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

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

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

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

 

 

HHS
News
Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Launches Nationwide Test-to-Treat Initiative Ensuring Rapid ‘On the Spot’ Access to Lifesaving COVID Treatments
March 8, 2022 | News Release

 

BARDA – U.S. Department of HHS [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsRoomHome.aspx
News
No new digest content identified.

 

 

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FDA
Press Announcements
No new digest content identified.

 

 

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
Calendar
No calendar announcements identified.

 

 

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White House [U.S.] [to 12 Mar 2022]
Briefing Room – Selected Major COVID Announcements
FACT SHEET: United States Partnership with the African Union – Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
March 11, 2022 Statements and Releases
[See Perspectives above for detail]

Statement of President Joe Biden on the Justice Department Naming a Chief Pandemic Prosecutor [Fraud]

March 10, 2022 Statements and Releases

 

U.S. Department of State [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://www.state.gov/coronavirus/releases/
Media Notes
Eighth Annual U.S.-AUC High-Level Dialogue Joint Statement
March 12, 2022

 

USAID [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/2021
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Announcements
News
The United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance for Ukrainians
March 10, 2022
Today, Vice President Kamala Harris announced nearly $53 million in additional humanitarian assistance from the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to support Ukrainians affected by Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

USAID Announces $150 Million To Stimulate and Accelerate The Development Of Vaccines And Other Countermeasures Against Biological Threats
March 8, 2022
Today at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit hosted by the Government of the United Kingdom, Administrator Samantha Power announced that the United States, through USAID, intends to provide $150 million over three years, subject to Congressional appropriations, to support the work of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The new commitment will support key goals of the American Pandemic Preparedness plan and G7 100 Days Mission by stimulating and accelerating the development of life-saving vaccines and other countermeasures against biological threats, including COVID-19. Once the President’s Budget Request is released, additional information will be shared about how the U.S. will help advance shared goals.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit
March 8, 2022
We strongly share CEPI’s aspiration to produce a new, highly effective vaccine to treat any emerging, infectious disease within 100 days—and we applaud the Coalition’s work to rally the world behind this goal. That’s why we’re pleased to announce today that the United States, through USAID, intends to invest $150 million over three years, to support CEPI’s work—our largest financial investment in the Coalition to date, and we look forward to working with Congress to secure support for this critical investment.

U.S. Government Announces Largest-Ever Budget Request, $2.6 Billion, to Advance Gender Equity and Equality Around the World
March 8, 2022
Today, on International Women’s Day, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda Young, previewed that the President’s 2023 Budget will request approximately $2.6 billion for foreign assistance programs that promote gender equity and equality worldwide, more than doubling the amount requested for gender programs in the prior year. This marks the largest-ever gender budget request and would fund programming led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department, with USAID taking forward the majority of this historic budget request to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls around the world. Administrator Power, Secretary Blinken, and OMB Acting Director Young, joined White House Gender Policy Council Director Jennifer Klein for an event at the White House to mark the historic announcement.

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

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

 

 

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

 

 

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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en
Latest Updates [Selected]
Prevention and control of infectious diseases in the context of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine
News – 8 Mar 2022

 

 

Operational public health considerations for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the context of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine
Technical report – 8 Mar 2022
Executive summary
This operational document focuses on infectious disease vulnerabilities of those fleeing from Ukraine, and the associated requirements for infection prevention and control. It is important to note, however, that these are just few of the risks to the health and well-being of the displaced people, and that the measures described in this document should be part of more generalised health measures provided in support of those who have been displaced.
Public health authorities should increase awareness among their community healthcare providers regarding the need to ensure access to services and continuity of vaccination programmes, and to be aware of the vulnerability of displaced people to infectious diseases. Doctors should be informed so that they can adjust their diagnostic and reporting algorithms accordingly. This should be an integral part of the overall provision of healthcare to those fleeing Ukraine, as should the diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease and mental and psychosocial health.
Ensuring continuity of routine vaccinations and addressing gaps in prior vaccination histories is an essential element of the public health support for displaced people. In this context, ensuring vaccination coverage against poliomyelitis, measles and COVID-19 should be a priority. Vaccination acceptance also needs to be assessed and addressed among those fleeing Ukraine.
Surveillance systems should be enhanced by increasing awareness among health professionals taking care of displaced people, to ensure that vaccine-preventable diseases and other communicable diseases are appropriately detected.
Syndromic surveillance should be considered for those accommodated in reception centres.
In people presenting with traumatic wounds, healthcare providers should be made aware that infections associated with these injuries can often include infection due to multidrug-resistant organisms. Diagnostic and treatment procedures should therefore be appropriate for identifying and managing such organisms.
Health risk communication activities should follow the standard principles of consistency and clarity and attempt to acknowledge and clear up any uncertainties that may exist.

 

 

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Accessed 12 Mar 2022
https://vaccinetracker.ecdc.europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/vaccine-tracker.html#uptake-tab

European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en
Latest [Selected]
Statement 10 March 2022
Statement by the European Commission calling for the protection of children in Ukraine

Statement 10 March 2022
State aid: Commission statement on consulting Member States on a proposal for a Temporary Crisis Framework to support the economy in context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Today, the European Commission has sent to Member States for consultation a draft proposal for a State aid Temporary Crisis Framework to support the EU economy in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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

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

 

 

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

 

 

Government of India – Press Information Bureau
Latest Press Releases
COVID – 19 Vaccination Update – Day 421
:: India’s cumulative vaccination coverage crosses 180 Crore landmark milestone
:: More than 17 lakh Vaccine doses administered today till 7 pm
Posted On: 12 MAR 2022 8:53PM by PIB Delhi

 

 

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

POLIO Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

Emergencies

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

Polio this week as of 23 February 2022
:: On Monday 7 March 2022, a case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 3 (cVDPV3) was confirmed in an unvaccinated girl aged three years and nine months in Israel. The girl had developed acute flaccid paralysis and upon testing of her stool, poliovirus was confirmed…Read more
:: International Women’s Day was marked on 8 March and among several online activities, the GPEI released a video featuring the voices of some of the women involved in the polio eradication effort in Pakistan. Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and Gender Champion for Polio Eradication José Manuel Albares also paid tribute to all the women in polio eradication.

