43 and HKU1 and the alphacoronaviruses 229E and NL63 ― cause mostly mild upper respiratory infections and can be studied in laboratory animals and in humans⁴ to characterize their epidemiology, cell tropism, elicited immune responses, cross-reactive and cross-protective epitopes, and the mechanisms by which they survive and evolve in the face of high population immunity. Ethical human challenge studies⁴ can be conducted using modern genomic, transcriptomic, and immunologic tools.

Finally, we urgently need universal coronavirus vaccines.5 In the United States, the Covid-19 pandemic has been partially controlled by standard public health measures such as social distancing, masking, isolating sick and exposed people, closing places where people congregate in close quarters, and other measures, as well as by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (two messenger RNA vaccines and one adenovirus-vectored vaccine). As important as these vaccines are, however, their protective efficacy wanes over time, necessitating booster doses. Vaccination has also been unable to prevent “breakthrough” infections, allowing subsequent transmission to other people even when the vaccine prevents severe and fatal disease.

People who have been naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2 can also be naturally reinfected, as has been shown with endemic coronaviruses, influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and many other respiratory viruses. Moreover, immunity following natural infection with SARS-CoV-2, combined with vaccine-induced immunity, has so far not prevented the emergence and rapid spread of viral variants such as the highly transmissible delta (B.1.617.2) variant and the recently identified omicron (B.1.1.529) “variant of concern,” which as of the end of November, appeared to be highly transmissible. It remains unknown whether and how permanent protective immunity can be achieved, and whether it can prevent emergence of immune escape variants of SARS-CoV-2.

These sobering facts suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is unlikely to be eliminated, let alone eradicated; it will probably continue to circulate indefinitely in periodic outbreaks and endemics. Meanwhile, an unknown number of animal coronaviruses, of unknown transmissibility and lethality, may well emerge in the foreseeable future. We must therefore greatly accelerate our efforts in coronavirus vaccinology.

The limitations of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines suggest that they will ultimately need to be replaced by second-generation vaccines that induce more broadly protective and more durable immunity. We must now prioritize development of broadly protective vaccines like the universal influenza vaccines we have been working toward in recent years. A universal coronavirus vaccine would ideally protect against SARS-CoV-2 and the many animal-derived coronaviruses that might cause future zoonotic outbreaks and pandemics. The ideal characteristics of such vaccines include properties associated with both individual and community protection in pandemics :

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Ideal Properties of a Universal Coronavirus Vaccine.*
Individual Protection
Necessary
Prevents clinical disease
Prevents infection by all sarbecoviruses and merbecoviruses
Prevents infection by viral drift and recombination variants
Elicits a rapid and robust immune response
Does not have limited vaccine immunogenicity in persons with preexisting immunity
Induces immunity to multiple viral components
Is safe and acceptable to the public
Is safe for pregnant women
Does not induce antibody-dependent enhancement with subsequent wild-type virus exposure
Can be used in persons of all ages
Desirable
Is highly efficacious in one dose
Induces robust lifelong systemic immunity
Induces robust lifelong mucosal immunity
Induces a boost in immunity with subsequent wild-type virus exposure
Does not alter the respiratory microbiome
Is affordable and can be used in low-income countries
Is efficacious in persons with immunosuppression
Community Protection
Necessary
Covers all sarbecoviruses and merbecoviruses
Covers all endemic human coronaviruses
Can be used for pandemic prevention
Is based on a platform that is easily upgraded with new antigens
Desirable
Prevents transmission
Reduces or shortens viral shedding
Creates durable herd immunity
Does not elicit neutralization escape mutants
Is stable in storage
Induces a boost in immune protection with sequential vaccination
* The features listed describe a truly universal vaccine, although current vaccine approaches are unlikely to achieve all these goals. The highest priority should be universal coverage of betacoronaviruses, with additional coverage of endemic and other coronaviruses.

:::::::

Developing universal coronavirus vaccines will require addressing fundamental questions about the nature of coronavirus protective immunity. In contrast to respiratory viruses that cause systemic infections (e.g., measles, rubella, varicella–zoster virus infection, and smallpox [eradicated in 1980]), nonsystemic respiratory viruses such as the endemic coronaviruses, influenza viruses, RSV, parainfluenza viruses, and SARS-CoV-2 primarily infect epithelial cells on mucosal surfaces and have limited contact with the systemic immune system. They thus elicit incomplete and transient protective immunity and allow reinfections and suboptimal responses to systemically administered vaccines.

Research will have to address several critical questions. What are the systemic and mucosal immune correlates of protection after natural coronavirus infection and after vaccination, especially with respect to mucosal and respiratory memory B and T cells? Which vaccine approaches will elicit immunity to multiple viral protein antigens and induce both long-term humoral and cellular memory? What are the key humoral and cellular immune targets that will allow us to achieve robust, durable, and broadly protective immunity against the diverse and rapidly evolving betacoronaviruses? What relevant animal models of coronavirus infection and immunity can be used to adequately evaluate immune responses and vaccine efficacy?

Although clinical studies of vaccine efficacy will ultimately be needed, we must also begin now to investigate correlates of human immunity after both natural SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, including by evaluating the durability of responses and their localization (mucosal and systemic). Human challenge studies⁴ with the human “cold virus” coronaviruses (e.g., OC43) will probably be important. Together with studies in animals, such clinical studies could greatly improve the efficacy of universal coronavirus vaccines by helping to define immunogen design and the optimal routes and manner of vaccination.

Our ongoing experience with the current Covid-19 pandemic, together with the ever-present threat of the emergence of other potentially pandemic coronaviruses, necessitates the expeditious development of safe and broadly protective coronavirus vaccines. This is a challenge that we must now fully commit ourselves to addressing.

Editor’s Note:
Our “willing suspension of disbelief” in this WTO process continues…

Members continue discussions on IP COVID-19 response as high-level engagement intensifies
World Trade Organization News
16 December 2021
WTO members agreed to continue their discussions on a common intellectual property (IP) response to COVID-19 amid the ongoing high-level political dialogue aimed at finding a consensus-based outcome.

At a formal meeting of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on 16 December, members reported on the bilateral meetings and small group consultations held following the postponement of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and reiterated their willingness and intention to intensify their engagement with each other.

Members agreed to keep the agenda of the TRIPS Council open on two proposals on the table —
:: the proposal led by India and South Africa (IP/C/W/669/Rev.1) and supported by a total of 65 co-sponsors, requesting a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19, and
:: the proposal by the European Union (IP/C/W/681) for a draft General Council declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health in the circumstances of a pandemic.

The idea of keeping these agenda items open is to be able to re-convene the TRIPS Council at short notice if and when there are indications that members might be closer to finding a landing zone. Members were encouraged by the reports on virtual meetings held last week at ministerial level between South Africa, India, the United States and the European Union — facilitated by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala — to discuss a way forward and find common ground.

Members welcomed this high-level dialogue and called for a transparent process involving the whole membership. Participants in the high-level engagement made clear that discussions are taking place with the goal of achieving a multilateral, consensus-based outcome…

…Ambassador Sørli also reported on the consultations held over the past two weeks with delegations, where fundamental differences on questions such as whether a waiver is the appropriate and most effective way to address the shortage and inequitable distribution of vaccines and other COVID-19-related products were reiterated. Differences were also expressed with regards to the commencement of text-based negotiations based on the revised TRIPS waiver proposal, which Argentina recently joined as the latest co-sponsor…

While members give more time to the ongoing high-level engagement in order to provide new impetus to the work of the TRIPS Council, the Chair called on all delegations — whether involved in the on-going political process or not — “to remain fully engaged with a sense of urgency, and with the objective of finding a pragmatic consensus-based outcome on these issues…A practical, tangible WTO response to the pandemic is needed now more than ever and it is important that the WTO can reach agreement on meaningful responses to these challenges,” he concluded.

11 billion COVID-19 vaccines produced in 2021 has resulted in the biggest immunization campaign in human history and 2022 will require more and better vaccine redistribution and innovation
Joint statement by IFPMA, DCVMN, BIO
Published on: 16 December 2021
A year since the first COVID-19 vaccine was administered, vaccine makers including biotechnology firms, developing and developed country manufacturers say voluntary collaboration to share innovation has been a key enabler for manufacturing output to reach 11,2 billion doses in 2021.
The historic manufacturing scale up is overshadowed by a shared concern that COVID-19 vaccines are not reaching all who need them. While the current output from vaccine manufacturers is theoretically enough to vaccinate everyone, urgent, concrete measures are needed to support the hoped-for surge in COVID-19 vaccine uptake in countries with currently low vaccination rates.
In 2021, vaccine manufacturers demonstrated how they are uniquely positioned to rapidly innovate and manufacture effective and safe COVID-19 vaccines. Together with the broader scientific community, public health, and regulatory bodies around the world, industry will again bring this experience and expertise to bear on new variants such as Omicron.

