New England Journal of Medicine
October 28, 2021 Vol. 385 No. 18
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

Original Articles
Clinical Features of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis S. Pavord and Others

New England Journal of Medicine
October 28, 2021 Vol. 385 No. 18
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

Editorials
Audio Interview: A New Monoclonal Antibody for Covid-19 and Potential Vaccination for Children E.J. Rubin, L.R. Baden, and S. Morrissey

PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 30 Oct 2021)

Safety and immunogenicity of 2-dose heterologous Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo Ebola vaccination in healthy and HIV-infected adults: A randomised, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trial in Africa
Houreratou Barry, Gaudensia Mutua, Hannah Kibuuka, Zacchaeus Anywaine, Sodiomon B. Sirima, Nicolas Meda, Omu Anzala, Serge Eholie, Christine Bétard, Laura Richert, Christine Lacabaratz, M. Juliana McElrath, Stephen De Rosa, Kristen W. Cohen, Georgi Shukarev, Cynthia Robinson, Auguste Gaddah, Dirk Heerwegh, Viki Bockstal, Kerstin Luhn, Maarten Leyssen, Macaya Douoguih, Rodolphe Thiébaut, the EBL2002 Study group
Research Article | published 29 Oct 2021 PLOS Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003813

PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 30 Oct 2021)

Medical journal requirements for clinical trial data sharing: Ripe for improvement
Florian Naudet, Maximilian Siebert, Claude Pellen, Jeanne Gaba, Cathrine Axfors, Ioana Cristea, Valentin Danchev, Ulrich Mansmann, Christian Ohmann, Joshua D. Wallach, David Moher, John P. A. Ioannidis
Policy Forum | published 25 Oct 2021 PLOS Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003844

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 30 Oct 2021]

Research Article
Misinformation, perceptions towards COVID-19 and willingness to be vaccinated: A population-based survey in Yemen
Ahmad Naoras Bitar, Mohammed Zawiah, Fahmi Y. Al-Ashwal, Mohammed Kubas, Ramzi Mukred Saeed, Rami Abduljabbar, Ammar Ali Saleh Jaber, Syed Azhar Syed Sulaiman, Amer Hayat Khan
Research Article | published 29 Oct 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248325

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 30 Oct 2021]

Messages that increase COVID-19 vaccine acceptance: Evidence from online experiments in six Latin American countries
Pablo Argote Tironi, Elena Barham, Sarah Zuckerman Daly, Julian E. Gerez, John Marshall, Oscar Pocasangre
Research Article | published 28 Oct 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259059

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 30 Oct 2021]

Analysis of COVID-19 vaccine non-intent by essential vs non-essential worker, demographic, and socioeconomic status among 101,048 US adults
Tania Elliott, Baligh R. Yehia, Angela L. Winegar, Jyothi Karthik Raja, Ashlin Jones, Erin Shockley, Joseph Cacchione
Research Article | published 28 Oct 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258540

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 30 Oct 2021]

Invincibility threatens vaccination intentions during a pandemic
James M. Leonhardt, Garret Ridinger, Yu Rong, Amir Talaei-Khoe
Research Article | published 27 Oct 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258432

PLoS Pathogens
http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/
[Accessed 30 Oct 2021]

Induction of trained immunity by influenza vaccination – impact on COVID-19
Priya A. Debisarun, Katharina L. Gössling, Ozlem Bulut, Gizem Kilic, Martijn Zoodsma, Zhaoli Liu, Marina Oldenburg, Nadine Rüchel, Bowen Zhang, Cheng-Jian Xu, Patrick Struycken, Valerie A. C. M. Koeken, Jorge Domínguez-Andrés, Simone J. C. F. M. Moorlag, Esther Taks, Philipp N. Ostermann, Lisa Müller, Heiner Schaal, Ortwin Adams, Arndt Borkhardt, Jaap ten Oever, Reinout van Crevel, Yang Li, Mihai G. Netea
Research Article | published 25 Oct 2021 PLOS Pathogens
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009928

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública/Pan American Journal of Public Health (RPSP/PAJPH)
https://www.paho.org/journal/en

Selected Articles
25 Oct 2021
SARS-CoV-2 variants in severely symptomatic and deceased persons who had been vaccinated against COVID-19 in São Paulo, Brazil
Brief communication | English |

Science Translational Medicine
Volume 13| Issue 617| 27 Oct 2021
https://www.science.org/toc/stm/current

Focus
Pregnancy influences immune responses to SARS-CoV-2
BY Cristian Ovies, Eleanor C. Semmes, Carolyn B. Coyne
27 Oct 2021 Free
Pregnancy and fetal sex influence the quality of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunization (Atyeo et al., Bordt et al.).

