Monthly Archives: April 2022

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in a Global HIV Cohort

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Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 225, Issue 4, 15 February 2022
https://academic.oup.com/jid/issue/225/4

 

MAJOR ARTICLES AND BRIEF REPORTS
COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in a Global HIV Cohort
Evelynne S Fulda, Kathleen V Fitch, Edgar T Overton, Markella V Zanni, Judith A Aberg …
The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 225, Issue 4, 15 February 2022, Pages 603–607, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab575

Pandemic preparedness and COVID-19: an exploratory analysis of infection and fatality rates, and contextual factors associated with preparedness in 177 countries, from Jan 1, 2020, to Sept 30, 2021

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The Lancet
Apr 16, 2022 Volume 399 Number 10334 p1441-1572, e37
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Pandemic preparedness and COVID-19: an exploratory analysis of infection and fatality rates, and contextual factors associated with preparedness in 177 countries, from Jan 1, 2020, to Sept 30, 2021
COVID-19 National Preparedness Collaborators
Open Access

A joint NCBI and EMBL-EBI transcript set for clinical genomics and research

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Nature
Volume 604 Issue 7905, 14 April 2022
https://www.nature.com/nature/volumes/604/issues/7905

 

Analysis | 06 April 2022 | Open Access
A joint NCBI and EMBL-EBI transcript set for clinical genomics and research
Matched Annotation from NCBI and EMBL-EBI (MANE) delivers joint transcript sets from Ensembl/GENCODE and RefSeq for standardizing variant reporting in clinical genomics and research.
Joannella Morales, Shashikant Pujar, Terence D. Murphy

Expanded COVID-19 phenotype definitions reveal distinct patterns of genetic association and protective effects

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Nature Genetics
Volume 54 Issue 4, April 2022
https://www.nature.com/ng/volumes/54/issues/4

 

Article | 11 April 2022
Expanded COVID-19 phenotype definitions reveal distinct patterns of genetic association and protective effects
GWASs based on self-reported phenotypes in 736,723 individuals show distinct associations between risk loci and eight COVID-19 outcomes, suggesting differences in genetic susceptibility to infection upon exposure and severe and symptomatic disease.
Genevieve H. L. Roberts, Raghavendran Partha, Kristin A. Rand

Global landscape of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance and data sharing

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Nature Genetics
Volume 54 Issue 4, April 2022
https://www.nature.com/ng/volumes/54/issues/4

 

Analysis | 28 March 2022 | Open Access
Global landscape of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance and data sharing
Analyses on the global diversity of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance across 118 countries and the extent of public availability of genomic data provide evidence to better inform SARS-CoV-2 surveillance policy.
Zhiyuan Chen, Andrew S. Azman, Hongjie Yu

Biosecurity in an age of open science

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PLoS Biology
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/
(Accessed 23 Apr 2022)

 

Biosecurity in an age of open science
James Andrew Smith, Jonas B. Sandbrink
Essay | published 14 Apr 2022 PLOS Biology
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001600
Abstract
The risk of accidental or deliberate misuse of biological research is increasing as biotechnology advances. As open science becomes widespread, we must consider its impact on those risks and develop solutions that ensure security while facilitating scientific progress. Here, we examine the interaction between open science practices and biosecurity and biosafety to identify risks and opportunities for risk mitigation. Increasing the availability of computational tools, datasets, and protocols could increase risks from research with misuse potential. For instance, in the context of viral engineering, open code, data, and materials may increase the risk of release of enhanced pathogens. For this dangerous subset of research, both open science and biosecurity goals may be achieved by using access-controlled repositories or application programming interfaces. While preprints accelerate dissemination of findings, their increased use could challenge strategies for risk mitigation at the publication stage. This highlights the importance of oversight earlier in the research lifecycle. Preregistration of research, a practice promoted by the open science community, provides an opportunity for achieving biosecurity risk assessment at the conception of research. Open science and biosecurity experts have an important role to play in enabling responsible research with maximal societal benefit.

A scholarly network of AI research with an information science focus: Global North and Global South perspectives

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PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 23 Apr 2022]

 

Research Article
A scholarly network of AI research with an information science focus: Global North and Global South perspectives
Kai-Yu Tang, Chun-Hua Hsiao, Gwo-Jen Hwang
Research Article | published 15 Apr 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266565

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine Among High-Risk Occupations in a Port City of China and Multifaceted Strategies for Increasing Vaccination Coverage: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
https://www.dovepress.com/risk-management-and-healthcare-policy-archive56
[Accessed 23 Apr 2022]

 

Original Research
Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine Among High-Risk Occupations in a Port City of China and Multifaceted Strategies for Increasing Vaccination Coverage: A Cross-Sectional Study
Sun Y, Li B, Li N, Li B, Chen P, Hao F, Sun C
Risk Management and Healthcare Policy 2022, 15:643-655
Published Date: 14 April 2022

Long-term effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccines among adult women: A real-world scenario

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Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 13 Pages 1913-2122 (18 March 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/13

 

Research article Open access
Long-term effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccines among adult women: A real-world scenario
Ga Young Lee, Perapong Inthasorn, Piyawat Laowahutanont, Saranath Lawpoolsri, … Punnee Pitisuttithum
Pages 1968-1976

Promoting immunization equity in Latin America and the Caribbean: Case studies, lessons learned, and their implication for COVID-19 vaccine equity

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Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 13 Pages 1913-2122 (18 March 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/13

 

Research article Full text access
Promoting immunization equity in Latin America and the Caribbean: Case studies, lessons learned, and their implication for COVID-19 vaccine equity
Isabella L. Chan, Robin Mowson, Juan Pedro Alonso, Javier Roberti, … Martha Velandia-González

Impact of the Sinopharm’s BBIBP-CorV vaccine in preventing hospital admissions and death in infected vaccinees: Results from a retrospective study in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

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Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 13 Pages 1913-2122 (18 March 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/13

 

Research article Open access
Impact of the Sinopharm’s BBIBP-CorV vaccine in preventing hospital admissions and death in infected vaccinees: Results from a retrospective study in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Farida Ismail AlHosani, Anderson Eduardo Stanciole, Bashir Aden, Andrey Timoshkin, … Farah Mustafa

“On the last day of the last month, I will go”: A qualitative exploration of COVID-19 vaccine confidence among Ivoirian adults

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Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 13 Pages 1913-2122 (18 March 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/13

 

Research article Open access
“On the last day of the last month, I will go”: A qualitative exploration of COVID-19 vaccine confidence among Ivoirian adults
Natalie J. Tibbels, Abdul Dosso, Corinne Fordham, William Benie, … Danielle A. Naugle
Pages 2028-2035

Public perceptions and the willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19: Lessons from Israel

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Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 13 Pages 1913-2122 (18 March 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/13

 