…The 2021 supply of COVID-19 vaccines resulted in half of the world’s population being vaccinated within a year[1]. Independent analysis by Airfinity has shown that, by the end of March 2022, G7 and EU countries are projected to have 1,4 billion surplus vaccines, even when administering boosters.

Dose-sharing is gaining momentum to reach those who have not yet been vaccinated, and COVAX is ramping up fast to ensure doses are distributed equitably around the world. Today, more than 700 million doses have been shipped by COVAX to 144 countries; and nearly 1 billion doses ordered[2].

Rapid and efficient delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, inclusive of dose-sharing, requires effective and flexible coordination and planning. Attention is urgently needed to focus on concrete measures in recipient countries to support COVID-19 vaccine deployment and uptake:
Political prioritization, funding, infrastructure and human resources must be sufficient to deliver vaccines safely, including upscaling cold chain capabilities from airfields to the last mile and increasing health workforce numbers to deliver the vaccines even in areas that are hard to reach, and without compromising routine immunization.
Extension of vaccine shelf life, with the increase in dose-sharing and distribution of vaccines, coupled with the challenges related to country absorption, innovation and regulatory oversight is needed so that shelf life is extended, in line with ongoing studies looking at the stability of vaccines, to ensure vaccines are not wasted.
Regulatory approval even before doses reach countries, requires the World Health Organization (WHO) and national regulatory authorities to work together to ensure that the vaccines are approved at national level, so that doses can be deployed immediately.
Addressing vaccine hesitancy requires collective focus as there continue to be pockets of people that, after 18 months of safety data and over 8 billion doses administered around the planet, remain hesitant towards COVID-19 vaccines.

This past year has demonstrated industry’s ability to be agile and respond to new challenges but has also underlined the importance of pursuing innovation.  While some companies have failed in their endeavours, there is still a strong and thriving pipeline of innovation for adapted and new vaccines.  The current intellectual property framework that supports the innovation eco-system will enable the development of new generations of vaccines that provide longer lasting and stronger protection, and are easier to transport, store, and administer, as well as new treatments to respond to current and new variants.

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: 18 Dec 2021
Confirmed cases :: 271 963 258 [267 865 289 week ago]
Confirmed deaths :: 5 331 019 [5 285 888 week ago]
Vaccine doses administered: 8 337 664 456 [8 158 815 265 week ago]

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Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 – 14 December 2021

WHO lists 9th COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use with aim to increase access to vaccination in lower-income countries
17 December 2021
News release
Today, the World Health Organization issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for NVX-CoV2373, expanding the basket of WHO-validated vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The vaccine, named CovovaxTM, is produced by the Serum Institute of India under licence from Novavax and is part of the COVAX facility portfolio, giving a much-needed boost to ongoing efforts to vaccinate more people in lower-income countries.

WHO’s EUL procedure assesses the quality, safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and is a prerequisite for COVAX vaccine supply. It also allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer COVID-19 vaccines.

“Even with new variants emerging, vaccines remain one of the most effective tools to protect people against serious illness and death from SARS-COV-2,” said Dr Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products. ‘This listing aims to increase access particularly in lower-income countries, 41 of which have still not been able to vaccinate 10% of their populations, while 98 countries have not reached 40%.”

CovovaxTM was assessed under the WHO EUL procedure based on the review of data on quality, safety and efficacy, a risk management plan, programmatic suitability, and manufacturing site inspections carried out by the Drugs Controller General of India. The Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL), convened by WHO and made up of experts from around the world, has determined that the vaccine meets WHO standards for protection against COVID-19, that the benefit of the vaccine far outweighs any risks, and that the vaccine can be used globally.

CovovaxTM is a subunit of the vaccine developed by Novavax and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). It requires two doses and is stable at 2 to 8 °C refrigerated temperatures. The vaccine uses a novel platform and is produced by creating an engineered baculovirus containing a gene for a modified SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

The originator product produced by Novavax, named NuvaxovidTM, is currently under assessment by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). WHO will complete its own assessment of this vaccine once the EMA has issued its recommendation.

A meeting of WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) this week also reviewed the vaccine. SAGE formulates specific policies and recommendations for vaccines’ use in populations (i.e. recommended age groups, intervals between doses, specific groups such as pregnant and lactating women) and will issue recommendations for NuvaxovidTM/CovovaxTM in the coming days…

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Extraordinary meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) – 16 December 2021
This extraordinary virtual meeting for the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) will take place on Thursday 16 December 2021 to propose recommendations to WHO on the use of COVID-19 vaccine [Novavax].
Meeting materials
:: Agenda
:: Declaration of interest
Presentations
:: Vaccine safety and efficacy data emerging on the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials (phase 1-3 trial results)
::Evidence assessment: NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 vaccine

Interim recommendations for heterologous COVID-19 vaccine schedules
16 December 2021 Departmental news
Background
This interim guidance has been developed on the basis of the advice issued by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization at its meeting on 7 December 2021 (1)…
The guidance is based on the evidence outlined in this document, which was presented to SAGE on 7 December 2021.
All referenced documents are available on the SAGE COVID-19 webpage: https://www.who.int/groups/strategic-advisory-group-of-experts-on-immunization/covid-19-materials

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Dr Ayoade Alakija appointed WHO Special Envoy for the ACT-Accelerator
16 December 2021 News release
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, has appointed Dr. Ayoade Alakija as WHO Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator).  Dr Alakija joins former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, WHO’s current Special Envoy for ACT-A, in this role.
In her capacity as Special Envoy, Dr Alakija will help lead the collective advocacy for the ACT-Accelerator, mobilizing support and resources so it can deliver against its new Strategic Plan and Budget that was launched on 28 October 2021, and ensuring that the response is characterised by accountability, inclusion, and solidarity…
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has been a leading voice calling for the urgent reimagining of how the globe should respond more consciously to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Alakija is also the co-Chair of the African Union’s African Vaccine Delivery Alliance and founder of the Emergency Coordination Centre in Nigeria, building on her work with over 100 nations around the globe.
“Dr Alakija brings a tremendous track record in advocating for equitable access to vaccines, tests and treatments, especially for Africa,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “She joins us at a critical juncture in the fight against COVID-19, with the Omicron variant threatening to further constrain equitable access to vaccines, just as the pace of supply was improving. We are very much looking forward to working with her to advocate for the full financing of the ACT Accelerator, and to meeting the global targets for COVID-19 vaccination, testing and treatment.”…

WHO Director General Speeches [selected]
https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches
Selected
17 December 2021
Speech
WHO Director-General’s closing remarks at Conference on Public Health in Africa – 16 December 2021

14 December 2021
Speech
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network Global Meeting of Partners – 14 December 2021

14 December 2021
Speech
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 14 December 2021

13 December 2021
Speech
Statement to the Working Group on Sustainable Financing of WHO by Rt Hon Helen Clark, former co-Chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

13 December 2021
Speech
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the 5th meeting of the Member State Working Group on Sustainable Finance

Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process 15 December 2021
[Full scale view available at title link above]

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

AstraZeneca
Press Releases
Evusheld long-acting antibody combination retains neutralising activity against Omicron variant in independent FDA study
PUBLISHED 16 December 2021
Only antibody authorised in the US for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 

AstraZeneca’s Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab), a long-acting antibody combination for the prevention of COVID-19, retained  neutralising activity against the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.1.529), according to new preclinical data.
In this study, Evusheld’s Inhibitory Concentration 50 (IC50), a measure of neutralising potency of an antibody, was 171 ng/ml and 277 ng/ml in two confirmatory tests, which is within the range of neutralising titres found in someone who has been previously infected with COVID-19. Evusheld’s IC50 for the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, previously referred to as the Wuhan strain, was approximately 1.3 ng/ml and 1.5 ng/ml, respectively…

Bharat Biotech
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

BioCubaFarma – Cuba
Últimas Noticias – – No new digest announcements identified

CanSinoBIO
News – [Website not responding at inquiry]