Science Translational Medicine
Volume 13| Issue 617| 27 Oct 2021
https://www.science.org/toc/stm/current

Research Articles
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines drive differential antibody Fc-functional profiles in pregnant, lactating, and nonpregnant women
BY Caroline Atyeo, t al.
27 Oct 2021
Open Access
Pregnant and lactating women develop distinct antibody Fc profiles in response to the mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 vaccines compared to nonpregnant women.

Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 43 Pages 6341-6450 (15 October 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/43

Discussion Full text access
UAE efforts in promoting COVID-19 vaccination and building vaccine confidence
Duaa Mohamed Suliman, Faisal A. Nawaz, Parvathy Mohanan, Mohamed Abdul Kareem Adam Modber, … Immanuel Azaad Moonesar
Pages 6341-6345

Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 43 Pages 6341-6450 (15 October 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/43

Short communication Full text access
Racial differences in anticipated COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among religious populations in the US
Christopher Justin Jacobi, Brandon Vaidyanathan
Pages 6351-6355

Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 43 Pages 6341-6450 (15 October 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/43

Research article Abstract only
Optimizing immunization schedules in endemic cholera regions: cost-effectiveness assessment of vaccination strategies for cholera control in Bangladesh
Wu Zeng, Yujie Cui, Eva Jarawan, Carlos Avila, … Jie Shen
Pages 6356-6363

Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 43 Pages 6341-6450 (15 October 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/43

Research article Open access
Vaccination information, motivations, and barriers in the context of meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine introduction: A qualitative assessment among caregivers in Burkina Faso, 2018
Brooke Noel Aksnes, Jenny A. Walldorf, Sylvain F. Nkwenkeu, Robert L. Zoma, … Mohamed F. Jalloh
Pages 6370-6377

Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 43 Pages 6341-6450 (15 October 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/43

Research article Abstract only
Determinants of information diffusion in online communication on vaccination: The benefits of visual displays
Helge Giese, Hansjörg Neth, Wolfgang Gaissmaier
Pages 6407-6413

Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 43 Pages 6341-6450 (15 October 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/43

Discussion Full text access
Legal and regulatory processes for Japan’s COVID-19 immunization program
Norihisa Yamamoto, Yuichi Takahashi, Shuichiro Hayashi
Pages 6449-6450

Vaccines
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

Open Access Article
Organisational Model and Coverage of At-Home COVID-19 Vaccination in an Italian Urban Context
by Elettra Carini, et al. , on behalf of the At Home COVID-19 Vax Team,
Vaccines 2021, 9(11), 1256; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9111256 (registering DOI) – 29 Oct 2021
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic called for a reorganisation of the methods for providing health services. The aim of this paper is to describe the organisational model implemented by one of Rome’s Local Health Units (LHU), ASL Roma 1, for the “at-home COVID-19 vaccination campaign” […]

Vaccines
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

Open Access Article
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a City with Free Choice and Sufficient Doses
by Martin C. S. Wong, et al.
Vaccines 2021, 9(11), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9111250 – 28 Oct 2021
Abstract
Background: Vaccine hesitancy represents one of the major global health issues around the world. We examined the perception, attitude, perceived barriers and facilitation measures of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in a Chinese population with free vaccine choices (Sinovac [Coronavac] vs. BioNTech/Fosun [Comirnaty]) and […]

Vaccines
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

Open Access Article
The Barriers, Challenges, and Strategies of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Vaccine Acceptance: A Concurrent Mixed-Method Study in Tehran City, Iran
by Hamid Reza Khankeh et al.
Vaccines 2021, 9(11), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9111248 – 28 Oct 2021
Abstract
Acceptance and willingness to receive the vaccine are among the main factors in the success or failure of a health system in implementing the vaccination program. The present study was conducted in Tehran, the political and economic capital of Iran, to determine the […]