Summary of new WPV and cVDPV viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
– Côte d’Ivoire: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
– DR Congo: one cVDPV2 case
– Israel: one cVDPV3 case and six positive environmental samples
– Mauritania: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
– Nigeria: one cVDPV2 case
– Occupied Palestinian territory: eight cVDPV3 positive environmental samples

 

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Statement of the Thirty-first Polio IHR Emergency Committee
11 March 2022
Statement
The thirty-first meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) on the international spread of poliovirus was convened by the WHO Director-General on 28 February 2022 with committee members and advisers attending via video conference, supported by the WHO Secretariat. The Emergency Committee reviewed the data on wild poliovirus (WPV1) and circulating vaccine derived polioviruses (cVDPV)…

 

Wild poliovirus
The committee was encouraged that WPV1 transmission has fallen to very low levels, with no new case in Pakistan since January 2021 and only four in Afghanistan in 2021 and one in 2022. Environmental surveillance continues to detect low levels of WPV1 transmission in Pakistan with 7.6% of samples testing positive in 2021 compared to 56% in 2020. In the second half of 2021 the proportion was only 1.5%. So far in 2022 there has been no positive sample; the most recent positive sample was collected 3 December 2021 in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The committee was very concerned that for the first time since the PHEIC was declared in 2014, there has been a case of polio due to new international spread from the Afghanistan – Pakistan epidemiological block, with WPV1 confirmed in a three year old child from Lilongwe, capital city of Malawi with onset of paralysis in November 2021. Genomic sequencing indicates the closest matching virus to that found in the case is a virus found in 2019 in Pakistan. Of concern, it is unknown whether transmission has been missed in Africa or Asia. This is the first WPV1 detection in the WHO African Region since 2016, when four cases occurred due to endemic transmission in Nigeria. This long distance international spread of polio, presumably by sea or by air traffic, is the first such spread since the 2013 introduction of WPV1 into Syria and Israel. The committee noted that a strong multi country response is being planned in Malawi and four neighboring countries, including a thorough investigation to try to determine more clearly when and how importation of WPV1 occurred.

The committee was very disturbed by the news that eight front line workers in Afghanistan had been attacked and killed in four different locations. These are the first attacks on polio workers since nationwide campaigns resumed in November last year and underline that major challenges remain in the country including security challenges and the adverse economic situation. Nevertheless it was encouraging that 2.6 million previously unreached children had been vaccinated in the November 2021 polio campaign. Data provided to the committee clearly showed that where house to house polio campaigns are possible the vaccine coverage is far higher.

 

Circulating vaccine derived poliovirus (cVDPV)
There have been four new countries infected with cVDPV2, Chad, Djibouti, Mozambique and Yemen bringing the total number of cVDPV2 infected countries to 29. Of these 29 cVDPV2 infected countries, 12 appear to have halted transmission with no detection for at least six months. Chad which appeared to have halted transmission for 12 months has had a new importation and is again considered infected. The total number of cVDPV2 cases in 2021 is 614, of which 413 have occurred in Nigeria, which is considerably less than the 1079 cases in 2020. As in all the years following 2016 when OPV2 was withdrawn, the number of cVDPV2 cases globally has been greater than the number of WPV1 cases.

Based on analysis of genetic linkages between viruses, cross border spread continues to occur, with spread from Nigeria into Cameroon, CAR, Chad and Niger and from Yemen into Djibouti and Egypt. Despite the ongoing decline in the number of cases and lineages circulating, the risk of international spread of cVDPV2 remains high.

The committee noted that the roll out of wider use of novel OPV2 continues under EUL. The committee also noted the delays concerning the importance of timely, quality outbreak response with countries avoiding timely response with monovalent OPV2, preferring to wait for novel OPV2 to become available.

 

Conclusion
Although heartened by the apparent progress particularly in Pakistan, the Committee unanimously agreed that the risk of international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and recommended the extension of Temporary Recommendations for a further three months. The Committee recognizes the concerns regarding the lengthy duration of the polio PHEIC and the importance of exploring alternative IHR measures in the future but concluded that there are still significant risks as exemplified by the importation of virus into Malawi…

The Committee warned of the ongoing effects of COVID-19 particularly on essential immunization and possible future disruptions of immunization activities, and suggested the polio programme could play a role in expediting delivery of COVID vaccines. The committee noted the ongoing work around the duration of the polio PHEIC, and suggested that any lessons learnt from the COVID-19 PHEIC be made available to the committee.

Based on the current situation regarding WPV1 and cVDPV, and the reports provided by affected countries, the Director-General accepted the Committee’s assessment and on 4 March 2022 determined that the situation relating to poliovirus continues to constitute a PHEIC, with respect to WPV1 and cVDPV…

 

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Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
No new reports identified.

 

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WHO/OCHA Emergencies

 

Editor’s Note:
WHO has issued a single situation report on Ukraine [5 March 2022 Emergency in Ukraine – Situation Report 1] which we featured in last week’s edition. Ukraine has not yet been listed in the omnibus inventory on WHO emergencies below.

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: 17 Jan 2022]

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]

 

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UN OCHA – Current Emergencies
Current Corporate Emergencies
Afghanistan
No new updates identified.

Northern Ethiopia
Ethiopia – Northern Ethiopia Humanitarian Update Situation Report, 10 March 2022
HIGHLIGHTS
Ongoing hostilities continue to increase humanitarian needs with a growing number of displaced people in Afar and Amhara.
About 100 metric tons of health and nutrition supplies were airlifted during the reporting week to Mekelle, Tigray.
Only about 10,000 people and about 22,500 refugees were assisted with food during the reporting period in Tigray.
More than 102,000 displaced people were reached with essential health service in Amhara during February.
About 87,000 people were assisted with food in Afar during the reporting week, while high energy biscuits were distributed to more than 5,000 newly displaced people.

Ukraine
Ukraine: Humanitarian Impact Situation Report (As of 3:00 p.m. (EET), 11 March 2022)

 

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WHO & Regional Offices [to 12 Mar 2022]

WHO & Regional Offices [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://www.who.int/
News [Selected]
11 March 2022
Statement
Statement of the Thirty-first Polio IHR Emergency Committee
[See Polio above for detail]

8 March 2022
Statement
Interim Statement on COVID-19 vaccines in the context of the circulation of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variant from the WHO Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC), 08 March 2022
[See COVID above for detail]

7 March 2022
Departmental news
WHO launches new repository on urban health

7 March 2022
Joint News Release
Act Now to Save Lives and Prevent Migrants From Going Missing

7 March 2022
Statement
Eighth Meeting of the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19, 1 March 2022: “Third Consultation with the CEOs of leading vaccine manufacturers”
[See Perspectives above for detail]

7 March 2022
Statement
Joint statement on the prioritization of monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection in wildlife and preventing the formation of animal reservoirs
[See Perspectives above for detail]

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WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region
No new digest content identified

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: “Too soon to lower our guard”, warns PAHO Director as pandemic reaches two-year mark
9 Mar 2022
As the COVID-19 death toll surpasses 2.6 million in the Americas and restrictions lift, countries must prepare to respond quickly to new variants or outbreaks Washington D.C. 9 March 2022 (PAHO) – As the world reaches two-years since  COVID-19 was characterized as a pandemic, and public health measures are being lifted in many parts of the…
:: WHO issues new guidelines on abortion to help countries deliver lifesaving care
9 Mar 2022
Access to safe abortion critical for health of women and girls: WHO Geneva, 9 March 2022 – The World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing new guidelines on abortion care today, in a bid to protect the health of women and girls and help prevent over 25 million unsafe abortions that currently occur each year. “Being able to obtain…
:: COVID-19 Pandemic Disproportionately Affected Women in the Americas
8 Mar 2022
PAHO report shows that gender inequalities in health have increased in the region; calls for disaggregated data to design more inclusive response. Washington, DC, March 8, 2022 (PAHO)- The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on women in the Americas, contributing to increased gender inequality in health and threatening women’s…