Clover Biopharmaceuticals – China
News – No new digest announcements identified

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

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

IMBCAMS, China
Home – No new digest announcements identified

Janssen/JNJ
Press Releases
Dec 17, 2021
Johnson & Johnson Statement on its COVID-19 Vaccine Following CDC ACIP
Johnson & Johnson remains confident in the overall positive benefit-risk profile of its COVID-19 vaccine. Studies have shown that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine generates strong antibody and cellular immune responses[i] and long-lasting immune memory[ii] and breadth of protection across variants. In addition, a growing body of evidence is revealing the strength of protection of our vaccine as a booster to either the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine or a different authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine, both in terms of its efficacy and durability.[iii], [iv], [v], [vi],[vii],[viii], [ix]
“The safety and well-being of those who use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine continues to be our number one priority,” says Mathai Mammen M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Johnson & Johnson. “We appreciate today’s discussion and look forward to working with the CDC on next steps. In addition, we strongly support education and generating awareness of rare events, such as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) and how to effectively manage it.”
Given its strong durability, the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine remains an important choice in the U.S. for people who can’t or won’t return for multiple vaccinations or who would remain unvaccinated without an alternative to the mRNA vaccines…

Dec 15, 2021
United States
Johnson & Johnson Announces Positive CHMP Opinion for a Booster Shot of its COVID-19 Vaccine
CHMP recommendation based on data showing a booster (second shot) of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine increased protection to 75 percent against symptomatic COVID-19 infection globally
Data also demonstrated 100 percent protection against severe COVID-19, at least 14 days post-booster vaccination
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, when given as a booster or primary shot,
was generally well-tolerated

Moderna
Press Releases
December 13, 2021
Moderna and Australia Announce Collaboration to Bring mRNA Manufacturing to Australia
:: Up to 100 million mRNA vaccine doses could be produced in Australia each year
:: Manufacturing facility to provide access to domestically manufactured vaccines against respiratory viruses
:: Collaboration will support Australia with direct access to rapid pandemic response capabilities

Novavax
Press Releases
Novavax and Serum Institute of India Announce World Health Organization Grants Emergency Use Listing for NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 Vaccine
Dec 17, 2021
:: First EUL granted by WHO for a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine
:: EUL vaccine manufactured and marketed by SII as COVOVAX™
:: WHO EUL for Nuvaxovid™ currently under assessment; will be completed following European Medicines Agency (EMA) review

Novavax Announces Submission of New Drug Application in Japan for Approval of COVID-19 Vaccine
Dec 15, 2021

Novavax Statement on PREVENT-19 Phase 3 Clinical Trial Results Publication in the New England Journal of Medicine
Dec 15, 2021

Novavax Files for Emergency Use of COVID-19 Vaccine in the United Arab Emirates
Dec 13, 2021

Pfizer
Recent Press Releases
12.17.2021
PFIZER AND BIONTECH PROVIDE UPDATE ON ONGOING STUDIES OF COVID-19 VACCINE
NEW YORK and MAINZ, GERMANY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 — Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and
BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) today shared that following a routine review by the external independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), the companies will amend the clinical study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in children 6 months to under 5 years of age. The study will now include evaluating a third dose of 3 µg at least two months after the second dose of the two-dose series to provide high levels of protection in this young age group.
While the study is ongoing and remains blinded, a pre-specified immunogenicity analysis was conducted on a subset of the study population one month following the second dose. Compared to the 16- to 25-year-old population in which high efficacy was demonstrated, non-inferiority was met for the 6- to 24-month-old population but not for the 2- to under 5-year-old population in this analysis. No safety concerns were identified and the 3 µg dose demonstrated a favorable safety profile in children 6 months to under 5 years of age.
The decision to evaluate a third dose of 3 µg for children 6 months to under 5 years of age reflects the companies’ commitment to carefully select the right dose to maximize the risk-
benefit profile. If the three-dose study is successful, Pfizer and BioNTech expect to submit data to regulators to support an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for children 6 months to under 5 years of age in the first half of 2022.
Pfizer and BioNTech also plan to evaluate a third dose of the 10 µg formulation in children 5 to under 12 years of age…

12.17.2021
CHMP Issues Positive Opinion for Pfizer’s 20-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine for the Prevention of Vaccine-Type Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Adults

12.16.2021
Pfizer and BioNTech Submit Supplemental Biologics License Application for U.S. FDA Approval of COMIRNATY® in Adolescents 12 Through 15 Years of Age

12.17.2021
EMA Issues Advice for Potential Early Use of Pfizer’s Novel COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Candidate

Sanofi Pasteur
Press Releases
December 15 2021 Press releases
Sanofi and GSK announce positive preliminary booster data for their COVID-19 vaccine candidate and continuation of Phase 3 trial per independent Monitoring Board recommendation

Serum Institute of India
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Friday, December 17, 2021
World Health Organization Grants Emergency Use Listing for NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 Vaccine ‘COVOVAX™‘ .

Sinopharm/WIBPBIBP
News – No new digest announcements identified

Sinovac
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

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

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

::::::

GSK
Press releases for media
17 December 2021 Xevudy (sotrovimab) granted marketing authorisation by the European Commission for the early treatment of COVID-19

15 December 2021 GSK and Sanofi announce positive preliminary booster data for their COVID-19 vaccine candidate and continuation of phase III trial per independent Monitoring Board recommendation

Merck
News releases
Merck and Ridgeback Announce Publication of Phase 3 Study of Molnupiravir, an Investigational Oral Antiviral COVID-19 Treatment, in the New England Journal of Medicine
December 16, 2021

European Commission Approves Merck’s VAXNEUVANCE™ (Pneumococcal 15-valent Conjugate Vaccine) for Individuals 18 Years of Age and Older
December 15, 2021

Novartis
News – No new digest announcements identified

SK Biosciences
Press releases – No new digest announcements identified

Valneva
Press Releases
December 16, 2021
Valneva Announces Positive Homologous Booster Data for Inactivated, Adjuvanted COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate VLA2001

UNICEF COVID-19 Vaccine Market Dashboard :: Agreements Table Accessed 18 Dec 2021
An overview of information collected from publicly announced bilateral and multilateral supply agreements [no new agreements since 10/22/2021 reported]

COVID-19 Global Targets and Progress Tracker – IMF
The COVID-19 Global Targets and Progress Tracker presents a consolidated view of the progress towards global COVID-19 targets, barriers in access to COVID-19 tools, and delivery of donor pledges. The global targets presented in the Tracker are based on an alignment of the targets identified in the IMF Pandemic Proposal, ACT-A Strategic Plan & Budget, and the US-hosted Global C19 Summit, and as such have been reaffirmed by multilateral institutions and global leaders. We will continue to enhance the tracker as we improve our data collection efforts.

Targets and Overview of Progress [undated]

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

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 18 Dec 2021]: https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/
See also visualization on Vaccine Access and Vaccine Affordability

COVID Vaccines – OCHA:: HDX

COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
18 Dec 2021 | COVAX (WHO,GAVI,CEPI), UNDESA, Press Reports | DATA
Global COVID-19 Figures: 272M total confirmed cases; 5.3M total confirmed deaths
Global vaccines administered: 8.63B
Number of Countries: 30 [30 week ago]
COVAX Allocations Round 4-9 (Number of Doses): 220M [200M week ago]
COVAX Delivered (Number of Doses): 200M [200M week ago]
Other Delivered (Number of Doses): 300M [300M week ago]
Total Delivered (Number of Doses): 500M [480M week ago]

Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 [IMF, World Bank Group, WHO, WTO]
https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data
A global effort to help developing countries access and deliver COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and therapeutics, as they work to end the pandemic and boost economic recovery.
The International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization have joined forces 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 18 Dec 2021: https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data The global view below is complemented by country-specific dashboards here.

Our World in Data
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations [Accessed 18 Dec 2021]
:: 56.8% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
:: 8.67 billion doses have been administered globally, and 35.99 million are now administered each day.
:: Only 7.6% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.

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

FDA
Press Announcements
December 17, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: December 17, 2021

December 14, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: December 14, 2021
:: Today, the FDA is announcing revisions to the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Heath Care Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) and the Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers. The fact sheets will now include a Contraindication to the administration of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine to individuals with a history of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine or any other adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine, and to update the information about the risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome or TTS following vaccination…

Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee– FDA
https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/blood-vaccines-and-other-biologics/vaccines-and-related-biological-products-advisory-committee
No meetings on calendar

::::::

White House [U.S.]
Briefing Room – Selected Major COVID Announcements
Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
December 17, 2021 • Press Briefings

Remarks by President Biden After Meeting with Members of the COVID-⁠19 Response Team
December 16, 2021 • Speeches and Remarks

Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
December 15, 2021 • Press Briefings

Statement by President Joe Biden on 800,000 American Deaths from COVID-⁠19
December 14, 2021 • Statements and Releases

Statement from President Joe Biden on Pfizer’s COVID-⁠19 Antiviral Pill
December 14, 2021 • Statements and Releases

Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
December 13, 2021 • Press Briefings

U.S. Department of State
https://www.state.gov/coronavirus/releases/
Media Notes
No new digest content identified.