Research article Full text access
Public perceptions and the willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19: Lessons from Israel
Oren Heller, Yung Chun, Yaniv Shlomo, Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan, … Michal Grinstein-Weiss

Conspiracy theories and misinformation about COVID-19 in Nigeria: Implications for vaccine demand generation communications

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Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 13 Pages 1913-2122 (18 March 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/13

 

Research article Open access
Conspiracy theories and misinformation about COVID-19 in Nigeria: Implications for vaccine demand generation communications
Chizoba Wonodi, Chisom Obi-Jeff, Funmilayo Adewumi, Somto Chloe Keluo-Udeke, … Ruth Faden

Pre-Print Servers

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Pre-Print Servers

 

Gates Open Research
https://gatesopenresearch.org/browse/articles

Open Letter metrics AWAITING PEER REVIEW
Women’s groups and COVID-19: An evidence review on savings groups in Africa [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]
Olayinka Adegbite, Leigh Anderson, Sybil Chidiac, Osasuyi Dirisu, Jenna Grzeslo, Julia Hakspiel, Chinmaya Holla, Emily Janoch, Krishna Jafa, Shubha Jayaram, Grace Majara, Tabitha Mulyampiti, Eve Namisango, Eva Noble, Bukola Onyishi, David Panetta, Garima Siwach, Munshi Sulaiman, Rebecca Walcott, Sapna Desai, Thomas de Hoop
Peer Reviewers Invited
Funder
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
PUBLISHED 12 Apr 2022

 

medRxiv
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/about-medrxiv
medRxiv is a free online archive and distribution server for complete but unpublished manuscripts (preprints) in the medical, clinical, and related health sciences. Preprints are preliminary reports of work that have not been certified by peer review. They should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information. medRxiv is for the distribution of preprints – complete but unpublished manuscripts – that describe human health research conducted, analyzed, and interpreted according to scientific principles…

COVID-19 vaccine coverage among immigrants and refugees in Alberta: a population-based cross-sectional study
Shannon E MacDonald, Yuba Raj Paudel, Crystal Du
medRxiv 2022.04.11.22273644; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.11.22273644

Can We Really Trust the Findings of the COVID-19 Research? Quality Assessment of Randomized Controlled Trials Published on COVID-19
Athira S Joshy, Christy Thomas, Saphal Surendran, Krishna Undela
medRxiv 2022.04.15.22273881; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.15.22273881

Mondo: Unifying diseases for the world, by the world
Nicole A Vasilevsky, Nicolas A Matentzoglu, Sabrina Toro, Joe E Flack, Harshad Hegde, Deepak R Unni, Gioconda Alyea, Joanna S Amberger, Larry Babb, James P Balhoff, Taylor I Bingaman, Gully A Burns, Tiffany J Callahan, Leigh C Carmody, Lauren E Chan, George S Chang, Michel Dumontier, Laura E Failla, May J Flowers, H A Garrett Jr., Dylan Gration, Tudor Groza, Marc Hanauer, Nomi L Harris, Ingo Helbig, Jason A Hilton, Daniel S Himmelstein, Charles T Hoyt, Megan S Kane, Sebastian Kohler, David Lagorce, Martin Larralde, Antonia Lock, Irene Lopez Santiago, Donna R Maglott, Adriana J Malheiro, Birgit HM Meldal, Julie A McMurry, Moni Munoz-Torres, Tristan H Nelson, David Ochoa, Tudor I Oprea, David Osumi-Sutherland, Helen Parkinson, Zoe M Pendlington, Ana Rath, Heidi L Rehm, Lyubov Remennik, Erin R Riggs, Paola Roncaglia, Justyne E Ross, Marion F Shadbolt, Kent A Shefchek, Morgan N Similuk, Nicholas Sioutos, Rachel Sparks, Ray Stefancsik, Ralf Stephan, Doron Stupp, Jagadish Chandrabose Sundaramurthi, Imke Tammen, Courtney L Thaxton, Eloise Valasek, Alex H Wagner, Danielle Welter, Patricia L Whetzel, Lori L Whiteman, Valerie Wood, Colleen H Xu, Andreas Zankl, Xingmin A Zhang, Christopher G Chute, Peter N Robinson, Christopher J Mungall, Ada Hamosh, Melissa A Haendel
medRxiv 2022.04.13.22273750; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.13.22273750
There are thousands of distinct disease entities and concepts, each of which are known by different and sometimes contradictory names. The lack of a unified system for managing these entities poses a major challenge for both machines and humans that need to harmonize information to better predict causes and treatments for disease. The Mondo Disease Ontology is an open, community-driven ontology that integrates key medical and biomedical terminologies, supporting disease data integration to improve diagnosis, treatment, and translational research. Mondo records the sources of all data and is continually updated, making it suitable for research and clinical applications that require up-to-date disease knowledge.

Triangulating evidence in health sciences with Annotated Semantic Queries
Yi Liu, Tom R Gaunt
medRxiv 2022.04.12.22273803; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.12.22273803

Profile of Brazilian inpatients with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infection and risk factors for unfavorable outcome
Matheus Alexandre Santos de Jesus, Natália Satchiko Hojo-Souza, Thiago Rocha de Moraes, Daniel Ludovico Guidoni, Fernanda Sumika Hojo Souza
medRxiv 2022.04.12.22273589; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.12.22273589

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalization and death in Canada: A multiprovincial test-negative design study
Sharifa Nasreen, Yossi Febriani, Héctor Alexander Velásquez García, Geng Zhang, Mina Tadrous, Sarah A. Buchan, Christiaan H. Righolt, Salaheddin M. Mahmud, Naveed Zafar Janjua, Mel Krajden, Gaston De Serres, Jeffrey C. Kwong
medRxiv 2022.04.13.22273825; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.13.22273825

Health Economic Burden of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia
Khalidah A. Alenzi, Hamdan S. Al-malky, Ali F. Altebainawi, Hamidah Q. Abushomi, Fahad O. Alatawi, Moosa H. Atwadi, Moosa A. Khobrani, Dlal A. Almazrou, Nariman Alrubeh, Zainab A. Alsoliabi, Abdulaziz M. Kardam, Shakr A. Alghamdi, Abdulrahman Alasiri, Thamir M. Alshammari
medRxiv 2022.04.08.22273439; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.08.22273439

Effectiveness of the BNT162b vaccine fourth dose in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in Israel, a multi-center cohort study
Matan J Cohen, Yonatan Oster, Allon E Moses, Avishay Spitzer, Shmuel Benenson, the Israeli-hospitals 4th vaccine Working Group
medRxiv 2022.04.11.22273327; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.11.22273327

The relation between COVID-19 vaccinations and public governance to improve preparedness of next pandemic impacts and crisis management: a global study
Mario Coccia, Igor Benati
medRxiv 2022.04.10.22273663; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.10.22273663
Abstract
The goal of this study is to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 vaccinations and public governance performing a global analysis of more than 110 countries worldwide. Methodology applies the Independent Samples T-Test that compares the means of two independent groups (countries with high/low level of vaccinations) to determine whether there is statistical evidence that the associated population means of indicators of public governance are significantly different. Findings suggest that high levels of governance can support a better function of health systems in the rollout of vaccinations to cope with COVID-19 pandemic crisis. This study may assist long-run policy of governments to improve good governance and health systems of countries in order to reinforce the preparedness to face next pandemic threats and in general future crisis management in society.