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
No new digest content identified

WHO European Region EURO
:: A life-saving journey – critical WHO supplies arrive in Ukraine 11-03-2022
:: Two years of COVID-19: new report highlights the 100 weeks of WHO/Europe’s efforts to protect lives and livelihoods during the pandemic 11-03-2022
:: Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus confirmed in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory 10-03-2022
:: Access to vaccination for refugees from Ukraine needed to protect the most vulnerable among them from vaccine-preventable diseases 10-03-2022
:: Putting health at the centre of post-COVID recovery: WHO European Region faces stark choices that will shape its future 10-03-2022

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: Protecting the most vulnerable from health effects of drought in Somalia 10 March 2022
:: Restoration of central drug warehouse in Lebanon 10 March 2022
:: Mission discusses progress in implementation of Jordan’s antimicrobial resistance national action plan
9 March 2022
:: Women leaders in polio eradication: Pariva Hashemi 8 March 2022

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: Eight steps to help with safe home-based recovery for COVID-19 9 March 2022

 

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WHO Events
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/1
[Selected]
Launch – One Health: approach for action against neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030
16 March 2022 14:00 – 15:15 CET

 

Webinar: Launch of the WHO implementation handbook for national action plans on AMR
17 March 2022

 

COVID-19 Case Management Webinar Series: COVID-19 in children and young persons
22 March 2022 13:30 – 15:30 CET

 

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New WHO Publications
https://www.who.int/publications/i
Selected Titles
11 March 2022
Emerging trends and technologies: a horizon scan for global public health
Overview
This publication presents the findings of a global horizon scan, conducted by a group of international experts, on emerging technologies and trends relevant to global public health conducted in 2020 and 2021. The group identified 15 new and emerging technologies and scientific advances that may have a significant impact on global health over the next two decades.
[See Perspectives above for detail]

11 March 2022
Safety monitoring of molnupiravir for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 infection in low and middle-income…

10 March 2022
Western Pacific regional framework to end TB: 2021-2030: brief summary

9 March 2022
Accelerating malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong

9 March 2022
Use of SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests for COVID-19 self-testing

8 March 2022
Executive summary ‒ Ending the neglect to attain the sustainable development goals. One health: approach…

7 March 2022
Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): A living guideline

MMWR  Weekly: Current Volume (71)

MMWR  Weekly: Current Volume (71)
March 11, 2022 / No. 10
PDF of this issue
:: Interim Estimates of 2021–22 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness — United States, February 2022
:: Characteristics and Adverse Events of Patients for Whom Nifurtimox Was Released Through CDC-Sponsored Investigational New Drug Program for Treatment of Chagas Disease — United States, 2001–2021
:: Evaluation of Serologic Cross-Reactivity Between Dengue Virus and SARS-CoV-2 in Patients with Acute Febrile Illness — United States and Puerto Rico, April 2020–March 2021
::COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Access and Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 5–11 Years — United States, November 2021–January 2022
::SARS-CoV-2 Incidence in K–12 School Districts with Mask-Required Versus Mask-Optional Policies — Arkansas, August–October 2021
:: Notes from the Field: Congenital Varicella Syndrome Case — Illinois, 2021

Africa CDC [to 12 Mar 2022]

Africa CDC [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Outbreak Brief #112: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
Date of Issue: 8 March 2022
… As of 6 p.m. East African Time (EAT) 7 March 2022, a total of 11,232,756 COVID-19 cases and 249,686 deaths (CFR: 2.2%) have been reported by the 55 African Union (AU) Member States (MS). This represents 3% of all cases and 4.2% of all deaths reported globally. Thirty-four (60%) AU MS are reporting CFRs higher than the global CFR. Since the detection of COVID-19 on the African continent in February 2020, 53 (96%) AU MS have experienced three COVID-19 waves, 47 (72%) countries have experienced four waves, and nine countries (Algeria, Benin, Congo Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mauritius, Somalia and Tunisia) have experienced five waves…
…As of 7 March 2022, 54 (98%) of the 55 AU MS have started COVID-19 vaccination campaigns targeting priority populations. Cumulatively, 426.5 million doses have been administered. Of the doses administered, 241.7 million people have been partially vaccinated, 171 million have been fully vaccinated, and 13.8 million have received a booster dose. Overall, 13.7% of the continental population is fully vaccinated. Eritrea is the only AU MS yet to start COVID-19 vaccine roll out…

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

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

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
March 12: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
On March 11, 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on the Chinese mainland reported 588 new cases of confirmed infections.

National Medical Products Administration – PRC [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://english.nmpa.gov.cn/
News
Over 5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered on Chinese mainland
2022-03-11
The Chinese mainland on Wednesday saw over 5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered, with the total number reaching nearly 3.175 billion, the National Health Commission said on Thursday.

CCDC Weekly Reports: Current Volume (4)
2022-03-11 / No. 10 COVID-19 ISSUE (24)
View  PDF of this issue
:: Commentary: Strengthening Community Defenses to Prevent and Control the Spread of COVID-19 in China
:: Preplanned Studies: Diagnostic Value of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Severe COVID-19 — 7 PLADs, China, January 21–February 10, 2020
:: Methods and Applications: When and How to Adjust Non-Pharmacological Interventions Concurrent with Booster Vaccinations Against COVID-19 — Guangdong, China, 2022
:: Outbreak Reports: A Limited Spreading Event of COVID-19 Caused by Delta Variant in a Cosmetic Hospital — Yantai City, Shandong Province, China, 2021

Organization Announcements

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.

 

 

Airfinity    [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.airfinity.com/insights

INSIGHTS & COMPANY NEWS

No new digest content identified.

 

 

Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group    [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://alleninstitute.org/news-press/

News

How do our neurons connect? New study probes the details of human and mouse synapses

March 10, 2022

‘Multipatch’ technique catalogs more than 1700 connections between neurons in publicly released dataset

 

BMGF – Gates Foundation  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center

Press Releases and Statements

No new digest content identified.

Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute    [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.gatesmri.org/news

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 12 Mar 2022]

https://carb-x.org/

News

No new digest content identified.

Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy – GE2P2 Global Foundation   [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.net/

News/Analysis/Statements

:: Informed Consent: A Monthly Review – March 2022 is now posted here

:: Past weekly editions and posting of all segments of Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review are available here.