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

European Medicines Agency
News & Press Releases
News: EMA issues advice on use of Paxlovid (PF-07321332 and ritonavir) for the treatment of COVID-19 (new)
CHMP, Last updated: 16/12/2021

News: Increase in manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines from Janssen, Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer (new)
CHMP, Last updated: 16/12/2021

News: EMA recommends approval for use of Kineret in adults with COVID-19 (new)
CHMP, Last updated: 16/12/2021

News: COVID-19: EMA recommends authorisation of antibody medicine Xevudy (new)
CHMP, Last updated: 16/12/2021

News: EMA launches the Regulatory Science Research Needs initiative (new)
Last updated: 15/12/2021

News: COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen: EMA recommendation on booster dose (new)
CHMP, Last updated: 15/12/2021

News: EMA reviewing new data on effectiveness of Lagevrio (molnupiravir) for the treatment of COVID-19 (new)
Last updated: 14/12/2021

::::::

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en
Latest Updates
News
Epidemiological update: Omicron variant of concern (VOC) – data as of 16 December 2021 (12:00)
Epidemiological update – 16 Dec 2021
As of 16 December and since 15 December 2021, 529 additional SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC) cases have been confirmed in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), contributing to an overall total of 3 158 confirmed cases so far.

News
ECDC publishes new risk assessment on further emergence of Omicron variant
News story – 15 Dec 2021
ECDC has published the eighteenth update of its rapid risk assessment (RRA). This RRA extends the assessment on the circulation of the Delta variant of concern (VOC) and projections for the festive period that was published on 24 November 2021, including the emergence and spread of the Omicron VOC. The inclusion of updated forecasts developed for this risk assessment are informed by the latest evidence on Omicron VOC epidemiology, transmissibility, severity, and immune escape.

Publication
Assessment of the further emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC in the context of the ongoing Delta VOC transmission in the EU/EEA, 18th update
Risk assessment – 15 Dec 2021
The risk to public health posed by the spread of the Omicron VOC in the context of ongoing Delta VOC transmission in the EU/EEA is assessed in this update. The Delta VOC remains the most prevalent variant, but community-associated spread of the Omicron VOC is occurring in the EU/EEA and the Omicron VOC will probably become dominant in early 2022, based on mathematical modelling predictions. We therefore assess the probability of further spread of the Omicron variant in the EU/EEA as VERY HIGH.

News
Epidemiological update: Omicron variant of concern (VOC) – data as of 15 December 2021 (12:00)
Epidemiological update – 15 Dec 2021

::::::

Accessed 18 Dec 2021
https://vaccinetracker.ecdc.europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/vaccine-tracker.html#uptake-tab

European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en
Press release 17 December 2021
Horn of Africa drought: EU allocates €21.5 million in additional humanitarian funding
The Commission has allocated €21.5 million in additional humanitarian funding to the Horn of Africa to help the region fight off what is rapidly becoming its worst drought in decades, already affecting millions of people.

Press release 16 December 2021
European Commission obtains further acceleration of deliveries of vaccine doses to Member States
The European Commission has reached an agreement with Moderna to accelerate the delivery of its mRNA vaccine to EU Member States that have a short-term need, in particular Germany.

Press release 14 December 2021
The European Commission joins Romania’s efforts in the vaccination communication campaign
The European Commission and its Representation in Romania will launch a communication campaign on vaccination on 14 December to support the efforts of national authorities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Accessed 18 Dec 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
Sputnik V induces robust neutralizing antibody response to Omicron variant, which is further strengthened by Sputnik Light booster, the Gamaleya Center preliminary study shows
Press release, 17.12.2021

THE GAMALEYA CENTER STATEMENT [Omicron study]

Press release, 15.12.2021

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

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
Dec 18: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
On Dec 17, 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on the Chinese mainland reported 125 new cases of confirmed infections.

COVID-19 fight enters ‘critical period’
2021-12-17
The fight against the COVID-19 outbreak in East China’s Zhejiang province has entered “the most critical period”, a top provincial health official said on Dec 16.

National Medical Products Administration – PRC [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://english.nmpa.gov.cn/
News
Over 2.64b COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on Chinese mainland
2021-12-16
More than 2.64 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered on the Chinese mainland as of Wednesday, data from the National Health Commission showed on Dec 16.

Over 1.16b Chinese fully vaccinated against COVID-19
2021-12-13
Over 1.16 billion Chinese people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission said at a press conference on Dec 11.

Emergencies

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

Polio this week as of 15 December 2021
:: The WHO Executive Board is scheduled to take place on 24-29 January 2022.  The Secretariat has prepared two reports, which will inform Member State discussions, namely on polio eradication, and on polio transition planning and post-certification.
:: On polio eradication, the report provides an update on work towards Goals 1 and 2 of the Polio Eradication Strategy 2022–2026.  On transition and post-certification, the report provides an update on the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Polio Transition (2018-2023) within the context of COVID-19.

Summary of new WPV and cVDPV viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
–  Côte d’Ivoire:  One cVDPV2 case
–  Guinea:  One cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
–  Nigeria: 12 cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
–  Senegal:  Two cVDPV2 positive environmental samples

::::::

Poliomyelitis – Poliomyelitis eradication
Report by the Director-General
WHO – EXECUTIVE BOARD
EB150/21
13 December 2021 :: 6 pages

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

Disease Outbreak News (DONs)

16 December 2021 | Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

16 December 2021 | Cholera – Cameroon

14 December 2021 | Dengue fever – Pakistan

13 December 2021 | Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – United Arab Emirates

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::::::

WHO/OCHA Emergencies

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.”
Afghanistan crisis [Last apparent update: 18 Oct 2021]

Crisis in Northern Ethiopia [Last apparent update: 1 June 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: 1 Oct 2021]

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
No new reports identified.

Northern Ethiopia
Ethiopia – Northern Ethiopia Humanitarian Update Situation Report, 16 Dec 2021
More than 1.8 million people displaced in Tigray, more than 542,000 people displaced in Amhara, and more than 255,000 people displaced in Afar by end of September.
Measle vaccines shipped to Tigray to vaccinate 774,000 children but fuel required to launch the campaign is yet to be secured.
More than 20,000 displaced and host community children are supported to attend alternative educational programs in Tigray.
More than 1.5 million people reached with food assistance in Amhara under the current food distribution launched on 21 October.
Medicines and surgical protective personal equipment sufficient to serve more than 50,000 people dispatched to Afar Region.

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

WHO & Regional Offices [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.who.int/
Selected News, Statements
17 December 2021
News release
WHO lists 9th COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use with aim to increase access to vaccination in lower-income countries

17 December 2021
Departmental news
Launch of UN Group of Friends on Neglected Tropical Diseases and on Support of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Healthcare Facilities

17 December 2021
Departmental news
SAGE October 2021 meeting report is online

16 December 2021
Departmental news
OpenWHO.org: 2021 year in review

16 December 2021
Departmental news
The essential task of strengthening genomic surveillance: WHO in collaboration with GISAID organizes training workshops for laboratory experts

16 December 2021
Departmental news
Interim recommendations for heterologous COVID-19 vaccine schedules

16 December 2021
News release
Dr Ayoade Alakija appointed WHO Special Envoy for the ACT-Accelerator

16 December 2021
News release
New WHO Global Competency Standards aim to strengthen the health workforce and support provision of quality health services to refugees and migrants

15 December 2021
Departmental news
National Opera of Ukraine “In the Name of Life” concert in recognition of health workers

15 December 2021
Departmental news
Letter to malaria partners (December 2021)

15 December 2021
News release
10th Global Conference on Health Promotion charters a path for creating ‘well-being societies’

15 December 2021
Departmental news
Another 249 trainees join the global infodemic manager community

14 December 2021
News release
Seventeenth meeting of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on NCDs

13 December 2021
Joint News Release
WHO and St. Jude to dramatically increase global access to childhood cancer medicines

13 December 2021
News release
Investing 1 dollar per person per year could save 7 million lives in low- and lower-middle-income countries

13 December 2021
Departmental news
Protect the environment, World No Tobacco Day 2022 will give you one more reason to quit

13 December 2021
Departmental news
Conference Report: 3rd WHO Infodemic Management Conference, Whole-of-society challenges and solutions to respond to infodemics #societyVSinfodemic

12 December 2021
News release
More than half a billion people pushed or pushed further into extreme poverty due to health care costs

::::::

WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Africa clocks fastest surge in COVID-19 cases this year, but deaths remain low 14 December 2021
:: Cabo Verde vaccinates 40% of population, reaches second global target 25 November 2021
Cabo Verde has fully vaccinated more than 40% of its population against COVID-19, reaching the end-of-year World Health Organization (WHO) global target aimed at widening vaccination and helping to turn the tide against the pandemic.
:: Diabetes prevention, care challenges in Africa 17 November 2021