Economic vulnerability and poor service delivery made it more difficult for shack-dwellers to comply with COVID-19 restrictions: The impracticability and inequitable burden of universal/unstratified public health policies
GTH Ellison, RB Mattes, H Rhoma, T De Wet
medRxiv 2022.04.07.22273499; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.07.22273499

COVID-19 vaccine for people who live and work in prisons worldwide: A scoping review
Nasrul Ismail, Lara Tavoschi, Babak Moazen, Alicia Roselló, Emma Plugge
medRxiv 2022.04.07.22273414; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.07.22273414

Novel Privacy Considerations for Large Scale Proteomics
Andrew C. Hill, Elizabeth M. Litkowski, Ani Manichaikul, Leslie Lange, Katherine A. Pratte, Katerina J. Kechris, Matthew DeCamp, Marilyn Coors, Victor E. Ortega, Stephen S. Rich, Jerome I. Rotter, Robert E. Gerzsten, Clary B. Clish, Jeffery Curtis, Xiaowei Hu, Debby Ngo, Wanda K O’Neal, Deborah Meyers, Eugene Bleecker, Brian D. Hobbs, Michael H. Cho, Farnoush Banaeikashani, Russell P. Bowler
medRxiv 2022.04.06.22269907; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.06.22269907

COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates and Vaccine Uptake
Alexander Karaivanov, Dongwoo Kim, Shih En Lu, Hitoshi Shigeoka
medRxiv 2021.10.21.21265355; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.21.21265355 Revision

Acceptance of and preference for COVID-19 vaccination in healthcare workers: a comparative analysis and discrete choice experiment
Chuanxi Fu, Zheng wei, Fengchang Zhu, Sen Pei, Shunping Li, Liuren Zhang, Xiaohui Sun, Yue Wu, Ping Liu, Mark Jit
medRxiv 2020.04.09.20060103; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.09.20060103 Revision

SARS-CoV-2 reinfections with BA.1 (Omicron) variant among fully vaccinated individuals in the northeast of Brazil
Francisco P. F. Neto, Diego G. Teixeira, Dayse C. S. da Cunha, Ingryd C. Morais, Celisa P. M. Tavares, Genilson P. Gurgel, Sanderson D. do Nascimento, David C. dos Santos, Alexandre de O. Sales, Selma M.B. Jerônimo
medRxiv 2022.04.08.22272726; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.08.22272726

Wellcome Open Research [to 23 Apr 2022]
https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/browse/articles
[Accessed 23 Apr 2022]

Wellcome Open Research provides all Wellcome researchers with a place to rapidly publish any results they think are worth sharing. All articles benefit from rapid publication, transparent peer review and editorial guidance on making all source data openly available.

Data Note metrics AWAITING PEER REVIEW
An open dataset of Plasmodium vivax genome variation in 1,895 worldwide samples [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]
MalariaGEN, Ishag Adam, Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Sisay Alemu, Chanaki Amaratunga, Roberto Amato, Voahangy Andrianaranjaka, Nicholas M Anstey, Abraham Aseffa, Elizabeth Ashley, Ashenafi Assefa, Sarah Auburn, Bridget E Barber, Alyssa Barry, Dhelio Batista Pereira, Jun Cao, Nguyen Hoang Chau, Kesinee Chotivanich, Cindy Chu, Arjen M. Dondorp, Eleanor Drury, Diego F. Echeverry, Berhanu Erko, Fe Espino, Rick Fairhurst, Abdul Faiz, María Fernanda Villegas, Qi Gao, Lemu Golassa, Sonia Goncalves, Matthew J Grigg, Yaghoob Hamedi, Tran Tinh Hien, Ye Htut, Kimberly J Johnson, Nadira Karunaweera, Wasif Khan, Srivicha Krudsood, Dominic P Kwiatkowski, Marcus Lacerda, Benedikt Ley, Pharath Lim, Yaobao Liu, Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas, Chanthap Lon, Tatiana Lopera-Mesa, Jutta Marfurt, Pascal Michon, Olivo Miotto, Rezika Mohammed, Ivo Mueller, Chayadol Namaik-larp, Paul N Newton, Thuy-Nhien Nguyen, Francois Nosten, Rintis Noviyanti, Zuleima Pava, Richard D Pearson, Beyene Petros, Aung P Phyo, Ric N Price, Sasithon Pukrittayakamee, Awab Ghulam Rahim, Milijaona Randrianarivelojosia, Julian C Rayner, Angela Rumaseb, Sasha V Siegel, Victoria J Simpson, Kamala Thriemer, Alberto Tobon-Castano, Hidayat Trimarsanto, Marcelo Urbano Ferreira, Ivan D Vélez, Sonam Wangchuk, Thomas E Wellems, Nicholas J White, Timothy William, Maria F Yasnot, Daniel Yilma
Peer Reviewers Invited
Funders
Wellcome Trust
Medical Research Council UK and the Department for International Development (DFID)
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
PUBLISHED 14 Apr 2022

Research Article metrics
Revised
Stage 2 Registered Report: How responsibility attributions to self and others relate to outcome ownership in group decisions [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
Matt Jaquiery, Marwa El Zein
Peer Reviewers John A. Dewey; Nura Sidarus
Funders
Wellcome Trust
Medical Research Council
University of Oxford
LATEST VERSION PUBLISHED 11 Apr 2022

Research Article metrics
Revised
A survey to gather perspectives of DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance-funded researchers on public engagement with science [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
Sarah Iqbal, Banya Kar
Peer Reviewers Marina Joubert; Mary Chambers and Han Dong Thai Tran
Funder
DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance
LATEST VERSION PUBLISHED 08 Apr 2022

Think Tanks

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Think Tanks
 
 
Brookings
http://www.brookings.edu/
Accessed 23 Apr 2022
[No new digest content identified]
 
 
Center for Global Development [to 23 Apr 2022]
https://www.cgdev.org/
Research [Selected]
POLICY PAPERS
Beyond India’s Lockdown: PMGKY Benefits During the COVID-19 Crisis and the State of Digital Payments
Alan Gelb et al.
April 11, 2022
India imposed a lock-down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and began a gradual re-opening in June. A telephonic survey in April examined the early effectiveness of information and the massive PMGKY social protection program (Policy Paper 217). This paper analyzes a second-round sur…
 
 
Chatham House [to 23 Apr 2022]
https://www.chathamhouse.org/
Accessed 23 Apr 2022
[No new digest content identified]