:: Statement on ICF [Informed Consent Form] Posting for Clinical Trials Involving Gene Editing/Gene Therapies – Invitation to Endorse

CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations  [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://cepi.net/

Latest News

Global community comes together in support of 100 Days Mission and pledges over $1.5 billion for CEPI’s pandemic-busting plan

The pledges of political and financial support were made by representatives from over 20 countries attending the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit.

End Pandemics

08 Mar 2022

[See Perspectives above for detail]

CEPI and DIOSynVax partner in quest to develop broadly protective Betacoronavirus vaccine

   This is the latest award under CEPI’s $200m programme to advance the development of vaccines that provide broad protection against SARS-Cov-2 variants and other Betacoronaviruses.

End Pandemics

08 Mar 2022

CEPI, UK Government, and Life Sciences Industry unite around 100 Days Mission

   100 Days Mission, put forward by the UK Government under its G7 Presidency, and backed by leaders of the G7 and G20, sits at the heart of CEPI’s five-year pandemic preparedness plan.

End Pandemics

08 Mar 2022

DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [U.S.] [to 12 Mar 2022

https://www.darpa.mil/news

News

No new digest content identified.

Duke Global Health Innovation Center  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://dukeghic.org/

Our Blog

No new digest content identified.

 

 

EDCTP    [to 12 Mar 2022]

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

08 March 2022

International Women’s Day 2022: EDCTP efforts to break the bias in health research

 

Emory Vaccine Center    [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/

Vaccine Center News

No new digest content identified.

European Vaccine Initiative  [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.euvaccine.eu/

Latest News, Events

No new digest content identified.

 

 

Evidence Aid   [to 12 Mar 2022]

Evidence Aid aims to save lives and livelihoods in disasters by providing decision-makers with the best available evidence and by championing its use.

http://www.evidenceaid.org/

New Resources

Migrant women’s experiences of being pregnant in Europe Added March 11, 2022

Mental health of refugees resettled in regional and rural Australia Added March 10, 2022

Oral health among refugees in Europe Added March 9, 2022

Reproductive health management in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) Added March 8, 2022

Fondation Merieux  [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.fondation-merieux.org/

News, Events

Mérieux Foundation co-organized event

2nd Workshop of the Global Collaboration on Advanced Vaccinology Training

March 22 – 24, 2022 – Centre des Pensières, Veyrier-du-Lac (France)

From  March 22-24, 2022, the second Workshop of the Global Collaboration on Advanced Vaccinology Training will be held at Les Pensières Center for Global Health, with approximately 70 participants.

 

 

Gavi [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.gavi.org/

News Releases

11 March 2022

Germany to co-host 2022 Gavi COVAX AMC Summit, pledges additional funding for COVID-19 vaccination in lower-income countries

[See Perspectives above for detail]

GHIT Fund   [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press

No new digest content identified.

Global Fund  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/

News & Stories

10 March 2022

Global Fund Praises Canada’s Commitment to COVID-19 Response Mechanism

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria praises the decision by Canada to contribute CAD 60 million to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM). The new funding will help provide lifesaving diagnostic tests, treatments – …

10 March 2022

Global Fund Approves Emergency Funding to Maintain Essential HIV and TB Services in Ukraine

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has approved US$30 million to top up its Emergency Fund, including US$15 million to support the continuity of HIV and TB prevention, testing and treatment services in Ukraine.

Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness [GloPID-R] [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.glopid-r.org/news/

News

Upcoming webinar: Response to COVID-19 vaccine in patients with a hematological condition and primary immunodeficiencies

07/03/2022

The second webinar in the ZonMw series ‘Response to COVID-19 vaccine in patients with a hematological condition and primary immunodeficiencies’…

Hilleman Laboratories   [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.hilleman-labs.org/

News & Insights

No new digest content identified

 

 

HHMI – Howard Hughes Medical Institute    [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.hhmi.org/news

Press Room

Research   Mar 10 2022

After More than 20 Years, Scientists Have Solved the Full-Length Structure of a Janus Kinase

More than two decades of effort went into a project that has now revealed the structure of a crucial signaling molecule, opening the door to new and better drugs for some cancers.

Research  Mar 9 2022

When Ribosomes Collide: How Bacteria Clean Up After Molecular Crashes

Tiny cellular machines called ribosomes build proteins. When this building process goes awry in bacteria, ribosomes collide, triggering the arrival of a first responder molecule that begins a rescue operation.

 

Human Vaccines Project   [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/

News

No new digest content identified.

 

 

IAVI  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.iavi.org/

Latest News

No new digest content identified

.

 

ICRC  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new

What’s New

Autonomous weapons: The ICRC remains confident that states adopt new rules

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) welcomes the continued work of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) and urges the High Contracting Parties to the CCW to take their important work forward in line with one of the main purposes of

11-03-2022 | Statement

Ukraine: Massive, urgent response needed to meet soaring needs

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is increasingly dire and desperate, and the ICRC is scaling up its response by the hour to meet people’s vast needs.

09-03-2022 | News release

ICRC president, Egypt’s Minister of Justice sign MoU to boost collaboration on International Humanitarian Law

Cairo, Geneva (ICRC) – Egyptian Minister of Justice Omar Marwan and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the ICRC and Egypt’s National Commission on

09-03-2022 | News release

International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities [ICMRA]

http://www.icmra.info/drupal/en/news

Selected Statements, Press Releases, Research

ICMRA Executive Committee response to situation in Ukraine

03 March 2022

The ICMRA Executive Committee is deeply concerned with the ongoing and evolving situation in Ukraine. Following a request from an ICMRA member [Poland], the Executive Committee met on 2 March 2022 and agreed on the following response

[Excerpt]

“Currently the ICMRA Terms of Reference do not foresee any mechanism for exclusion of a member or associate member. However we are aware of the strict sanctions being imposed on Russia by an increasing number of countries and regions across the globe, including at UNGA level, and we will review our interactions with the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare (Roszdravnadzor) in the light of these sanctions and the emerging situation.

While we do not consider it appropriate to take a collective position on behalf of all the ICMRA membership, we will keep the situation under review. Meanwhile we propose not to invite Roszdravnadzor to ICMRA meetings and communications for the foreseeable future, as well as consider the need for appropriate revisions to the Terms of Reference. A communication will be sent to IMCRA members and associate members in this regard…

[Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare (Roszdravnadzor) was established by the President of the Russian Federation in Decree on March 9, 2004 № 314 “On the System and Structure of the Federal Executive Bodies” and is a federal executive body responsible for control and supervision of the Healthcare system.]

IFFIm

http://www.iffim.org/

Press Releases/Announcements

No new digest content identified.