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
No new digest content identified

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: Take all measures to prevent further spread of Omicron – WHO 18 December 2021
:: Prioritize investments in primary health care for universal health coverage: WHO 14 December 2021

WHO European Region EURO
:: Providing urgent health care to migrants in Belarus 10-12-2021
:: Contact tracing during a pandemic: Gintare’s story from Lithuania 10-12-2021
:: Recognizing health and care workers in the WHO European Region 10-12-2021

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: WHO/Europe launches New Economics Expert Group to advance health equity 17-12-2021
:: Serbia: civil society builds bridges between migrants and health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic 17-12-2021
:: International Migrants Day – migrants stepping up in the COVID-19 response 16-12-2021
:: How to enjoy the winter season and minimize COVID-19 risk: 5 tips for a safer holiday period 16-12-2021
:: Taking a balanced and risk-based approach to COVID-19 prevention measures this winter: WHO/Europe’s advice to governments and health authorities 16-12-2021

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified

::::::

WHO Events
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/2
[Selected]
11 January 2022
COVID-19 Case Management Webinar Series: COVID-19 and pregnancy

18 December 2021
International Migrants Day 2021

16 December 2021
WHO Global Competency Standards for Refugee and Migrant Health Services – Strengthening the health workforce to provide quality health services to refugees and migrants

16 December 2021
The Global Survey on HTA and Health Benefit Packages: Interactive Database and Findings

15 December 2021
Global expenditure on health: Public spending on the rise?

::::::

New WHO Publications
https://www.who.int/publications/i
Selected Titles
17 December 2021
Infection prevention and control (‎IPC)‎ in health-care facilities in the event of a surge or resurgence…

17 December 2021
Fourth annual country surveillance meeting to facilitate malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion,…

17 December 2021
Ninth meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion Therapeutic Efficacy Study Network, virtual meeting, 15-16…

17 December 2021
Meeting of Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, October 2021: conclusions and recommendations

17 December 2021
Safety and quality of water used with fresh fruits and vegetables

16 December 2021
Second focused review meeting by the Malaria Elimination Oversight Committee (MEOC)

16 December 2021
Fifteenth meeting of the WHO Vector Control Advisory Group

16 December 2021
Refugee and migrant health: Global Competency Standards for health workers

16 December 2021
Knowledge guide to support the operationalization of the Refugee and migrant health: Global Competency…

16 December 2021
Curriculum guide to support the operationalization of Refugee and Migrant Health: Global Competency Standards…

16 December 2021
Interim recommendations for heterologous COVID-19 vaccine schedules

15 December 2021
Information sheet: measuring priority emissions in heated tobacco products, importance for regulators…

15 December 2021
Global expenditure on health: Public spending on the rise?

14 December 2021
Framework and toolkit for infection prevention and control in outbreak preparedness, readiness and response…

13 December 2021
Evidence and research gaps identified during development of policy guidelines for tuberculosis

13 December 2021
Saving lives, spending less: the case for investing in noncommunicable diseases

13 December 2021
South-East Asia regional strategy for primary health care: 2022-2030

13 December 2021
Infant and young child feeding counselling: an integrated course: trainer’s guide, 2nd ed

12 December 2021
Classification of self-care interventions for health: a shared language to describe the uses of self-care…

12 December 2021
Global monitoring report on financial protection in health 2021

12 December 2021
Tracking Universal Health Coverage: 2021 Global monitoring report

CDC/ACIP [U.S.] [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html
Latest News Releases, Announcements [Selected]
Test-To-Stay Options Can Help Keep Students in School During COVID-19 Friday, December 17, 2021

CDC Endorses ACIP’s Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations Thursday, December 16, 2021
oday, CDC is endorsing updated recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the prevention of COVID-19, expressing a clinical preference for individuals to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine over Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. ACIP’s unanimous recommendation followed a robust discussion of the latest evidence on vaccine effectiveness, vaccine safety and rare adverse events, and consideration of the U.S. vaccine supply. The U.S. supply of mRNA vaccines is abundant – with nearly 100 million doses in the field for immediate use…

CDC Expands COVID-19 Booster Recommendations to 16-and-17-year-olds Thursday, December 9, 2021

ACIP Meetings
:: Agenda – December 16, 2021 pdf icon[1 page]
:: Presentations

MMWR News Synopsis Friday, December 3, 2021
Selected Content
:: Recommendations and Reports: Dengue Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2021
:: Report of Health Care Provider Recommendation for COVID-19 Vaccination Among Adults, by Recipient COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Attitudes — United States, April–September 2021
:: Previously Released: SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant — United States, December 1–8, 2021
:: Previously Released: Booster and Additional Primary Dose COVID-19 Vaccinations Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — United States, August 13, 2021–November 19, 2021

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)– CDC
Approximately 25 announcements/reports/data summaries.
:: 12/17/21EARLY RELEASE: Evaluation of Test to Stay Strategy on Secondary and Tertiary Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in K–12 Schools — Lake County, Illinois, August 9–October 29, 2021
:: 12/17/21EARLY RELEASE: Evaluation of a Test to Stay Strategy in Transitional Kindergarten Through Grade 12 Schools — Los Angeles County, California, August 16–October 31, 2021
:: 12/17/21Test-To-Stay Options Can Help Keep Students in School During COVID-19
:: 12/17/21Overall US COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Fri, 17 Dec 2021 06:00:00 EST
:: 12/17/21Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers
:: 12/17/21Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States

Africa CDC [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Press Releases
First International Conference on Public Health in Africa Closes With Urgent Call for a New Public Health Order
16 December 2021
[See Milestones/Perspectives above for detail]

Communiqué
Communique on Progress Made on Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa – Kigali, Rwanda 06 07 December 2021
14 December 2021
[See Milestones/Perspectives above for detail]

Press Releases
African Heads of State and Health Experts Convene Virtually for the First International Conference on Public Health in Africa
14 December 2021

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

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
Dec 18: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
On Dec 17, 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on the Chinese mainland reported 125 new cases of confirmed infections.

COVID-19 fight enters ‘critical period’
2021-12-17
The fight against the COVID-19 outbreak in East China’s Zhejiang province has entered “the most critical period”, a top provincial health official said on Dec 16.

National Medical Products Administration – PRC [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://english.nmpa.gov.cn/
News
Over 2.64b COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on Chinese mainland
2021-12-16
More than 2.64 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered on the Chinese mainland as of Wednesday, data from the National Health Commission showed on Dec 16.

Over 1.16b Chinese fully vaccinated against COVID-19
2021-12-13
Over 1.16 billion Chinese people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission said at a press conference on Dec 11.

CCDC Weekly – Weekly Reports: Current Volume (3)
2021-12-17 / No. 51 PARASITIC DISEASES ISSUE (3)
View  PDF of this issue
Preplanned Studies: Epidemiological and Clinical Features of Patients with Scrub Typhus — Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China, 2012–2018
Preplanned Studies: Epidemiological Characteristics of Echinococcosis in Non-Endemic PLADs — China, 2017–2020
Preplanned Studies: Rapid Assessment on Potential Risks of Schistosomiasis Transmission — 7 PLADs, China, 2019 and 2021
Preplanned Studies: Reappearance of Risk of Schistosomiasis Transmission and the Response After 27 Years of Interrupted Transmission — Guangdong Province, China, 2019
Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reports: Reported Cases and Deaths of National Notifiable Infectious Diseases — China, October, 2021

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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 18 Dec 2021]
https://alleninstitute.org/news-press/
News
Hundreds of small molecules known as neuromodulators might influence how we learn
December 17, 2021
New models that capture how the brain retains information could also improve machine learning

Press Release
Allen Institute announces Rui Costa as next President and Chief Executive Officer
December 16, 2021
The Allen Institute today named Rui Costa, D.V.M., Ph.D., as its next president and chief executive officer. Costa comes to the Allen Institute from the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University in New York where he has served as CEO since 2017, and currently serves on the Allen Institute’s Brain Science Scientific Advisory Council…
 
 
BARDA – U.S. Department of HHS [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.phe.gov/about/barda/Pages/default.aspx
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center
Press Releases and Statements
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 18 Dec 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 18 Dec 2021]
https://carb-x.org/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy – GE2P2 Global Foundation [to 18 Dec 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.
:: Informed Consent: A Monthly Review – December 2021 is now posted here
 
 
CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://cepi.net/
Latest News
CEPI statement: CEO welcomes Emergency Use Listing for NVX-CoV2373
CEPI-supported vaccine is the first protein-based vaccine to receive EUL, a prerequisite for distribution through COVAX.
17 Dec 2021

CEPI partners with Affinivax to develop a novel COVID-19 vaccine to target variants
New partnership will advance the development of a novel vaccine that could provide broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants, and potentially other betacoronaviruses… EPI will provide funding of up to $4.5 million to support the initial development of a vaccine candidate based on Affinivax’s innovative Multiple Antigen Presenting System (MAPSTM) technology platform.
13 Dec 2021
 
 
DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [to 18 Dec 2021
https://www.darpa.mil/news
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Duke Global Health Innovation Center [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://dukeghic.org/
Our Blog
No new digest content identified.
 