 
 
CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 23 Apr 2022
Upcoming Event
Equity in Immunization Services to Ensure “A Long Life for All”
April 28, 2022

Upcoming Event
Innovation and IP’s Role in Combatting the Covid-19 Pandemic
April 27, 2022

Upcoming Event
AMR as a Global Security Threat: Destabilizing Food Systems and Healthy Communities
April 25, 2022

Commentary
Removing Patent Rights to Lower Drug Costs Is a Dangerous Precedent
April 14, 2022 | By Walter G. Copan

 
 
Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org/search/?post_type=press-release
Accessed 23 Apr 2022
Accessed 23 Apr 2022
[No new digest content identified]
 
 
ODI [Overseas Development Institute] [to 23 Apr 2022]
https://odi.org/en/publications/
Publications
Accessed 23 Apr 2022
[No new digest content identified]
 
 
Rand [to 23 Apr 2022]
https://www.rand.org/pubs.html
Reports, Selected Journal Articles
Report
How Extremism Operates Online: A Primer
In this Perspective, the second in a RAND Corporation series on online extremist material, the authors explore how the internet affects extremist activities and how exposure to or consumption of such content influences the behavior of internet users.
Apr 12, 2022
Alexandra T. Evans, Heather J. Williams
 
 
Urban Institute [to 23 Apr 2022]
https://www.urban.org/publications
Research Publications
Brief
Best Practices in Education to Inform an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
April 12, 2022

Brief
Best Practices in Safety Net Programs to Inform an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
April 12, 2022

Brief
Best Practices in Housing, Transportation, and Infrastructure to Inform an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
April 12, 2022

Brief
Best Practices in Small Business Recovery to Inform an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
April 12, 2022

Brief
Best Practices in Employment to Inform an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
April 12, 2022

Brief
Best Practices in Local Revenue Recovery to Inform an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
April 12, 2022

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review :: 23 April 2022 :: Issue 6654

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Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review is a weekly digest  summarizing news, events, announcements, peer-reviewed articles and research in the global vaccine ethics and policy space. Content is aggregated from key governmental, NGO, international organization and industry sources, key peer-reviewed journals, and other media channels. This summary proceeds from the broad base of themes and issues monitored by the Center for Vaccine Ethics & Policy in its work: it is not intended to be exhaustive in its coverage. You are viewing the blog version of our weekly digest, typically comprised of between 30 and 40 posts below all dated with the current issue date

.– Request an Email Summary: Vaccines and Global Health : The Week in Review is published as a single email summary, scheduled for release each Saturday evening before midnight (EDT in the U.S.). If you would like to receive the email version, please send your request to david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org.

– pdf version:  A pdf of the current issue is available here:

vaccines-and-global-health_the-week-in-review_23-april-2022_finalDownload

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

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

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

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

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review :: 16 April 2022

Posted on by

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review is a weekly digest  summarizing news, events, announcements, peer-reviewed articles and research in the global vaccine ethics and policy space. Content is aggregated from key governmental, NGO, international organization and industry sources, key peer-reviewed journals, and other media channels. This summary proceeds from the broad base of themes and issues monitored by the Center for Vaccine Ethics & Policy in its work: it is not intended to be exhaustive in its coverage. You are viewing the blog version of our weekly digest, typically comprised of between 30 and 40 posts below all dated with the current issue date

.– Request an Email Summary: Vaccines and Global Health : The Week in Review is published as a single email summary, scheduled for release each Saturday evening before midnight (EDT in the U.S.). If you would like to receive the email version, please send your request to david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org.

– pdf version:  A pdf of the current issue is available here:

vaccines-and-global-health_the-week-in-review_16-april-2022Download

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

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

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

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

SAGE April 2022 meeting highlights – WHO

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SAGE April 2022 meeting highlights – WHO
11 April 2022
SAGE Meeting of 4-7 April 2022
PDF: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/immunization/sage/sage-pages/sage_april2022meetinghighlights_11apr2022_final.pdf?sfvrsn=c2bd9f68_1
(Full report will be published in the Weekly Epidemiological Record on 10.06.2022, and only
the wording of the full report should be considered as final)

 

Session 1 – Global & Regional Reports
Report from the WHO Department of Immunization, Vaccines & Biologicals
• The speed of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been unprecedented with nearly every country
introducing the vaccine in under 12 months.
• Available data of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron variant generally show
waning immunity against infection but high and more sustained effectiveness against severe
disease and death, especially after booster doses. Data remain very limited for some of the WHO
EUL vaccines.
• To date, 21 countries remain below 10% population coverage, leaving at high risk the most
vulnerable populations. Among countries eligible for support through the COVAX Advance
Market Commitment (AMC) strategy at least 43 have set population targets at 70% or higher
and only a small number have targets below 40% of their population.
• However, available data indicate that coverage among the high priority groups is insufficient to
provide the needed protection against severe disease and death. Health worker coverage is 65%
overall, with coverage below 50% in some regions (Non-AMC member states), and coverage of
older adults is 69% going as low as 24% in some regions.
• Disruptions to routine immunization programmes persist, including the ongoing delay of at least
one campaign in 37 countries as of 10 January 2022, putting millions of children at risk of disease
outbreaks. Large and disruptive outbreaks of measles have occurred in at least 19 countries
during the past 12 months.
• COVID-19 vaccination response and investments offer important opportunities that are being
leveraged to restore and strengthen immunization programmes and enhance their resilience.

 

WHO Regional Updates
• National immunization programmes in all six WHO regions were adversely impacted by the
COVID-19 pandemic through declining immunization coverage and surveillance quality, though
the magnitude of the impact varied between and within regions.
• The European region is also facing a challenge due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the
resulting large population displacement. The WHO Regional Office and partner agencies are
taking measures to mitigate the risks of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks such as measles,
polio, and COVID-19, while also ensuring continued delivery of critical medical supplies and
services.
• All countries are implementing measures to restore vaccination coverage, with several having
identified innovative strategies for catch up vaccination.
• The rollout of COVID-19 vaccination is progressing in all regions, though vaccine uptake varies
between and within regions and disproportionately lower vaccination coverage has been
observed in low- and low-middle income countries. Vaccine hesitancy and low risk perception
are further affecting the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in several countries.

 

Gavi report
• Reaching the zero-dose children through the building of resilient health systems remains a top
priority of the Alliance in the Gavi strategy 2021-2025 (Gavi 5.0) and is estimated to account for
over half the incremental impact of Gavi investments during the strategy period.
• A funding window for the rollout of malaria vaccines will be opened in the second half of 2022 to
enable initial vaccine introductions in 2023.
• Gavi expressed concern over the 13% decline of global HPV vaccine coverage in 2020 due to
COVID-19 disruptions, attributing this issue primarily to school closures and limited supply. It
was acknowledged that a recommendation for a single dose regimen has the potential to
accelerate introductions and reduce operational costs and complexity.
• The COVAX facility has sufficient supply available for all AMC countries to achieve the WHO 70%
coverage target by June 2022. The COVAX Vaccine Delivery Partnership is supporting countries
to overcome barriers and to achieve national coverage targets.