IFRC   [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/

Selected Press Releases, Announcements

11/03/2022

Americas: Five million more people in extreme poverty and highly exposed to disasters after two years of COVID-19 pandemic

10/03/2022

Ukraine: Millions at risk as health concerns exacerbate vulnerabilities

07/03/2022

COVID-19 two years on: A new normal for some while millions still at risk, warns Red Cross Red Crescent

Institut Pasteur   [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area

Press Documents

No new digest content identified.

 

 

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases

News – Selected

News

10 Mar 2022

UN Welcomes and Supports Initiative to Fast-track Transfer of People Fleeing Ukraine to Romania Through Moldova

 

ISC / International Science Council  [to 12 Mar 2022]

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  Blogs  Podcasts  Events

14.03.2022

Launch of the UNESCO toolkit ‘’Mathematics for Action: Supporting Science-Based Decision Making’’

The Open Access toolkit consists in a collection of lively two-page briefs promoting mathematically-grounded solutions to global challenges and highlighting the role of mathematics in addressing the SDGs of the UN 2030 Agenda The tool kit will be launched virtually on 14 March 2022, 10:00 – 11:00 UTC.

IVAC  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html

Updates; Events

MCHI Course: “The COVID-19 Response in India: Impact on Women and Children’s Health and Wellbeing”

March 2022

 

 

IVI   [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.ivi.int/

IVI News & Announcements

No new digest content identified.

 

 

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security   [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/news/center-news/

Center News

No new digest content identified.

 

 

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières  [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.msf.org/

Latest [Selected Announcements]

War in Ukraine

“There’s an urgent humanitarian race against time in Ukraine”

Voices from the Field 11 Mar 2022

Afghanistan

Measles poses deadly risk for malnourished children in Afghanistan

Project Update 9 Mar 2022

National Academy of Medicine – USA  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://nam.edu/programs/

No new digest content identified.

National Academy of Sciences – USA  [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/

News

No new digest content identified.

 

National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html

Upcoming Meetings/Latest Updates                          

Vaccines Federal Implementation Plan 2021-2025
On Wednesday March 2, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit stakeholder written public comments on the draft Vaccines Federal Implementation Plan 2021-2025- PDF*. HHS values input from all stakeholders and will take all public comments into consideration before finalizing this document.
We encourage your input or comments and ask that you circulate this information to others who may also wish to provide comments. Information about how to provide written public comment is found on HHS.gov and the deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. EST Tuesday March 29, 2022.
The Vaccines Federal Implementation Plan is a companion document to the Vaccines National Strategic Plan 2021-2025 published in January 2021. This plan outlines the federal government’s broad national vaccination goals and offers a framework to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases through safe and effective vaccination over the lifespan, for both federal agencies and external partners.
The implementation plan focuses on the specific actions that federal agencies can take to further those same national vaccination goals.

 

NIH  [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases

News Releases

Mandatory masking in schools reduced COVID-19 cases during Delta surge

March 10, 2022 — NIH-funded study compared more than 1.1 million students across nine states.

NIH launches trial to study allergic reactions to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine

March 9, 2022 — The single-site trial will enroll up to 100 people.

 

 

OECD  [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/publicationsdocuments/bydate/

Newsroom

Statement from OECD Secretary-General on further measures in response to Russia’s large-scale aggression against Ukraine

8-March-2022

Further to its previous statements and decisions since 24 February 2022 in response to Russia’s large-scale aggression against Ukraine, the OECD Council has decided to immediately suspend the participation of Russia and Belarus in OECD bodies.

OXFAM [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.oxfam.org/en/

Press Releases

No new digest content identified.

 

PATH  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.path.org/media-center/

Press Releases

Commonwealth and PATH join forces to advance health equity

March 10, 2022 by PATH

PATH and the Commonwealth Secretariat join forces to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines across the Commonwealth, while also striving to eliminate malaria and address other public health challenges… This includes leveraging innovative and digital technologies to strengthen Commonwealth countries’ health systems and epidemic preparedness and response. The MOU will allow both organisations to work together to build digital health and health data capacity in public health systems, in order to strengthen disease surveillance and mitigation capabilities. Parties also agreed to promote universal health coverage across the Commonwealth, while paying particular attention to the needs of small island nations and lower income countries…

 

PATH applauds the US Government’s $150 million pledge to CEPI to accelerate development of lifesaving vaccines

March 08, 2022 by PATH

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) aims to dramatically reduce or eliminate the future risk of pandemics and epidemics, potentially averting millions of deaths and trillions of dollars in economic damage.

 

 

Sabin Vaccine Institute  [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases

Statements and Press Releases

No new digest content identified.

UNAIDS [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.unaids.org/en

Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements

9 March 2022

Keeping harm reduction available in Ukraine

8 March 2022

Quick thinking and planning instrumental for HIV network in Ukraine

7 March 2022

Women and girls carry the heaviest HIV burden in sub-Saharan Africa

 

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 12 Mar 2022]

http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/media-centre.htmlS

Selected News Releases, Announcements

UNHCR ramps up aid to thousands displaced by Somalia drought

11 Mar 2022

 

UNHCR scales up for those displaced by war in Ukraine, deploys cash assistance

11 Mar 2022

 

Covid-19 and climate crisis worsen inequalities for displaced women and girls

Statement attributed to the UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Gillian Triggs

8 Mar 2022

 

News Comment: UNHCR’s Grandi praises Europe’s welcome for Refugees fleeing Ukraine

Statement attributed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi

8 Mar 2022

 

Unaccompanied and separated children fleeing escalating conflict in Ukraine must be protected

Joint statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi

7 Mar 2022

UNICEF  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases

Press Releases, News Notes, Statements  [Selected]

Press release

03/10/2022

Additional UNICEF supplies on their way to Ukraine as number of child refugees exceeds 1 million mark

https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/additional-unicef-supplies-their-way-ukraine-number-child-refugees-exceeds-1-million

   GENEVA/NEW YORK, 10 March 2022 –,  More than 1 million children have now fled Ukraine as war continues to ravage the country, UNICEF said today. Most have fled with their families to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Romania. “The number of children on the move is staggering, an indication of how desperate the situation for children and families in Ukraine has become,” said…

Press release

03/09/2022

Two thirds of households with children have lost income during pandemic

https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/two-thirds-households-children-have-lost-income-during-pandemic

NEW YORK, 10 March 2022 –, At least two thirds of households with children have lost income since the COVID-19 pandemic hit two years ago, according to a new report published today by UNICEF and the World Bank. Impact of COVID-19 on the welfare of households with children – which presents findings from data collected in 35 countries – notes that households with three or…, Notes to editors:, The report draws on information from a set of high-frequency phone surveys (from 35 countries) and focusing solely on the impact of the crisis on children. In the paper, we analyze the initial impact of the crisis (with survey data collected during the period April to September 2020) as well as the subsequent evolution of the impact of the crisis…

Statement

03/07/2022

We must prioritize girls in our COVID-19 recovery

https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/we-must-prioritize-girls-our-covid-19-recovery