Vaccines
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

Open Access Systematic Review
A Scoping Review to Find Out Worldwide COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Its Underlying Determinants
by Md. Rafiul Biswas, et al.
Vaccines 2021, 9(11), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9111243 – 25 Oct 2021
Abstract
Background: The current crisis created by the coronavirus pandemic is impacting all facets of life. Coronavirus vaccines have been developed to prevent coronavirus infection and fight the pandemic. Since vaccines might be the only way to prevent and stop the spread of coronavirus. […]

Pre-Print Servers

bioRxiv
https://www.biorxiv.org/
bioRxiv (pronounced “bio-archive”) is a free online archive and distribution service for unpublished preprints in the life sciences. It is operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a not-for-profit research and educational institution. By posting preprints on bioRxiv, authors are able to make their findings immediately available to the scientific community and receive feedback on draft manuscripts before they are submitted to journals.
[Accessed 30 Oct 2021]
[No new digest content identified]

Gates Open Research
https://gatesopenresearch.org/browse/articles
[Accessed 30 Oct 2021]

[No new digest content identified]

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…
[Accessed 30 Oct 2021]
Selected Content
Measuring College Student Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Vaccinations
Zach W. Taylor, Ibrahim Bicak, Joshua Childs, Carla Fletcher, Allyson Cornett
medRxiv 2021.10.30.21265699; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.30.21265699

Parents perceptions and intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19: Results from a cross-sectional national survey in India
Bijaya Kumar Padhi, Prakasini Satapathy, Vineeth Rajagopal, Neeti Rustagi, Jatina Vij, Lovely Jain, Venkatesan Chakrapani, Binod Patro, Sitanshu Sekhar Kar, Ritesh Singh, Star Pala, Lalit Sankhe, Bhavesh Modi, Surya Bali, Tanvi Kiran, Kapil Goel, Arun Kumar Aggarwa, Madhu Gupta
medRxiv 2021.10.30.21265449; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.30.21265449

Comparison of the immunogenicity of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac COVID-19 Vaccines in Hong Kong
Chris Ka Pun Mok, David S Hui
medRxiv 2021.10.28.21265635; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.28.21265635

Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage and Uptake Among Adults in Switzerland
Kyra D Zens, Phung Lang
medRxiv 2021.10.29.21265674; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.29.21265674

Safety and immunogenicity of a high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine administered concomitantly with a third dose of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in adults ≥ 65 years of age: a Phase II, open-label study
Ruvim Izikson, Daniel Brune, Jean-Sébastien Bolduc, Pierre Bourron, Marion Fournier, Tamala Mallett Moore, Aseem Pandey, Lucia Perez, Nessryne Sater, Anju Shrestha, Sophie Wague, Sandrine I Samson
medRxiv 2021.10.29.21265248; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.29.21265248

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine immunization coverage in children under 2 years old in Ontario, Canada: A retrospective cohort study
Catherine Ji, Pierre-Philippe Piche-Renaud, Jemisha Apajee, Ellen Stephenson, Milena Forte, Jeremy N Friedman, Michelle Science, Stanley Zlotkin, Shaun K Morris, Karen Tu
medRxiv 2021.10.28.21265578; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.28.21265578

Boosting of the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response after vaccination with single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine
Alexey A. Komissarov, Inna V. Dolzhikova, Grigory A. Efimov, Denis Y. Logunov, Olga Mityaeva, Ivan A. Molodtsov, Nelli B. Naigovzina, Iuliia O. Peshkova, Dmitry V. Shcheblyakov, Pavel Volchkov, Elena Vasilieva
medRxiv 2021.10.26.21265531; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.26.21265531

Modeling the impact of vaccination strategies for nursing homes in the context of increased SARS-CoV-2 community transmission and variants
Inga Holmdahl, Rebecca Kahn, Kara Jacobs Slifka, Kathleen Dooling, Rachel B. Slayton
medRxiv 2021.10.25.21265493; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.25.21265493

Wellcome Open Research [to 30 Oct 2021]
https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/browse/articles
[Accessed 30 Oct 2021]

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.
[No new digest content identified]

Think Tanks
 
 
Brookings [to 30 Oct 2021]
http://www.brookings.edu/
Terrorism & Extremism
From anti-vaxxer moms to militia men: Influence operations, narrative weaponization, and the fracturing of American identity
Dana Beth Weinberg and Jessica Dawson
October 2021
 