 

Session 2 – Immunization Agenda 2030 and catch-up vaccination
• SAGE was presented with evidence of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on national
immunization programmes mainly due to service delivery disruptions.
• The urgent need to close resulting immunity gaps was recognized, as was the importance of
supporting the recovery and resilience of immunization programmes and mitigating the risk of
vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
• SAGE recommended that countries use the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 vaccination
rollout as a transformative opportunity to establish resilient immunization programmes and
strengthen primary health care. Among the specific areas identified were health worker
vaccination, immunization logistics and registries, surveillance, data and communications.
• The document “Guiding Principles for recovering, building resiliency, and strengthening of
immunization in 2022 and beyond” was endorsed and recommended for dissemination to
regional and national immunization technical advisory groups so that it may be adapted and
used for their local context.

[The full summaries for the sessions below are available at the PDF link above]
Session 3 – Hepatitis A vaccination

 

Session 4 – COVID-19 vaccines

Session 5 – Typhoid conjugate vaccination

 

Session 6 – Human Papillomavirus vaccination

Session 7 – Poliovirus vaccines

 

::::::

One-dose Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine offers solid protection against cervical cancer
11 April 2022
News release
The 4-7 April convening of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) evaluated the evidence that has been emerging over past years that single-dose schedules provide comparable efficacy to the two or three-dose regimens.

SAGE’s review concluded that a single-dose Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine delivers solid protection against HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, that is comparable to 2-dose schedules.  This could be a game-changer for the prevention of the disease; seeing more doses of the life-saving jab reach more girls…

“The HPV vaccine is highly effective for the prevention of HPV serotypes 16 & 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancer,” said Dr Alejandro Cravioto, SAGE Chair. “SAGE urges all countries to introduce HPV vaccines and prioritize multi-age cohort catch up of missed and older cohorts of girls. These recommendations will enable more girls and women to be vaccinated and thus preventing them from having cervical cancer and all its consequences over the course of their lifetimes.”

 

SAGE recommends updating dose schedules for HPV as follows:
one or two-dose schedule for the primary target of girls aged 9-14
one or two-dose schedule for young women aged 15-20
Two doses with a 6-month interval for women older than 21.

Immunocompromised individuals, including those with HIV, should receive three doses if feasible, and if not at least two doses. There is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of a single dose in this group.

WHO’s recommendations will be updated following further consultation across stakeholders…

Globally, the uptake of the life-saving vaccine has been slow, and coverage in countries much lower than the 90% target. Consequently, in 2020 global coverage with 2 doses was only 13%.  Several factors have influenced the slow uptake and low coverage of HPV vaccines including supply challenges, as well as the programmatic challenges and costs related to delivering a two regimen to older girls who are not typically part of childhood vaccination programs. Added to this has been the relatively high cost of HPV vaccines, particularly for middle-income countries…

The option for a single dose of the vaccine is less costly, less resource intensive and easier to administer. It facilitates implementing catch-up campaigns for multiple age groups, reduces the challenges link ed to tracing girls for their second dose and allows for financial and human resources to be redirected to other health priorities.”

COVID – IHR (2005 Emergency Committee

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COVID – IHR (2005 Emergency Committee

 

Statement on the eleventh meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
13 April 2022
Statement [Excerpts]
The eleventh meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic took place on Monday 11 April 2022…

The Secretariat presented on the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic and a vision for how to optimize the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic  for 2022. The presentation focused on:
the global epidemiological context and factors that continue to drive transmission;
updates on international traffic as well as COVID-19 proof of vaccination and test result certificates;
the status of COVID-19 vaccination; and
the strategic objectives for countries to incorporate in their COVID-19 response.

 

The Committee discussed key issues including SARS-CoV-2 variants; use and equitable access to antivirals; vaccine protection and global shifts in the supply and demand for COVID-19 vaccines; hybrid immunity; potential future scenarios for SARS-CoV-2 transmission and challenges posed by concurrent health emergencies; and how Member States are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee also noted with concern the growing fatigue among communities worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges posed by the lack of trust in scientific guidance and governments….

The Committee unanimously agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic still constitutes an extraordinary event that continues to adversely affect the health of populations around the world, poses an ongoing risk of international spread and interference with international traffic, and requires a coordinated international response. The Committee stressed the importance for States Parties to prepare for future scenarios with the assistance of WHO and to continue robust use of the essential tools (e.g. vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics). The Committee concurred that the COVID-19 pandemic remains a PHEIC and offered its advice to the Director-General.

The Director-General determined that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to constitute a PHEIC. He accepted the advice of the Committee and issued the Committee’s advice to States Parties as Temporary Recommendations under the IHR.

The Emergency Committee will be reconvened within three months or earlier, at the discretion of the Director-General. The Director-General thanked the Committee for its work.

Equitable access to COVID-19 vaccination is a humanitarian imperative – ICRC

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Equitable access to COVID-19 vaccination is a humanitarian imperative – ICRC
Statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the United Nations Security Council, New York 11 April 2022. Delivered by Dr. Esperanza Martinez, Senior Advisor to the Office of the Director-General
12-04-2022 | Statement

Mr. President, Members of the Council, Colleagues,
Thank you for the opportunity to address you today and to the UK for spotlighting the importance of vaccination in conflict settings through Resolution 2565 as well as continuing the Council’s focus on what needs to be done.

COVID-19 has killed more than 6 million people globally – with the number probably much higher as these are only the officially reported figures. The successes in the development and production of vaccines mean that many countries are starting to regain a sense of normalcy. However, to end the pandemic, vaccination needs to occur everywhere – and this is not the case in conflict-affected areas.

In conflict-settings, health systems torn apart by conflict are less able to contain the spread of diseases across frontlines and international borders. Vaccination and other health activities in such contexts are incredibly difficult to carry out. Furthermore, many people in conflict settings are overlooked in public health responses, including people displaced, detained, or living in areas controlled by non-state armed groups.

Moreover, in areas affected by armed conflict, COVID-19 is not the most pressing issue people face as the most basic needs – such as food, water, and shelter – are often not covered. Even if the health system continues to function, its focus turns from general health care, including vaccination, to treating war-wounded patients and keeping the core of the system functioning. This can happen in any conflict setting.

Mr. President,
The good news is that, as the supply of vaccine doses grows, the potential to get jabs in arms grows too. To achieve this in conflict settings, the International Committee of the Red Cross presents three asks to this Council, UN Member States, and conflict-affected countries:

 

First, ensure that International Humanitarian Law is respected
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals and other medical facilities as well as medical personnel – including those administering vaccines – are specifically protected from attacks. And where states cannot meet the basic needs of populations, they must allow impartial humanitarian organizations to conduct health activities – including vaccination.