NEW YORK, 8 March 2022, –,  , “On International Women’s Day, we acknowledge the international community’s hard-fought gains for the world’s women and girls. We celebrate the remarkable achievements of women and girls in our societies. And we redouble our commitment to extend those gains to every girl, everywhere. “But the fight for gender equality is far from over. Indeed,…

Remarks

03/07/2022

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell’s remarks at the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine

https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-executive-director-catherine-russells-remarks-un-security-council-meeting

NEW YORK, 7 March 2022 -, “Excellencies and colleagues,   “I would like to express my appreciation to Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield and Ambassador Ferit Hoxha for convening today’s meeting.  I would also like to thank Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh and the United Arab Emirates for hosting this briefing during your Security Council presidency.   “This is my first time briefing…

 

Unitaid  [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://unitaid.org/

Featured News

11 March 2022

Call for PRC membership applications March 2022

Unitaid is pleased to issue a call for applications of experts to replenish its Proposal Review Committee (PRC) for the period June 2022 – June 2025.

10 March 2022

Canada commits an additional $20 million CAD contribution to Unitaid to further enhance global access to COVID-19 treatments

Vaccine Equity Cooperative [nee Initiative]   [to 12 Mar 2022]

https://vaccineequitycooperative.org/news/

News

No new digest content identified.

 

Vaccination Acceptance & Demand Initiative [Sabin) [to 12 Mar 2022] https://www.vaccineacceptance.org/

Announcements, Blog
Key Insights from Sabin 2020-2021 Grant Partners Inform Action, Investment in Vaccine Acceptance
March 2, 2022
by: Nick Boehman, Cassidy Howell, MPH, Kate Hopkins, PhD, MPH
The past several months has seen the delivery of final project reporting from the Sabin Vaccine Institute’s 2020-2021 Social and Behavioral Research Grants Program partners. Multidisciplinary teams from five countries were awarded funding to explore the social drivers of COVID-19 misinformation and its impact on both routine immunization acceptance and the acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine. With the completion of these projects in December 2021, key insights have begun to surface, providing an opportunity to review effective approaches towards combatting misinformation and increasing vaccine confidence and acceptance in low- and middle-income countries.
Our initial case-study report, Community-led Strategies to Aid Vaccine Acceptance: Five Case Studies from the Global South, has been compiled to inform action and investment around the globe that seek to build more vaccine confident communities…

 
 

Vaccine Confidence Project [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
News, Research and Reports
No new digest content identified.

 
 

Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
News
No new digest content identified.

 
 

Wellcome Trust [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News. Opinion, Reports
Opinion
Author – Charlie Weller
We can develop vaccines faster, but only if we work together from discovery to fair access
10 March 20224-minute read

 
 

The Wistar Institute [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
Mar. 8, 2022
The Wistar Institute Cancer Center to be Renamed with $10 Million Gift from Caplan Family to Advance Cancer Research 
Announcing the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center; Celebrating 50 years of Wistar’s National Cancer Institute-Designated Excellence.

 
 

WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News – Blog
No new digest content identified.

 
 

World Bank [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
Selected News, Announcements
Two-thirds of Households with Children Have Lost Income during Pandemic
UNICEF-World Bank report finds that the lost earnings have left adults in 1 in 4 households with children going a day or more without food NEW YORK, 10 March 2022 – At least two-thirds of households with…
Date: March 09, 2022 Type: Press Release

Eighth Meeting of the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19, 1 March 2022: “Third Consultation with the CEOs of leading vaccine manufacturers” Joint Statement
WASHINGTON, March 7, 2022 —The heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization, and World Trade Organization held high-level consultations with UNICEF, Gavi…
Date: March 07, 2022 Type: Statement
[See Perspectives above for detail]

 
 

World Customs Organization – WCO [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://www.wcoomd.org/
Latest News
No new digest content identified.
 
 

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://www.oie.int/en/media/news/
Press Releases, Statements
Joint statement on the prioritization of monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection in wildlife and preventing the formation of animal reservoirs
7 March 2022
Joint Statement by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and World Health Organization (WHO)
As we enter the third year of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is spreading between people at an intense level globally.  There are many factors that are driving transmission. One of these is the emergence of highly transmissible variants of concern, the latest being Omicron.  The virus continues to evolve and the risk of future emergence of variants is high…
[See Perspectives above for detail]

 
 

WTO – World Trade Organisation [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
WTO News and Events
Members updated on high-level talks aimed at finding convergence on IP COVID-19 response
10 March 2022
WTO members were updated on the high-level political consultations taking place to try to find a landing zone on the intellectual property-related aspects of a WTO COVID-19 response. At a meeting of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on 9-10 March, members agreed to keep open two related agenda items on the WTO response to allow the Council to be reconvened at short notice when and if convergence is within reach. The Council elected Ambassador Lansana Gberie (Sierra Leone) as its new chair.
[See Perspectives above for detail]

 

 

::::::

 

ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://alliancerm.org/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 
 
BIO [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases, Letters, Testimony, Comments [Selected]
BIO Statement on Russia’s Decision To Legalize Patent Theft
March 11, 2022
“Retaliation of this kind will only serve to isolate Russian science and technology from the international mainstream. At the end of the day those who will be most hurt by this decision will not be innovative global companies, but Russian patients,…”

 
 

DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News; Upcoming events
No new digest content identified.
 
 

ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://internationalbiotech.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.

 
 

IFPMA [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
Statement delivered at Panel Discussion on Universal Access to Vaccines – 20th meeting, 49th Regular
10 March 2022
[See Perspectives above for detail]

Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit & CEPI Replenishment
08 March 2022
[See Perspectives above for detail]

 

 

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

 
 

International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations – IAPO [to 12 Mar 2022]
https://www.iapo.org.uk/news/topic/6
Press and media [Selected]
No new digest content identified.

 
 
PhRMA [to 12 Mar 2022]
http://www.phrma.org/
Latest News [Selected]
No new digest content identified.

Journal Watch

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

Tactical Health and Law Enforcement

AMA Journal of Ethics
Volume 24, Number 2: E107-163 Feb 2022
https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/issue/tactical-health-and-law-enforcement

 

Tactical Health and Law Enforcement
Tactical health involves providing field-based clinical support to law enforcement operations during frontline crisis interventions and prehospital emergency care. Health professional skill can inform individual officers’ occupational health maintenance and help agents of the state navigate primary and secondary trauma and posttrauma experiences in field- and clinic-based settings. Tactical health expertise can also inform department- and agency-level policies, decisions, and responses to community health and safety threats. Ethical questions considered in this issue focus on the nature and scope of health professionals’ collaborations with law enforcement personnel during and following critical event preparation and responses.