 
EDCTP [to 18 Dec 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 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
Vaccine Center News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
European Vaccine Initiative [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/
Latest News, Events
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Fondation Merieux [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Gavi [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.gavi.org/
News Releases
No new digest content identified.

GHIT Fund [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press
GHIT was set up in 2012 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Global Fund [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
News
Ethics Resources for Country Coordinating Mechanisms: New e-learning Module
17 December 2021
A new e-learning module has been launched to help Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCM) maintain high standards of ethics and integrity in their work and decision making. The new module focuses on Duty of Care (including Oversight) and Accountability (including Transparency) and is available on iLearn in English. It will soon be available in French and Spanish. This fifth module concludes the CCM Code of Conduct training series.
The e-learning module can be found on the Country Coordinating Mechanism Ethics section, along with the other code of conduct modules for CCM members and related information.
 
 
Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness [GloPID-R] [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.glopid-r.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Hilleman Laboratories [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
News & Insights
No new digest content identified.
 
 
HHMI – Howard Hughes Medical Institute [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.hhmi.org/news
Press Room
Research Dec 15 2021
Flies Navigate Using Complex Mental Math
For the first time, scientists have shown exactly how a fly brain creates a mental map of the body’s movement through the world.
 
 
Human Vaccines Project [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
IAVI [to 18 Dec 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 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
Selected News Releases, Statements, Reports
ICRC collaborates with artists in urgent call for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccine
The ICRC has collaborated with artists from Asia-Pacific on illustrations to emphasize the importance and call for the equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
16-12-2021 | Article

IFFIm
http://www.iffim.org/
Press Releases/Announcements
Lessons on COVID-19 from Africa: Q&A with Hassatou N’Sele
17 Dec 2021
Hassatou N’Sele joined IFFIm’s Board of Directors on 1 July 2021. As the Treasurer of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, she leads the expansion of the AfDB capital markets activities across the globe. Ms N’Sele is a Senegalese citizen. Tell us about your life. What experiences and people shaped you as a per…

The Wild Side of Innovative Finance: Q&A with Monique Barbut
17 Dec 2021
Monique Barbut joined IFFIm’s Board of Directors in July 2021. Currently the President of the World Wildlife Fund France, Ms Barbut has spent her extensive career in public service, playing a key role in environmental and financial global negotiations at the U.N.

Channeling private sector participation to optimise results: Q&A with Ingrid van Wees
17 Dec 2021
Ingrid van Wees joined the IFFIm board on 1 October 2021. She is currently the Vice President for Finance and Risk Management of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), based in Manila, the Philippines.
 
 
IFRC [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
16/12/2021
DRC: Media statement on the end of the 13th Ebola outbreak
Beni/Kinshasa/Nairobi/Geneva, 16 December 2021—The Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) joins the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in celebrating the end of the 13th Ebola outbreak in the country.
The Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention of the DRC, officially declared, this 16 December 2021, the end of the 13th outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease which resurfaced on 8 October 2021, in the health zone of Beni in the province of North Kivu.
This declaration comes 42 days after the last patient tested negative.
A cumulative 11 cases were recorded during this 13th outbreak, including 8 deaths and 2 cured…

16/12/2021
Red Cross Red Crescent reaching 1.5 million people on the move in MENA, yet millions are left without support
 
 
Institut Pasteur [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
Press Documents
Press release 06.12.2021
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a genetic mutation confirmed as predisposing factor
In 2019, the WHO positioned chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) third in the global ranking of causes of death…
 
 
IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases
News – Selected
News
15 Dec 2021
IOM Launches COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign for Migrants in Yemen
Aden – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has begun a COVID-19 vaccination campaign for migrants stranded in Yemen, aiming to inoculate around 7,500 people at its Migrant Response Points in Aden and Ma’rib. IOM continues to advocate for more efforts to protect vulnerable populations by ramping up vaccination efforts for people on the move.
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to protecting migrants against COVID-19 and immunizing people on the move is key to combatting the spread of the disease,” said IOM’s Chief of Mission, Christa Rottensteiner. “There are still not enough doses to protect everyone in Yemen from this disease. More support from the international community to supply the country with enough vaccines will save lives.”…
So far this year, more than 135,000 people have been reached with COVID-19 awareness sessions and over 400,000 people have been screened for COVID-19 at IOM-supported health facilities throughout the country.
IOM’s vaccination campaign for migrants in Yemen is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization with support by contributions from the governments of Germany, Finland and EU Humanitarian Aid.
 
 
ISC / International Science Council [to 18 Dec 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.
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
IVAC [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates; Events
No new digest content identified.
 
 
IVI [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.ivi.int/
IVI News & Announcements
IVI to establish a European regional office in Sweden
IVI and the Government Offices of Sweden signed a Memorandum of Understanding today to establish the office in Stockholm, creating a European hub for global health research and innovation
December 17, 2021
 
 
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/news/center-news/
Center News
New Report: Integrating Primary Care and Public Health to Save Lives and Improve Practice During Public Health Crises: Lessons from COVID-19
December 14, 2021
Today, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health released a new report finding that the failure to bring primary care providers into a frontline role as responders to the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the public health system, resulted in many missed opportunities to provide better quality care, faster testing, more effective contact tracing, greater acceptance of vaccination, and better communication with patients.
The new report, Integrating Primary Care and Public Health to Save Lives and Improve Practice During Public Health Crises: Lessons from COVID-19, also identified other unrealized benefits that could have helped, had there been better integration of primary care, public health, and community-based organizations: 1) Greater support for the public health response, thereby easing the burden on overstretched public health personnel; and 2) ability to access primary care’s reach to amplify public health messaging…
 
 
MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements]
Brazil
Venezuelan migrants left without healthcare, shelter and services
Project Update 14 Dec 2021
 
 
National Academy of Medicine – USA [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://nam.edu/programs/
Selected News/Programs/Events
No new digest content identified.
 
 
National Academy of Sciences – USA [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
Upcoming Meetings/Latest Updates
No new digest content identified.
 
 
NIH [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
News Releases
NIH scientists urge pursuit of universal coronavirus vaccine
December 16, 2021 — A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that novel coronaviruses will continue to have potential to emerge as a threat to humans.
DM Morens, et al. Universal coronavirus vaccines—an urgent need. The New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2118468(link is external) (2021).
[See Milestones/Perspectives above for detail]
 
 
OECD [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/publicationsdocuments/bydate/
Newsroom
No new digest content identified.
 
 
PATH [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
UNAIDS [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
13 December 2021
Key population participation in HIV decision-making varies

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/media-centre.htmlS
Selected News Releases, Announcements
No new digest content identified.

UNICEF [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Press Releases, News Notes, Statements [Selected]
Statement
12/17/2021
Even as Omicron variant takes hold, school closures must be a measure of last resort
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore
 
 
Unitaid [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://unitaid.org/
Featured News
17 December 2021
Unitaid launches call for proposals to prevent hepatitis C in the most marginalised and at-risk groups
Geneva – An estimated 58 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C, a blood-borne virus that can lead to serious liver disease. This virus, which causes an estimated 300,000 deaths each year, affects people who inject drugs and incarcerated populations at much higher rates.
Unitaid is therefore seeking to fund innovative projects that will expand access to new tools or under-utilised interventions to prevent and treat hepatitis C, with a particular focus on these key groups in low- and middle-income countries…

16 December 2021
Former French Minister Marisol Touraine reelected chair of the Unitaid Executive Board; Unitaid on track to deliver its new strategy for 2022-26
 
 
USAID [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/2021
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Announcements
Administrator Samantha Power Holds Meetings on COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Delivery Efforts
December 17, 2021
This week, USAID Administrator Samantha Power held a series of high-level meetings with key United States and world health experts to discuss the recently announced whole-of-government effort, the Initiative for Global Vaccine Access (Global VAX). Vaccinating the world is the best way to save lives, prevent future variants that threaten the health of communities around the world, including Americans, and undermine the global economic recovery. As more vaccine supply flows to low and middle income countries, the United States is redoubling efforts to help countries efficiently and effectively receive, distribute, and administer doses. Global VAX focuses on accelerating global efforts to get shots in arms —particularly in sub-Saharan Africa—and to enhance international coordination to rapidly overcome barriers to vaccine delivery.
 