These obligations are reaffirmed in Resolution 2565. We call on all parties to conflict to implement them in good faith as attacks on healthcare have a profound effect on people’s lives and future.

 

Second, integrate COVID-19 vaccinations into a broader health strategy and in tandem strengthen the health system
We have seen vaccines expire on airport tarmacs in Afghanistan, Nigeria, South Sudan, and several other places. Some of these vaccines were wasted because they arrived with too short expiry dates. Others, because the receiving countries’ health systems were not ready to distribute them. Countries need a degree of capacity to deliver vaccines.

The COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportune moment to strengthen the health systems in conflict-affected countries. We need to consider how COVID-19 vaccinations can be routinized where possible and integrated with other health services that are prioritized during times of conflict.

This doesn’t mean we have to do everything, but we must invest in country preparedness and fortify the building blocks of the health system that support immunizations – and which in turn support the response to other pre-existing health needs. Critically, this investment can help address renewed outbreaks of other highly contagious and lethal diseases – which are occurring today, for example with measles in Afghanistan and polio in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

One strategy to address this is to invest in developing health workers’ capacity and skillsets – as well as improving key components of service delivery, such as local supply chains and infrastructure. This is both critical and doable in contexts affected by armed conflict. The ICRC, for example, supported more than 600 health facilities in Iraq in 2021 which allowed the administration of over 14 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

 

Third, involve the community in vaccination activities and adequately resource community-engagement
Done well, effective community engagement is a force multiplier. It enhances the safety of frontline health workers and expands the reach of vaccination and other health efforts. Community involvement allows the community to identify pressing needs, take ownership, and spread the word about health-related programs.

For example, the ICRC established a network of Community Health Committees attached to 28 Primary Health Care Centres in Somalia and 16 in South Sudan. Many representatives are women from the community who can play an important role in the control and prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic and other diseases.

However, done poorly, ineffective or lack of community engagement can undermine public trust in vaccinations and government-run programs more broadly, with ramifications beyond this pandemic. We have witnessed the effects of distrust in West Africa with Ebola and now in many countries with COVID-19. Even if communities can be reached, people will not accept being vaccinated if they do not trust those administering the vaccine, and they do not see other pressing priorities being addressed.

For the ICRC and the wider Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, community engagement ensures that communities’ insights are an integral part of the design and delivery of programs, and that people have accurate information about vaccines and public health interventions, so they can make informed choices for themselves. Beyond vaccination, the ICRC strives to build trust with communities and parties to conflict concerning all its humanitarian activities.

The ICRC – as part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – will continue to play its part.
The ICRC helped to administer more than 21 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines last year in areas impacted by armed conflict.

And we continue our offer of services to support states to implement their vaccination plans, to support National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as humanitarian auxiliaries, and to act as a neutral intermediary to facilitate access to vaccines and vaccination activities in hard-to-reach areas.

Equitable access to COVID-19 vaccination is a humanitarian imperative. Our collective recovery depends on it, because the longer COVID circulates anywhere, the longer it remains a threat everywhere.

UNICEF – COVID Vaccines

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UNICEF – COVID Vaccines

“We must take the rapid action needed to accelerate vaccination.”
COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership Global Lead Coordinator Ted Chaiban’s remarks at the Security Council briefing on equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in conflict and humanitarian crises
Remarks 04/12/2022
As prepared.
…“Just over 1 million cases of COVID-19 were reported to WHO in the last 24 hours – the pandemic is still far from over. We have safe and available vaccines that can protect against death and severe illness caused by COVID-19 and help avoid the next variant and there is an urgency, with over six million lives having been lost to date, to raise COVID-19 vaccination in countries that did not have this opportunity in 2021. The next six months are critical.

 

“More than 11.1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered globally:
:: 124 of the 194 WHO member states have vaccinated more than 40% of their population
:: 51 countries have reached more than 70% of their population; only 11% in low-income countries.
:: 83% of the population in WHO’s Africa region and 51% in its Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes Afghanistan, remain unvaccinated.

“In 2022, we must take the rapid action needed to accelerate vaccination. The window of opportunity is gradually closing. We risk losing the momentum and failing on vaccine equity.

“The COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership is focused, amongst others, on 34 countries which were at 10% or less full vaccine coverage and face the biggest challenges to increasing vaccination coverage. The goal is to vaccinate all adults and adolescents – starting with the elderly, healthcare and other frontline workers and those with underlying health conditions who are at the highest risk from COVID-19.

“19 of the 34 countries identified for concerted support by the Delivery Partnership are included in the Global Humanitarian Overview for 2022.

“We know there are many competing health, humanitarian and economic priorities in these countries. We must therefore use every opportunity to bundle or integrate COVID-19 vaccination with other health and humanitarian interventions and leverage these investments for the longer term strengthening of health systems.

“In many countries, COVID-19 vaccination is being integrated with measles campaigns and,in complement, with maternal health and routine immunization. COVID-19 vaccination is being used to strengthen cold chain, health management information systems and to train and provide incentives to health workers, including the surge required.

“With strong political leadership, country coordination and planning, and implementation of mass vaccination campaigns, countries can quickly pick up their vaccination rates and coverage. Since January 2022, the number of countries with a full population vaccination coverage rate at or below 10% has dropped from 34 countries to 18 countries currently…

…“I am speaking to you now from the Democratic Republic of the Congo where this week we will be meeting the government and key partners to better address the urgent bottlenecks to expanding vaccination coverage across this country of nearly 100 million people. We know Risk Communications and Community Engagement is a key component to success so we will be working with in-country partners to support clear communications to increase demand and work to improve convenient access to vaccination.

“In humanitarian settings, from Afghanistan to Yemen, addressing low vaccination rates requires integrating with humanitarian priorities, working with humanitarian partners and a sustained, country-by-country effort to identify and overcome the primary obstacles to increasing vaccination rates among the populations affected by natural disasters, conflict and socio-political instability.

“We recognize the significance of the Humanitarian Buffer, a mechanism established within the COVAX facility to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines for high-risk and vulnerable populations living in humanitarian settings. As of today, two applicants have successfully received vaccine doses via the Humanitarian Buffer — the Ministries of Health in Iran and Uganda — but the partners are committed to make it a more user friendly, easily accessible mechanism to ensure that humanitarian populations not included in national vaccination plans, microplanning, or the implementation process can equally benefit from vaccination.

“The COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership and partners — UNICEF, WHO, GAVI, the World Bank, the Africa CDC and others — are providing concerted support to all these countries, mobilizing political engagement, providing flexible funding ($21 million in last two months), strategic advice and technical assistance. We are lining up partners behind one country team, one plan and one budget to put countries at the center and reduce their transaction costs.