Preventing a cluster from becoming a new wave in settings with zero community COVID-19 cases

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 12 Mar 2022)

 

Preventing a cluster from becoming a new wave in settings with zero community COVID-19 cases
In settings with zero community transmission, any new SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks are likely to be the result of random incursions. The level of restrictions in place at the time of the incursion is likely to conside…
Authors: Romesh G. Abeysuriya, Dominic Delport, Robyn M. Stuart, Rachel Sacks-Davis, Cliff C. Kerr, Dina Mistry, Daniel J. Klein, Margaret Hellard and Nick Scott
Citation: BMC Infectious Diseases 2022 22:232

Social network-based ethical analysis of COVID-19 vaccine supply policy in three Central Asian countries

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 12 Mar 2022)

 

Social network-based ethical analysis of COVID-19 vaccine supply policy in three Central Asian countries
In the pandemic time, many low- and middle-income countries are experiencing restricted access to COVID-19 vaccines. Access to imported vaccines or ways to produce them locally became the principal source of h…
Authors: Timur Aripov, Daniel Wikler, Damin Asadov, Zhangir Tulekov, Totugul Murzabekova and Kerim M. Munir
Citation: BMC Medical Ethics 2022 23:21

The impact of local vaccine coverage and recent incidence on measles transmission in France between 2009 and 2018

BMC Medicine
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/content
(Accessed 12 Mar 2022)

 

The impact of local vaccine coverage and recent incidence on measles transmission in France between 2009 and 2018
Subnational heterogeneity in immunity to measles can create pockets of susceptibility and result in long-lasting outbreaks despite high levels of national vaccine coverage. The elimination status defined by th…
Authors: Alexis Robert, Adam J. Kucharski and Sebastian Funk
Citation: BMC Medicine 2022 20:77

Differential health impact of intervention programs for time-varying disease risk: a measles vaccination modeling study

BMC Medicine
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/content
(Accessed 12 Mar 2022)

 

Differential health impact of intervention programs for time-varying disease risk: a measles vaccination modeling study
Dynamic modeling is commonly used to evaluate direct and indirect effects of interventions on infectious disease incidence. The risk of secondary outcomes (e.g., death) attributable to infection may depend on …
Authors: Allison Portnoy, Yuli Lily Hsieh, Kaja Abbas, Petra Klepac, Heather Santos, Logan Brenzel, Mark Jit and Matthew Ferrari
Citation: BMC Medicine 2022 20:113

WHO-led consensus statement on vaccine delivery costing: process, methods, and findings

BMC Medicine
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/content
(Accessed 12 Mar 2022)

 

WHO-led consensus statement on vaccine delivery costing: process, methods, and findings
Differences in definitions and methodological approaches have hindered comparison and synthesis of economic evaluation results across multiple health domains, including immunization. At the request of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Immunization and Vaccines-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (IVIR-AC), WHO convened an ad hoc Vaccine Delivery Costing Working Group, comprising experts from eight organizations working in immunization costing, to address a lack of standardization and gaps in definitions and methodological guidance. The aim of the Working Group was to develop a consensus statement harmonizing terminology and principles and to formulate recommendations for vaccine delivery costing for decision making. This paper discusses the process, findings of the review, and recommendations in the Consensus Statement.
Authors: Ann Levin, Laura Boonstoppel, Logan Brenzel, Ulla Griffiths, Raymond Hutubessy, Mark Jit, Vittal Mogasale, Sarah Pallas, Stephen Resch, Christian Suharlim and Karene Hoi Ting Yeung
Citation: BMC Medicine 2022 20:88
Content type: Guideline
Published on: 8 March 2022

A study of SARS-COV-2 outbreaks in US federal prisons: the linkage between staff, incarcerated populations, and community transmission

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 12 Mar 2022)

 

A study of SARS-COV-2 outbreaks in US federal prisons: the linkage between staff, incarcerated populations, and community transmission
Since the novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 was first identified to be circulating in the US on January 20, 2020, some of the worst outbreaks have occurred within state and federal prisons. The vulnerability of inc…
Authors: Sherry Towers, Danielle Wallace, Jason Walker, John M. Eason, Jake R. Nelson and Tony H. Grubesic
Citation: BMC Public Health 2022 22:482

Social responsibility perspective in public response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a grounded theory approach

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 12 Mar 2022)

 

Social responsibility perspective in public response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a grounded theory approach
Combating viral outbreaks extends beyond biomedical and clinical approaches; thus, public health prevention measures are equally important. Public engagement in preventive efforts can be viewed as the social r…
Authors: Lee Lan Low, Seng Fah Tong, Ju Ying Ang, Zalilah Abdullah, Maimunah A Hamid, Mikha Saragi Risman, Yun Teng Wong, Nurul Iman Jamalul-lail, Kalvina Chelladorai, Yui Ping Tan, Yea Lu Tay, Awatef Amer Nordin and Amar-Singh HSS
Citation: BMC Public Health 2022 22:469

COVID-19 vaccine perceptions in the initial phases of US vaccine roll-out: an observational study on reddit

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 12 Mar 2022)

 

COVID-19 vaccine perceptions in the initial phases of US vaccine roll-out: an observational study on reddit
Open online forums like Reddit provide an opportunity to quantitatively examine COVID-19 vaccine perceptions early in the vaccine timeline. We examine COVID-19 misinformation on Reddit following vaccine scient…
Authors: Navin Kumar, Isabel Corpus, Meher Hans, Nikhil Harle, Nan Yang, Curtis McDonald, Shinpei Nakamura Sakai, Kamila Janmohamed, Keyu Chen, Frederick L. Altice, Weiming Tang, Jason L. Schwartz, S. Mo Jones-Jang, Koustuv Saha, Shahan Ali Memon, Chris T. Bauch…
Citation: BMC Public Health 2022 22:446
Content type: Research
Published on: 7 March 2022

Evaluating the Ability to Consent to Research: A Twenty-Year Track Record

Ethics & Human Research
Volume 44, Issue 2 Pages: 1-40 March–April 2022
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/25782363/current

 

Articles
Evaluating the Ability to Consent to Research: A Twenty-Year Track Record
Mikaela Matera-Vatnick, Katherine W. Todman, Paul G. Wakim, Haley K. Sullivan, Carol Squires, Julie Brintnall-Karabelas, Samuel N. Doernberg, Marion Danis
Pages: 2-17
First Published: 26 February 2022

Alternative provision of public health care: the role of citizens’ satisfaction with public services and the social responsibility of government

Health Economics, Policy and Law 
Volume 17 – Issue 2 – April 2022
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/health-economics-policy-and-law/latest-issue

 

Article
Alternative provision of public health care: the role of citizens’ satisfaction with public services and the social responsibility of government
Nissim Cohen, Shlomo Mizrahi, Eran Vigoda-Gadot
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 July 2020, pp. 121-140

Priority setting and equity in COVID-19 pandemic plans: a comparative analysis of 18 African countries