 
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Resilience in the Asia Pacific: Vaccines and the “triple challenge”
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
 
 
Center for Global Development [to 30 Oct 2021]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Accessed 30 Oct 2021
Most Refugees Live in Cities, Not Camps. Our Response Needs to Shift
October 29, 2021
When most people think about refugees, they think of sprawling camps separated from the rest of society. But in reality, today—World Cities Day—over 60 percent of the world’s 26.4 million refugees and around half of the world’s 48 million IDPs live in urban areas, mostly in low- and middle-income countries.
Anneleen Vos and Helen Dempster

Lessons for R&D and Manufacturing Investment for Equitable COVID-19 and Pandemic Response
October 28, 2021
We conducted a joint review of the portfolio management activities of the committee overseeing COVAX R&D and manufacturing investments, known as RDMIC (R&D and Manufacturing Investment Committee). Our aim was to assess learnings from investments to date and suggest ways to strengthen future global health security preparedness and prevent the inequities observed in the COVID-19 response from repeating.
Amanda Glassman et al.

What We Know and Still Don’t Know: Progress and Challenges in the Quest for Transparency to Ensure Equity in the COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment
Event
11/4/21
After earlier calls for transparency in the global deployment of COVID-19 vaccine, we’ve seen progress: in addition to UNICEF’s COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard launched in December 2020, the Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics – launched in June 2021 – houses a central repository with (partial) data on vaccine purchasing and deployment; (some) governments have released (few) contract details; and (select) manufacturers have contributed their designs to technology transfer hubs to facilitate the scale-up of production. But these steps have been small and limited. The overwhelming lack of information on COVID-19 vaccine research and development, manufacturing, contracts, and deployment in the public domain still leads to unpredictable delivery times, wasted doses, high purchasing prices in low- and middle-income countries, and inequitable distribution.
 
 
Chatham House [to 30 Oct 2021]
https://www.chathamhouse.org/
Accessed 30 Oct 2021
[No new digest content identified]

CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 30 Oct 2021
Podcast Episode
The Case for Routine Immunizations within Health Emergency Response
October 26, 2021 | By Katherine E. Bliss

 
 
Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org/search/?post_type=press-release
October 28, 2021 News Release
1 in 4 Workers Say Their Employer Required Them to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine, Up Since June; 5% of Unvaccinated Adults Say They Left a Job Due to a Vaccine Requirement
Most Parents Say Their Kids Will Go Trick-or-Treating for Halloween; 1 in 8 Won’t Due to COVID-19 With the Biden administration moving to require large employers to require COVID-19 vaccinations and require weekly testing for unvaccinated workers, the latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report finds a quarter (25%) of workers…

October 25, 2021 News Release
Policy Considerations as Children Ages 5-11 Become Eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine
A new KFF issue brief lays out key factors for the successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations for younger children, ages 5 to 11. This week, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) advisory committee will meet to vote on a request to authorize the Pfizer vaccine for younger children. A final…
 
 
ODI [Overseas Development Institute] [to 30 Oct 2021]
https://odi.org/en/publications/
Publications
[No new digest content identified]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

House-to-house polio vaccination set to recommence across Afghanistan in November
KABUL / AMMAN / KATHMANDU, 18 October 2021 – WHO and UNICEF welcome the decision by the Taliban leadership supporting the resumption of house-to-house polio vaccination across Afghanistan.

The vaccination campaign, which begins on November 8, will be the first in over three years to reach all children in Afghanistan, including more than 3.3 million children in some parts of the country who have previously remained inaccessible to vaccination campaigns. A second nationwide polio vaccination campaign has also been agreed and will be synchronised with Pakistan’s own polio campaign planned in December.

“This is an extremely important step in the right direction,” said Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Afghanistan. “We know that multiple doses of oral polio vaccine offer the best protection, so we are pleased to see that there is another campaign planned before the end of this year. Sustained access to all children is essential to end polio for good. This must remain a top priority,” he said.