 

“Mr President, Excellencies, to address the significant vaccine equity gap that continues to pose a threat for global health security, please consider the following requests:

“First, continue your strong support and actions to implement Resolutions 2532 and 2565 with a particular focus on ensuring countries continue to prioritise COVID-19 vaccination.

“Second, with appreciation for the US$4.8 billion in pledges made at the COVAX AMC summit co-hosted with Germany, turn these commitments into support for lower-income countries’ COVID-19 vaccination needs, with a priority on delivery systems. Flexible, agile funding is vital and these investments can last beyond the pandemic.

 

“Third, advocate for and help guarantee full, safe and unhindered access, in line with International Humanitarian Law — including protecting humanitarian corridors — as a means to getting vital supplies of vaccines and other essential equipment for the delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations to populations in need and ensure the safety of health and humanitarian personnel administering vaccines in humanitarian settings.

“Fourth, advocate across government, and work with UN country teams and partners to ensure strong national vaccination planning that addresses the needs of all populations living within the national territory, regardless of nationality, migration or refugee status.

“Fifth, engage in the important conversations on the global health emergency architecture and advocate for strong governance and an investment in the basics of primary health care as a key element of future pandemic preparedness.”

WHO, WIPO, WTO launch trilateral COVID-19 technical assistance platform

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WHO, WIPO, WTO launch trilateral COVID-19 technical assistance platform
11 April 2022
The World Health Organization (WHO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the WTO launched on 11 April 2022 their new Trilateral COVID-19 Technical Assistance Platform. This new tool aims to help members and WTO accession candidates address their capacity building needs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In welcoming the initiative, WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala said the Platform “takes our trilateral collaboration to the next level: a one-stop shop for members to seek and receive support from the three organizations on all available tools including intellectual property flexibilities to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines, medicines, and related technologies.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The WHO-WIPO-WTO partnership aims to place public health innovation and intellectual property at the service of access to health technologies for everyone. Countries should consider using this platform and all other available mechanisms to promote public health.”

WIPO Director General Daren Tang noted the three organizations “came together last summer to offer our expertise and resources jointly to help members overcome the complex challenges posed by the pandemic. I am proud that through our partnership, we are providing a Trilateral Technical Assistance Platform that gives members a ‘one-stop shop’ access to the expertise and resources of all three organizations. By working together to support the strengthening of innovation, trade and health, we can help members overcome and recover.”

The new Platform for COVID-19 related technical assistance provides WTO members and accession candidates an overview of technical assistance activities offered by the three organizations.  It supports members and accession candidates seeking to address their needs for COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and related technologies and facilitates requests for the provision of timely and tailored technical assistance with a view to making full use of all available options…

COVID-19 vaccines and treatments output continues apace; as health systems and last mile hurdles remain – IFPMA

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COVID-19 vaccines and treatments output continues apace; as health systems and last mile hurdles remain – IFPMA
To date, over 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been produced and 11 billion have been administered. Presently, vaccine supplies outstrip global demand, with voluntary technology transfer playing a significant role. Urgent steps are needed to provide a high level of protection against COVID-19 among the elderly and vulnerable populations wherever they live.
Several COVID-19 treatments are now standard of care for COVID-19. Biopharmaceutical companies with approved treatments are scaling up manufacturing capacity with wide use of voluntary licensing, but the effective roll out of treatments to all patients is dependent on swift regulatory approval, allocation strategies, health systems capacity, and testing.
The historic scaling up of manufacturing and the numerous technology transfers and voluntary licenses are further proof that intellectual property has been an enabler throughout the pandemic. Recent COVID-19 waves underscore that equitable access to vulnerable populations should be commanding all our collective efforts.

13 April 2022, Geneva – The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and challenge the public health response. Meanwhile, the biopharmaceutical industry continues to bring its R&D expertise and solutions to the pandemic, while scaling up manufacturing of safe and effective treatments and vaccines. There is now broad acknowledgement that supplies of COVID-19 vaccines have outstripped demand, and manufacturing of treatments for people who have contracted COVID-19 or who are unable to be vaccinated is on track thanks, in part, to widescale voluntary licensing…

To date, 13.7 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been delivered[1]. While 11 billion COVID-19 vaccines have been administered thus far, equitable distribution remains a major concern. The spread of the Omicron BA2 variant underscores the importance of targeted immunization and should focus all minds to ensure full course vaccinations are administered with haste to all in need, in particular the elderly, vulnerable populations, and people who are immunosuppressed.

Sufficient vaccines are available to continue inoculation programs, since more than 7.98 billion doses could be produced this year. More than half of the doses forecast to be produced this year will be COVID-19 vaccines produced by companies member of IFPMA, together with partners who are in technology transfer agreements with them. In parallel to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, innovation into broader spectrum vaccines to tackle the pandemic continues apace, with combination vaccines or vaccines that are easier to transport and administer.

The biopharmaceutical industry remains steadfast in its position that steps urgently need to be taken to ensure all healthcare workers, the elderly, and those who are immunosuppressed or vulnerable through comorbidities wherever they live should receive a full course of vaccines. “The trend that we predicted last year that COVID-19 vaccine supplies will outstrip global demand has been proven correct,” said Thomas Cueni, Director General, IFPMA. The COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing scale-up has seen 372 partnerships forged, of which 88% (329) include technology transfer or fill & finish. 51 manufacturing and production agreements were made in developing countries (LICs and LMICs).

In addition, several important commitments have been made by biopharmaceutical companies that are set to change Africa’s vaccine manufacturing landscape in years to come. “To continue to advocate that vaccine equity is caused by scarcity of vaccines due to a lack of technology transfer flies in the face of the facts – both for the numbers of vaccines available but also for the way vaccines are made. The reasons for the woeful inequity are manyfold but cannot be laid at the door of intellectual property,” Cueni explained. “We remain steadfast in our verdict that the proposed World Trade Organization’s TRIPS waiver is a solution in search of a problem. It is a distraction and is misleading in its promise of equity for this pandemic. And it sends the wrong signal to innovators for future pandemics,” he concluded…

There is increasing acceptance that society will have to live with COVID-19. The vaccines and treatments that have been developed since the pandemic are essential public health tools to both alleviate the impact of the virus but also help people with other conditions access the care they need. Continued innovation remains essential. Fortunately, there is a strong pipeline for both COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, building on the 10 vaccines that have so far received WHO EUL approval[2] and the 18 different treatments that have been approved in the UK, USA, and EU.