Health Policy and Planning
Volume 37, Issue 3, March 2022
https://academic.oup.com/heapol/issue/37/3

 

ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Priority setting and equity in COVID-19 pandemic plans: a comparative analysis of 18 African countries
Lydia Kapiriri, Suzanne Kiwanuka, Godfrey Biemba, Claudia Velez, S Donya Razavi
Health Policy and Planning, Volume 37, Issue 3, March 2022, Pages 297–309, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czab113

Meanings and mechanisms of One Health partnerships: insights from a critical review of literature on cross-government collaborations

Health Policy and Planning
Volume 37, Issue 3, March 2022
https://academic.oup.com/heapol/issue/37/3

 

REVIEWS
Meanings and mechanisms of One Health partnerships: insights from a critical review of literature on cross-government collaborations
Syed Shahid Abbas, Tim Shorten, Jonathan Rushton
Health Policy and Planning, Volume 37, Issue 3, March 2022, Pages 385–399, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czab134

Rapid method through routine data to evaluate real-world vaccine effectiveness against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection: lessons from Thailand

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 12 Mar 2022]

 

Rapid method through routine data to evaluate real-world vaccine effectiveness against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection: lessons from Thailand
The objective of this article is to draw lessons from the Thai experience in estimating vaccine effectiveness (VE) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on routine service data. We found that a matched…
Authors: Natthaprang Nittayasoot, Panithee Thammawijaya, Piyanit Tharmaphornpilas, Chalo Sansilapin, Chuleeporn Jiraphongsa and Rapeepong Suphanchaimat
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems 2022 20:29

Single-cell immunology: Past, present, and future

Immunity
Mar 08, 2022 Volume 55 Issue 3 p377-574
https://www.cell.com/immunity/current

 

Perspective
Single-cell immunology: Past, present, and future
Florent Ginhoux, Adam Yalin, Charles Antoine Dutertre, Ido Amit
In this perspective, Ginhoux, Yalin, Dutertre, and Amit outline the past, present, and future applications of single-cell genomics in immunology and discuss how the integration of multiomics at the single-cell level will pave the way for future advances in immunology research and clinical translation.

Long-Acting Cabotegravir for HIV PreventionIssues of Access, Cost, and Equity

JAMA
March 8, 2022, Vol 327, No. 10, Pages 897-1003
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

Viewpoint
Long-Acting Cabotegravir for HIV PreventionIssues of Access, Cost, and Equity
Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD; Amy Killelea, JD; Derek Dangerfield, PhD
free access
JAMA. 2022;327(10):921-922. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.0420
This Viewpoint discusses the recent FDA approval of cabotegravir, the first injectable medication to help prevent HIV infection, and how its effectiveness may be complicated by the cost and complexity of the US health care system.

Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody Distribution to High-risk Medicare Beneficiaries, 2020-2021

JAMA
March 8, 2022, Vol 327, No. 10, Pages 897-1003
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody Distribution to High-risk Medicare Beneficiaries, 2020-2021
Caroline L. Behr, AB; Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH; Ellen Meara, PhD; et al.
free access has active quiz
JAMA. 2022;327(10):980-983. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.1243
This study assesses how a limited supply of monoclonal antibody therapy was allocated to patients at highest risk of severe disease among a population of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with a new COVID-19 diagnosis or confirmed exposure between November 2020 and August 2021.

Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody Distribution to High-risk Medicare Beneficiaries, 2020-2021

JAMA
March 8, 2022, Vol 327, No. 10, Pages 897-1003
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody Distribution to High-risk Medicare Beneficiaries, 2020-2021
Caroline L. Behr, AB; Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH; Ellen Meara, PhD; et al.
free access has active quiz
JAMA. 2022;327(10):980-983. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.1243
This study assesses how a limited supply of monoclonal antibody therapy was allocated to patients at highest risk of severe disease among a population of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with a new COVID-19 diagnosis or confirmed exposure between November 2020 and August 2021.

Viewpoint
Long-Acting Cabotegravir for HIV PreventionIssues of Access, Cost, and Equity
Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD; Amy Killelea, JD; Derek Dangerfield, PhD
free access
JAMA. 2022;327(10):921-922. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.0420
This Viewpoint discusses the recent FDA approval of cabotegravir, the first injectable medication to help prevent HIV infection, and how its effectiveness may be complicated by the cost and complexity of the US health care system.

Maternal and Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin G Antibody Levels at Delivery After Receipt of the BNT162b2 Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccine During the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

JAMA Pediatrics
March 2022, Vol 176, No. 3, Pages 220-332
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/currentissue

 

Original Investigation
Maternal and Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin G Antibody Levels at Delivery After Receipt of the BNT162b2 Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccine During the Second Trimester of Pregnancy
Nir Kugelman, MD; Chen Nahshon, MD; Pninit Shaked-Mishan, PhD; et al.
free access has active quiz
JAMA Pediatr. 2022;176(3):290-295. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5683
This cohort study evaluates maternal and neonatal COVID-19 antibody levels at delivery after receipt of a messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine during the second trimester of pregnancy.

What Parents Should Consider When Enrolling Children in Research

JAMA Pediatrics
March 2022, Vol 176, No. 3, Pages 220-332
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/currentissue

 

JAMA Pediatrics Patient Page
What Parents Should Consider When Enrolling Children in Research
Lindsay A. Thompson, MD, MS; Rebeccah Mercado, MS
free access
JAMA Pediatr. 2022;176(3):332. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.6025
This Patient Page describes how parents may find out about different types of research studies that their child may enroll in and defines informed parental consent and assent.

Assessment of Clinical Outcomes Among Children and Adolescents Hospitalized With COVID-19 in 6 Sub-Saharan African Countries

JAMA Pediatrics
March 2022, Vol 176, No. 3, Pages 220-332
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/currentissue

 

Assessment of Clinical Outcomes Among Children and Adolescents Hospitalized With COVID-19 in 6 Sub-Saharan African Countries
Jean B. Nachega, MD, PhD, MPH; Nadia A. Sam-Agudu, MD; Rhoderick N. Machekano, PhD, MPH; et al.
open access online only has active quiz
JAMA Pediatr. 2022;176(3):e216436. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.6436
This cohort study assesses clinical outcomes and associated factors among children and adolescents hospitalized with COVID-19 in 6 sub-Saharan African countriesAMA Pediatrics Patient Page

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Trends in Cervical Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the US

JAMA Pediatrics
March 2022, Vol 176, No. 3, Pages 220-332
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/currentissue

 

Research Letter
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Trends in Cervical Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the US
Tara Tabibi, BA; Justin M. Barnes, MD, MS; Aneri Shah, BS; et al.
JAMA Pediatr. 2022;176(3):313-316. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.4807
This cohort study examines the association of human papillomvirus vaccination with cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in the US, comparing age groups understood to have differing levels of vaccination.