 
Vaccine Equity Cooperative [nee Initiative] [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://vaccineequitycooperative.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Vaccination Acceptance & Demand Initiative [Sabin) [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.vaccineacceptance.org/
Announcements
Focusing on Marginalized Communities
Get to Know Two of Our 2021 Social and Behavioral Research Grant Partners
December 14, 2021
By: Abigail Quinn, BA, Deeva Agravat, MSc, Kate Hopkins, PhD, MPH
 
 
Vaccine Confidence Project [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
News, Research and Reports
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Wellcome Trust [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News. Opinion, Reports
News
How to prevent another major pandemic
15 December 2021
The world could have been much better prepared for Covid-19. So now we must ask: How well prepared are we going to be for the next pandemic?
 
 
The Wistar Institute [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News – Blog
Facing Leadership that Kills!
Dec 15, 2021 | News
Facing Leadership that Kills! An Article by Public Health Leadership Coalition’s Member – Dr. Alejandro R. Jadad Despite the growing number of reports describing myriad ways in which leaders failed the populations they were meant to protect during the COVID-19…
 
 
World Bank [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
Selected News, Announcements
Ukraine to Expand COVID-19 Vaccination, with Additional World Bank Financing
WASHINGTON, December 10, 2021 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved today $150 million in Additional Financing for the Ukraine Emergency COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Project…
Date: December 10, 2021 Type: Press Release

Learning Losses from COVID-19 Could Cost this Generation of Students Close to $17 Trillion in Lifetime Earnings
World Bank-UNESCO-UNICEF report lays out the magnitude of the education crisis WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 6, 2021—This generation of students now risks losing $17 trillion in lifetime earnings in present…
Date: December 06, 2021 Type: Press Release

The State of the Global Education Crisis: A Path to Recovery
The global disruption to education caused by the COVD-19 pandemic is without parallel and the effects on learning are severe. The crisis brought education systems across the world to a halt, with school…
Date: December 03, 2021 Type: Publication
 
 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.oie.int/en/media/news/
Press Releases, Statements
No new digest content identified.
 
 
WTO – World Trade Organisation [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
WTO News and Events
Members continue discussions on IP COVID-19 response as high-level engagement intensifies
16 December 2021
WTO members agreed to continue their discussions on a common intellectual property (IP) response to COVID-19 amid the ongoing high-level political dialogue aimed at finding a consensus-based outcome. At a formal meeting of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on 16 December, members reported on the bilateral meetings and small group consultations held following the postponement of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and reiterated their willingness and intention to intensify their engagement with each other.
[See Milestones/Perspectives above for detail]

WTO updates note on trade in medical goods in the context of COVID-19
16 December 2021
The WTO Secretariat has published an update of the information note on trade in medical goods in the context of tackling COVID-19, which was first issued in April 2020, a few months after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. The update looks at developments in the first half of 2021.
The updated note indicates that in the first half of 2021, trade in medical goods maintained solid growth, comprising 6.1 per cent of total world trade compared to 5.4 per cent for the second half of 2019, just before the pandemic outbreak.
Trade in medical goods grew by 12.4 per cent in the first half of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020. This increase was slower than the year-on-year growth for the second half of 2020, at 17.1 per cent, but it is an increase of 31 per cent compared to the first half of 2019. It is also a continuation of the strong growth (16 per cent) recorded in 2020.
The update features a case study on the critical products needed for administering COVID-19 vaccines. This highlights that as vaccination numbers increased, the highest year-on-year growth (34.8 per cent) was for medical supplies, including items critical for administering vaccines (rubber gloves, syringes and needles).
Trade in testing materials and diagnostic reagents also remained high, growing by 54.5 per cent in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020.
The first information note on “Trade in medical goods in the context of tackling COVID-19” was issued on 3 April 2020, with previous updates issued on 20 December 2020 and 30 June 2021. The updated note can be found here.

::::::
 
 
ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://alliancerm.org/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
BIO [to 18 Dec 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 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News; Upcoming events
16 December 2021
Press release: 11 billion COVID-19 vaccines produced in 2021 has resulted in the biggest immunization campaign in human history and 2022 will require more and better vaccine redistribution and innovation
[See Milestones/Perspectives above for detail]
 
 
ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://internationalbiotech.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
IFPMA [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
11 billion COVID-19 vaccines produced in 2021 has resulted in the biggest immunization campaign in human history and 2022 will require more and better vaccine redistribution and innovation
Published on: 16 December 2021
[See Milestones/Perspectives above for detail]

Position paper – Synthetic follow-on products that reference biologically produced medicines
15 December 2021
What is the challenge?
In some countries, there is lack of clarity about how these products should be regulated….“Synthetic follow-on products that reference a biologically produced medicine are complex and should not be viewed as simple generics. Instead, they should be evaluated following an approach more aligned with that adopted for biosimilars.”

Technology Transfer: A Collaborative Approach to Improve Global Health
13 December 2021

 
 
 
International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association [IGBA]
https://www.igbamedicines.org/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations – IAPO [to 18 Dec 2021]
https://www.iapo.org.uk/news/topic/6
Press and media [Selected]
Joint Statement On Patient Solidarity Day 2021
London, December 3rd, 2021 – On Patient Solidarity Day, the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO), the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA),  International Hospital Federation (IHF) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) , join patients and families all over the world, in calling for governments and all health stakeholders to collaborate in the implementation of the WHO Flagship Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 (GPSAP 2021-30) that was adopted at the 74th World Health Assembly this year.
 
 
PhRMA [to 18 Dec 2021]
http://www.phrma.org/
Latest News [Selected]
No new digest content identified.

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

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 18 Dec 2021)

Capacity of community advisory boards for effective engagement in clinical research: a mixed methods study
Authors: Levicatus Mugenyi, Andrew Mijumbi, Mastula Nanfuka, Collins Agaba, Fedress Kaliba, Irene Seryazi Semakula, Winfred Badanga Nazziwa and Joseph Ochieng
Content type: Research
15 December 2021

BMC Research Notes
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcresnotes/content
(Accessed 18 Dec 2021)

Commentary
Reproducibility and research integrity: the role of scientists and institutions
Authors: Patrick Diaba-Nuhoho and Michael Amponsah-Offeh
Citation: BMC Research Notes 2021 14:451
Published on: 14 December 2021
Abstract
Reproducibility and research integrity are essential tenets of every scientific study and discovery. They serve as proof that an established and documented work can be verified, repeated, and reproduced. New knowledge in the biomedical science is built on the shoulders of established and proven principles. Thus, scientists must be able to trust and build on the knowledge of their colleagues. Scientific innovation and research discoveries especially in the field of medicine has contributed to improving the lives of patients and increasing life expectancies. However, the growing concerns of failure to comply with good scientific principles has resulted in issues with research integrity and reproducibility. Poor reproducibility and integrity, therefore, may lead to ineffective interventions and applications. Here we comment on research reproducibility in basic medical and life sciences with regards to issues arising and outline the role of stakeholders such as research institutions and their employees in addressing this crisis.

Globalization and Health
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/
[Accessed 18 Dec 2021]

Strengthening the WHO in the pandemic era by removing a persistent structural defect in financing
Authors: Nkuchia M. M’ikanatha and David P. Welliver
Content type: Debate
15 December 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.

Immunity
Dec 14, 2021 Volume 54 Issue 12 p2671-2922
https://www.cell.com/immunity/current

Featured Article
From mRNA sensing to vaccines
Anthony S. Fauci, et al.
The 2005 Immunity paper by Karikó et al. has been hailed as a cornerstone insight that directly led to the design and delivery of the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. We asked experts in pathogen sensing, vaccine development, and public health to provide their perspective on the study and its implications.

Immunity
Dec 14, 2021 Volume 54 Issue 12 p2671-2922
https://www.cell.com/immunity/current

Primer
Antigenic drift: Understanding COVID-19
Jonathan W. Yewdell
Antigenic drift refers to the evolutionary accumulation of amino acid substitutions in viral proteins selected by host adaptive immune systems as the virus circulates in a population. Antigenic drift can substantially limit the duration of immunity conferred by infection and vaccination. Here, I explain the factors contributing to the rapid antigenic drift of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and receptor proteins of other viruses and discuss the implications for SARS-CoV-2 evolution and immunity.