With only one case of wild poliovirus reported so far in 2021, Afghanistan has an extraordinary opportunity to eradicate polio. Restarting polio vaccination now is crucial for preventing any significant resurgence of polio within the country and mitigating the risk of cross-border and international transmission…

The safety and security of health workers remain a prime concern for the polio programme. The Taliban leadership has expressed their commitment for the inclusion of female frontline workers and for providing security and assuring the safety of all health workers across the country, which is an essential prerequisite for the implementation of polio vaccination campaigns.

WHO and UNICEF call on authorities and community leaders at all levels to respect and uphold the neutrality of health interventions and ensure unhindered access to children now and for future campaigns.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Over 80 million reached as Africa trailblazes novel polio vaccine
22 October 2021
Brazzaville – More than 80 million children have been vaccinated with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in six countries in Africa, the world’s first region to rollout of the vaccine just months after the World Health Organization (WHO) gave it Emergency Use Listing status in November 2020.
Nigeria became the first country in the world to use nOPV2 to tackle an outbreak in March 2021, vaccinating 7 million children in six states. By September, Benin, Congo, Liberia, Niger and Sierra Leone had also rolled out the vaccine. Africa was certified free of wild polio in August 2020, but outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived polio type 2 are still being reported…

The nOPV2 is a modified form of the monovalent oral polio vaccine designed to be more genetically stable and less likely to, in under-immunized populations, revert to a form that can cause permanent paralysis in children from vaccine-derived poliovirus. Given the urgent public health need to address vaccine-derived polio globally, nOPV2 became the first vaccine to receive authorization for use under Emergency Use Listing (EUL). WHO has urged countries to rapidly implement the process for national approval for importation and deployment of the vaccine once it was approved for use.

“Africa’s trailblazing rollout of the novel polio vaccine shows a true determination to ending polio for good. The progress made by the six countries and the upcoming rollout in five additional countries targeting 30 million children by the end of 2021 promise effective and lasting protection from the threat of lifelong paralysis,” said Dr Pascal Mkanda, Polio Eradication Programme Coordinator at WHO Regional Office for Africa…

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

WHO-SAGE – October 2021 Meeting

Editor’s Note:
In last week’s edition, we presented the full text of SAGE October 2021 meeting highlights. WHO has added the link to the slide presentations supporting 30+ sessions in the meeting agenda. We include two sample slides from the presentation on IA2030 as examples of the content available.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

As COVID-19 vaccine output estimated to reach over 12 billion by year end and 24
19 October 2021 IFPMA Press Release
This month, COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing output will pass the 9.3 billion dose mark. The biopharmaceutical industry renews its May commitment to the G20 to collaborate with governments to support effective solutions to urgently address vaccine equity.
At current production rates, swiftly rolling out vaccines to those who still need them looks achievable, if the political will, planning and collective action efforts are redoubled. The G20 can play a critical role in focusing political attention on ramping up dose sharing, addressing bottlenecks in the supply chain and supporting country preparedness.
With COVID-19 vaccine supplies on track to outstrip global demand and voluntary collaborations with innovative vaccine manufacturers set to change Africa’s vaccine manufacturing landscape in years to come, initiatives such as the proposed Intellectual Property TRIPS waiver are a distraction. All efforts should be directed towards advancing vaccinations.

19 October 2021, Geneva – As G20 heads of state and government prepare to meet in Rome on 30-31 October, COVID-19 vaccine production will reach the 9,3 billion doses mark. Of the world’s 5.8 billion adult population, 3.3 billion people have been vaccinated[1]. Urgent steps need to be taken to advance vaccinations programmes that reach the remaining 2.5 billion adults. The biopharmaceutical industry renews the commitment it made to the G20 in May 2021 to work with governments to support these efforts. The vaccine production effort is estimated to reach 12.5 billion doses by the end of 2021 and double again to 24 billion doses by June 2022, at which time vaccine supplies will most likely outstrip global demand. These numbers show that the premise for the Intellectual Property TRIPS waiver proposed a year ago, to help address an assumed shortage of vaccines as the solution to vaccine equity, has been overtaken by the facts. The solution to vaccine equity today resides in dose sharing, continuing to optimize output through manufacturing scaling up and voluntary licensing; as well as working together to enable countries to efficiently and effectively vaccinate their people…

…COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing output, driven principally by USA, EU, China, and India, is now amounting to over 1 billion vaccines each month. The 9.3 billion COVID-19 vaccine dose output by the end of October, and the estimated production of 12.5 billion by the end of the year, demonstrates the industry’s success in trebling global vaccine capacity in less than a year. In addition, major strides have been made over the past year to support production capacity with vaccine manufacturers setting up over 300 voluntary collaborations. In particular in Africa, a number of important agreements and commitments have been made to share know-how of mRNA and adenoviral vector vaccine platforms via voluntary collaborations. Building on this, efforts must continue towards working together to vaccinate people in those parts of the world where vaccination rates are too low, including working to ensure countries are prepared to roll out vaccinations.