Further innovation is critical to keep pace with the evolving nature of COVID-19. Today, there are 271 vaccines in preclinical and 147 in clinical phases and there are 1827 treatment candidates in clinical trials. Innovation is not without its risks; for example, so far 9 vaccine candidates that reached the final phase of clinical trials have been discontinued and 6 applications were rejected.
[1] https://www.unicef.org/supply/covid-19-vaccine-market-dashboard
[2] https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/agency/who/

COVAX Guidance, Analysis, Reports

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COVAX Guidance, Analysis, Reports

 

Emergency use of unproven clinical interventions outside clinical trials: ethical considerations – WHO
12 April 2022 :: 60 pages
Overview
This document is intended to provide policy-makers, authorities in charge of the prevention and management of a public health emergency, such as ministries of health, national regulatory authorities and national disaster management agencies, health-care workers, ethics committees and others, with:
an updated version of the ethical framework for use of unproven clinical interventions outside clinical trials during public health emergencies (the MEURI ethical framework), general and operational recommendations for implementing the framework and • answers to questions that stakeholders may raise.

Equitable access to COVID-19 tools – WHO
Aligning the private sector with national response efforts
12 April 2022 :: 28 pages
Overview
COVID-19 has reinforced the need for whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches to the pandemic response. This has tested the foundation of public and private sector relations in healthcare, and either nurtured or exacerbated trust. In many instances, the private sector has demonstrated solidarity and delivered critical essential and COVID-19-related health services and products. However adverse behaviours have also featured. These have exacerbated the State’s duty to ‘protect’ the right to health, improve health security and system resilience for universal health care. The pandemic has further exposed the need for robust governance of health systems. This is good for both the private and public sectors, but most importantly, consumers, including those most likely to be left behind. This rapid review seeks to understand why and where there has been swift and proactive action to build better governance of national COVID-19 response, to cross-countries lessons sharing on how to govern the private sector in health to maximize the COVID-19
response.

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

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::::::

 

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

 

Weekly Epidemiological and Operational updates
Last update: 14 Apr 2022
Confirmed cases :: 500 186 525
Confirmed deaths :: 6 190 349
Vaccine doses administered: 11 294 502 059

 

::::::

Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 – 12 April 2022
Overview
Globally, during the week of 4 through 10 April 2022, the number of new COVID-19 cases has continued to decline for the third consecutive week, with a 24% decrease as compared to the previous week. Also the number of new weekly deaths continue the decreasing trend (-18% as compared to the previous week).
Across the six WHO regions, over 7 million cases and over 22 000 deaths were reported, with all the regions showing decreasing trends both in the number of new weekly cases and new weekly deaths.
As of 10 April 2022, over 496 million confirmed cases and over 6 million deaths have been reported globally.
In this edition we provide:
Special Focus: Update on WHO COVID-19 global rapid risk assessment
Updates on circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including information on Omicron descendent lineages.

COVID Vaccines/Therapeutics – Developer/Manufacturer Announcements

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COVID Vaccines/Therapeutics – Developer/Manufacturer Announcements
[Selected press releases/announcements from organizations from WHO EUL/PQ listing above and other organizations]

 

AstraZeneca
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

Bharat Biotech
Press Releases – No new company announcements identified

BioCubaFarma – Cuba
Últimas Noticias – Website not leading at inquiry

 

Biological E
News – No new digest announcements identified

 

Biontech
Press Releases
Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Data Demonstrating High Immune Response Following a Booster Dose of Their COVID-19 Vaccine in Children 5 Through 11 Years of Age
14 April 2022

BioNTech and Matinas BioPharma Announce Exclusive Research Collaboration to Evaluate Novel Delivery Technology for mRNA-based Vaccines
11 April 2022

 

CanSinoBIO
News – Website not responding at inquiry

 

CIGB
Latest News – No new digest announcements identified

 

Cinagen
Recent News – No new digest announcements identified

Clover Biopharmaceuticals – China
News – No new digest announcements identified

 

Curevac [Bayer Ag – Germany]
News
April 11, 2022
CureVac and GSK Enter into Pandemic Preparedness Contract with German Government
German government reserves domestic manufacturing capacity until 2029 to ensure rapid access to mRNA vaccines developed by CureVac and GSK
Five-year contract enables production of up to 80 million vaccine doses at short notice in case of a public health emergency, contributing to increased pandemic preparedness

 

Gamaleya National Center
Latest News and Events – See Russia below.

IMBCAMS, China
Home – Website not responding at inquiry

 

Janssen/JNJ
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

 

Medicago
Media – No new digest announcements identified

 

Moderna
Press Releases
11 April, 2022
Moderna Announces First Participants Dosed in Phase 1/2 Study with mRNA-1020 and mRNA-1030 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Candidates

 

Nanogen
News – No new digest announcements identified

 

Novavax
Press Releases
Apr 13, 2022
Swissmedic Grants Conditional Marketing Authorization for Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine

 

Pfizer
Recent Press Releases
04.14.2022
Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Data Demonstrating High Immune Response Following a Booster Dose of their COVID-19 Vaccine in Children 5 Through 11 Years of Age

 

R-Pharm
https://rpharm-us.com/index.php
[No news or media page identified]

 

Sanofi Pasteur
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

 

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

Shifa Pharmed [Iran]
http://shafapharmed.com/
No news page identified.

 

Sinopharm/WIBPBIBP
News – No new digest announcements identified

 

Sinovac
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

 

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

 

WestVac Biopharma
Media – No new digest announcements identified

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

 

::::::

GSK
Press releases for media – No new digest announcements identified

 

Merck
News releases
Merck Announces U.S. FDA has Granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for V116, the Company’s Investigational 21-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, for the Prevention of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Adults
April 14, 2022

 

Novartis
News – No new digest announcements identified

 

SK Biosciences
Press releases –
SK bioscience Initiates Clinical Development of Antiviral Nasal Spray for Prevention of COVID-19
SK began developing an innovative technology to prevent viral infections and relieve symptoms through intranasal spray
The spray is expected to be used as the first line of defense to prevent virus spread before vaccine development
The project is being funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through a grant to IAVI and a subgrant to SK bioscience
2022.04.13

 

Valneva
Press Releases
April 14, 2022
Valneva Receives Conditional Marketing Authorization from UK MHRA for its Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 Global Targets and Progress Tracker – IMF

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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.

Global Dashboard on COVID-19 Vaccine Equity

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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 16 Apr 2022]: https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/
See also visualization on Vaccine Access and Vaccine Affordability

The Race for Global COVID-19 Vaccine Equity

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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

COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations

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COVID Vaccines – OCHA:: HDX

COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
16 Apr 2022 | COVAX (WHO,GAVI,CEPI), UNDESA, Press Reports | DATA
Global COVID-19 Figures: 500M total confirmed cases; 6.2M total confirmed deaths
Global vaccines administered: 11.4B
Number of Countries: 28
COVAX Allocations Round 4-9 (Number of Doses): 170M
COVAX Delivered (Number of Doses): 280M
Other Delivered (Number of Doses): 260M
Total Delivered (Number of Doses): 540M
Total Administered (Number of Doses): 390M

Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 [IMF, World Bank Group, WHO, WTO]

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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 16 Apr 2022: https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data The global view below is complemented by country-specific dashboards here.