Immunity
Dec 14, 2021 Volume 54 Issue 12 p2671-2922
https://www.cell.com/immunity/current

Articles
mRNA vaccination of naive and COVID-19-recovered individuals elicits potent memory B cells that recognize SARS-CoV-2 variants
Aurélien Sokal, et al.
To better understand B cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, Sokal et al. analyzed memory B cells from COVID-19-recovered and naive individuals. In recovered individuals, vaccination amplifies a broad repertoire of matured MBCs and generates variant-neutralizing plasma cells. In naive individuals, vaccination induces an MBC pool containing potent neutralizing clones against all current variants of concern, including beta and delta.

JAMA
December 14, 2021, Vol 326, No. 22, Pages 2239-2339
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

Viewpoint
Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines What Parents, Practitioners, and Policy Makers Need to Know
William J. Moss, MD, MPH; Lawrence O. Gostin, JD; Jennifer B. Nuzzo, DrPH, SM
JAMA. 2021;326(22):2257-2258. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.20734
This Viewpoint discusses the Food and Drug Administration granting Emergency Use Authorization of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 for children aged 5 to 11 years and the role that will play in keeping children, schools, and communities safe.

JAMA
December 14, 2021, Vol 326, No. 22, Pages 2239-2339
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

Incentivizing a New Culture of Data StewardshipThe NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing
Lyric A. Jorgenson, PhD; Carrie D. Wolinetz, PhD; Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD
JAMA. 2021;326(22):2259-2260. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.20489
This Viewpoint cites the data collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of unprecedented vaccine results and points to the NIH’s Policy for Data Management and Sharing to foster shared data as a routine part of grant applications.

JAMA Network
COVID-19 Update December 18, 2021

These articles on COVID-19 were published across the JAMA Network in the last week.

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health
December 2021 – Volume 75 – 12
https://jech.bmj.com/content/75/12

Editorial
Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity and protect health (5 September, 2021)
Lukoye Atwoli, Abdullah H Baqui, Thomas Benfield, Raffaella Bosurgi, Fiona Godlee, Stephen Hancocks, Richard Horton, Laurie Laybourn-Langton, Carlos Augusto Monteiro, Ian Norman, Kirsten Patrick, Nigel Praities, Marcel GM Olde Rikkert, Eric J Rubin, Peush Sahni, Richard Smith, Nicholas J Talley, Sue Turale, Damián Vázquez

The Lancet
Dec 18, 2021 Volume 398 Number 10318 p2207-2306
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Editorial
COVID-19: where do we go from here?
The Lancet
The end of 2021 brings a sense of uncertainty. Parts of the world are approaching a transition or a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The window for pursuing the elimination of SARS-CoV-2 has closed. Moving towards a so-called post-pandemic world will be far more complicated than scenarios such as “Zero COVID”. The challenge now is to determine the level of COVID-19 that is acceptable for individual nations in a fundamentally interconnected world. In the first Lancet Editorial of 2021, we noted: “Countries might justifiably start to look inward to repair the damage after COVID-19. But equitable access, whether to a vaccine, food, or finance, will require global collaboration.” This requirement has not been met. Science has provided the tools and evidence to control the COVID-19 pandemic, but the response has been shaped by political factors and a lack of cooperation, often to the detriment of health.

For all its peaks and troughs, 2021 should be heralded as the year of extraordinary COVID-19 science. 2021 began with several new vaccines showing efficacy in randomised trials. There are now 26 COVID-19 vaccines authorised by at least one national regulatory agency and another 200 candidates are in development. Novel treatments have provided further options to prevent death and disability. These achievements allowed for a new sense of hope that should have been the basis for an equitable global response, carried out with the urgency and seriousness that a devastating pandemic demands.

Massive vaccine roll-out programmes have also taken place with remarkably high participation in some countries, including Portugal (88%), Chile (86%), Cuba (83%), and Singapore (83%). Yet vaccination rates are notably lower in other countries that had early access to a COVID-19 vaccine—eg, Russia has reached only about 48% of its population as of December, 2021. Of all Americans who are eligible, only 61% are fully vaccinated. Although in vastly different contexts, those who are unvaccinated in Russia and the USA cite the same reasons: a mistrust of government, distrust of data, and few consequences for not being vaccinated.

The USA provides a potent demonstration of the structural barriers and stymied progress in COVID-19 that can originate from political obstacles to health. Socioeconomic disadvantage is a substantial contributor to vaccine hesitancy in low-income communities. Compliance with public health interventions, such as indoor masking, are often fomented by political ideologies. Lawsuits filed in federal appeal courts by Republican political action groups have thwarted vaccine mandate legislation for health-care workers and federal employees that would go into effect in 2022. A sizeable proportion of unvaccinated-by-choice Americans remain so even though they are eligible to receive a booster. Without incentives to reduce hesitancy, durable mandates for masking, and near complete vaccination, optimism dims for curtailing the next potential COVID-19 wave.

Political failures to cooperate and find solutions at the global level have shaped the pandemic too. Leaders of high-income countries have spoken of the importance of equitable access to COVID-19 vaccination, and pledged to donate doses, but have consistently been unable to deliver. Vaccine manufacturing continues to be hindered by a lack of agreement on relaxing intellectual property rules to increase and diversify capacity. The enormity of the situation has not been matched by the response. Leaders have been unable to realise that the status quo should not apply in a pandemic. As of this month, 75% of the population in high-income countries have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine compared with 46% in lower-middle-income countries, and just 7% in low-income countries. The emergence of new variants such as omicron jeopardises all.

Politically driven decisions are undermining health security. The most recent Global Health Security Index shows that risks to political stability and security have increased in nearly all countries, and those with the fewest resources have the highest risk. There is greater risk of social unrest. Most countries score low on accountability of public officials and human rights. All countries remain underprepared for the next pandemic and countries should be more transparent about their capacities and risk factors for better global preparation.

The emergence of omicron threatens new setbacks and further compounding of the harms of the pandemic. Science will no doubt continue to provide the means to respond. But doing so effectively and equitably will require greater recognition of the political determinants of health and action based on a robust global multilateral system and strong individual national leadership—which too often has been, and continues to be, lacking.

The Lancet
Dec 18, 2021 Volume 398 Number 10318 p2207-2306
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Comment
From a Lancet Commission to the NCDI Poverty Network: reaching the poorest billion through integration science
Gene Bukhman, et al. of the NCDI Poverty Network

The Lancet
Dec 18, 2021 Volume 398 Number 10318 p2207-2306
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Articles
Safety and immunogenicity of seven COVID-19 vaccines as a third dose (booster) following two doses of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 or BNT162b2 in the UK (COV-BOOST): a blinded, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial
Alasdair P S Munro, et al. on behalf of the COV-BOOST study group
Open Access
Interpretation
All study vaccines boosted antibody and neutralising responses after ChAd/ChAd initial course and all except one after BNT/BNT, with no safety concerns. Substantial differences in humoral and cellular responses, and vaccine availability will influence policy choices for booster vaccination.

The Lancet
Dec 18, 2021 Volume 398 Number 10318 p2207-2306
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Safety and immunogenicity of concomitant administration of COVID-19 vaccines (ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2) with seasonal influenza vaccines in adults in the UK (ComFluCOV): a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 4 trial
Rajeka Lazarus, et al. and the ComfluCOV Trial Group
Open Access
Interpretation
Concomitant vaccination with ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2 plus an age-appropriate influenza vaccine raises no safety concerns and preserves antibody responses to both vaccines. Concomitant vaccination with both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines over the next immunisation season should reduce the burden on health-care services for vaccine delivery, allowing for timely vaccine administration and protection from COVID-19 and influenza for those in need.

Nature
Volume 600 Issue 7889, 16 December 2021
https://www.nature.com/nature/volumes/600/issues/7889

Editorial | 15 December 2021
Replicating scientific results is tough — but essential
A high-profile replication study in cancer biology has obtained disappointing results. Scientists must redouble their efforts to find out why.

Nature
Volume 600 Issue 7889, 16 December 2021
https://www.nature.com/nature/volumes/600/issues/7889

Comment | 15 December 2021
Decision makers need constantly updated evidence synthesis
Fund and use ‘living’ reviews of the latest data to steer research, practice and policy.
Julian Elliott, Rebecca Lawrence, Jeremy M. Grimshaw

Nature
Volume 600 Issue 7889, 16 December 2021
https://www.nature.com/nature/volumes/600/issues/7889

Review Article | 08 December 2021
The emergence, genomic diversity and global spread of SARS-CoV-2
The potential origins and global spread of SARS-CoV-2, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and the importance of genomic surveillance for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.
Juan Li, Shengjie Lai, Weifeng Shi

Nature
Volume 600 Issue 7889, 16 December 2021
https://www.nature.com/nature/volumes/600/issues/7889

Article | 08 July 2021 | Open Access
Mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19
A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.
Mari E. K. Niemi, Juha Karjalainen, Chloe Donohue