Thomas Cueni, Director General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) proposes: “As an industry, we have put our energies into developing and producing treatments and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.  The numbers show that the scale up of vaccines is on track to ensure that everybody who needs to be vaccinated can be. We see a turning of the tide. The supplies are available; now all efforts should be focused on distributing and sharing doses. It would be our hope that the energy focused on undermining intellectual property could be channelled into collectively addressing vaccine equity, supporting the growing political will of G20 countries to ensure the necessary, collective action to get jabs into arms; we all agree this is the right thing to do.”

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Health and Care Worker Deaths during COVID-19 – WHO
20 October 2021
Health and care workers are the foundation of health systems and the driving force to achieving universal health coverage and global health security. Their commitment and professionalism throughout the pandemic are evident to all: extraordinary people, performing extraordinary work.

However, too many of them have become infected, ill or died as a result of COVID-19.

WHO estimates that between 80 000 and 180 000 health and care workers could have died from COVID-19 in the period between January 2020 to May 2021, converging to a medium scenario of 115 500 deaths1.

These deaths are a tragic loss. They are also an irreplaceable gap in the world’s pandemic response.
Encouragingly, the reported rate of infections and deaths among health and care workers has reduced over time: but the world cannot be complacent. More work is needed to minimize the risk of infection in the workplace.

As of September 2021, available data from 119 countries suggest that two in five health and care workers were fully vaccinated on average, with considerable difference across regions and economic groupings. Fewer than 1 in 10 have been fully vaccinated in the African and Western Pacific regions, while 22 mostly high income countries reported that above 80% of their personnel are fully vaccinated.

The Steering Committee of the International Year of Health and Care Workers, in coordination with a press conference with WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus, issued a joint statement underscoring their deep concern about the probable number of deaths, the overall low rate of vaccinations and the vaccines inequities among health and care workers in low- and middle-income countries.

The Joint Statement calls for immediate and concrete action to protect health and care workers:
Strengthen data collection and reporting on infections, ill-health and deaths among health and care workers due to COVID-19;
Protect health and care workers during and beyond the current global COVID-19 pandemic; and
Accelerate the vaccination of all health and care workers in all countries.

Failure to take action undermines the physical, mental, and social well-being of those individuals we depend upon to manage the pandemic. Recognition and commemoration are not enough. It is our moral obligation to protect and invest in health and care workers. And we must move forward together.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

COVID Vaccines – OCHA:: HDX

COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
23 Oct 2021 | COVAX (WHO,GAVI,CEPI), UNDESA, Press Reports | DATA
Global COVID-19 Figures: 239M total confirmed cases; 4.9M total confirmed deaths
Global vaccines administered: 6.64B
Number of Countries: 29 [29 week ago]
COVAX Allocations Round 4-6 (Number of Doses): 120M [120M week ago]
COVAX Delivered (Number of Doses): 120M [110M week ago]
Other Delivered (Number of Doses): 200M [190M week ago]
Total Delivered (Number of Doses): 320M [300M week ago]
Total Administered (Number of Doses): 2560M [240M week ago]

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 [IMF, World Bank Group, WHO, WTO]
A joint initiative from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization, and World Trade Organization to accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics by leveraging multilateral finance and trade solutions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Website accessed 23 Oct 2021: https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data The global view below is complemented by country-specific dashboards here.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

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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: 23 Oct 2021
Confirmed cases :: 242 348 657 [239 437 517 week ago]
Confirmed deaths :: 4 927 723 [4 879 235 week ago]
Vaccine doses administered: 6 655 399 359 [6 495 672 0 32 week ago]

Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 – 19 October 2021
Overview
Globally, the numbers of weekly COVID-19 cases and deaths has stabilized this week, with over 2.7 million cases and over 46 000 new deaths, a 4% and 2% decrease respectively, representing similar numbers as those reported last week’s. With the exception of the European region, which for the third consecutive week reported an increase in new COVID-19 cases (7% increase as compared with the previous week), all the other regions reported a decline. The largest decrease in new weekly cases was reported from the African Region (18%), followed by the Western Pacific Region (17%). The cumulative number of confirmed cases reported globally is now over 240 million and the cumulative number of deaths is over 4.8 million.
The number of new weekly deaths reported globally also showed a stabilization (2% decrease as compared with the previous week), with similar numbers as those reported last week’s in the European region (4% increase), Western Pacific region (1% increase) and the American region (1% decrease). The largest decline in new weekly deaths was reported from the African region showing a 24% decrease as compared to the previous week.
In this edition, we provide updates on the evolution and geographic distribution of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs), and summarise phenotypic characteristics (transmissibility, disease severity, risk of reinfection, and impacts on diagnostics and vaccine performance) of VOCs based on published studies.

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Director General Speeches

22 October 2021
Speech
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the 9th meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on COVID-19 – 22 October 2021
…Inequitable access to vaccines and other life-saving tools means that a large proportion of the world’s population remains susceptible to infection and at increased risk of severe disease and death.
As you know, we have set a target to vaccinate 40% of the population of every country by the end of this year. 82 countries are at risk of missing that target. For most of those countries, it’s simply a problem of insufficient and unpredictable supply. A small group of countries have some limitations in their ability to absorb vaccines, and we are working to address those problems.
Recent months have also shown the importance of monitoring vaccine protection.
Data show that vaccines slow but don’t fully stop transmission; however, they are very effective at protecting against symptomatic and severe disease as well as hospitalization and death caused by the Delta variant.
However, given the still-unknown benefits of revaccinating the general population, WHO has decided that additional doses should be targeted to at-risk population groups, such as those who are immunocompromised and older people…

21 October 2021
Speech
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 21 October 2021

21 October 2021
Speech
Director-General’s opening remarks at Member States Information Session on COVID-19 – 21 October 2021

19 October 2021
Keynote
Director-General’s speech on building health systems resilience during COVID-19 and beyond

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Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process 29 September 2021
For 23 vaccine candidates, presents Manufacturer, Name of Vaccine, NRA of Record, Platform, EOI Accepted Status, Pre-submission Meeting Held Status, Dossier Accepted for Review, Status of Assessment; Anticipated/Completed Decision Date
[Full scale view available at title ling above]

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

AstraZeneca
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

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

CanSinoBIO
News – [Website not responding at inquiry]

Clover Biopharmaceuticals – China
News – No new digest announcements identified

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

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

IMBCAMS, China
Home – No new digest announcements identified

Janssen/JNJ
Press Releases
Oct 21, 2021 United States
U.S. CDC Advisory Committee Unanimously Recommends Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine as a Booster for All Eligible Individuals Who Receive Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines

Oct 20, 2021 United States
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot Authorized for Emergency Use by U.S. FDA

Oct 18, 2021 United States
17 Million Doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine to be Donated to African Union Countries

Oct 15, 2021 United States
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot Unanimously Recommended for Emergency Use Authorization by U.S. FDA Advisory Committee

Moderna
Press Releases
October 21, 2021
U.S. CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommends Booster Vaccination with Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine

October 20, 2021
Moderna Announces FDA Authorization of a Booster Dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine in the U.S.

October 14, 2021
Moderna Announces FDA Advisory Committee Unanimously Votes in Support of Emergency Use for a Booster Dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine in the U.S.

October 14, 2021
Moderna Announces COVAX Exercises Option to Purchase 176.5 Million Additional Doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine for Low Income Countries in First Half of 2022

Novavax
Press Releases
Novavax Statement on Initial Com-COV2 Phase 2 Clinical Trial Results Presented at World Vaccine Congress Europe Oct 19, 2021

Pfizer
Recent Press Releases
10.20.2021
Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Phase 3 Trial Data Showing High Efficacy of a Booster Dose of Their COVID-19 Vaccine

10.20.2021
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Votes to Recommend Routine Use of Pfizer’s PREVNAR 20™ (Pneumococcal 20-valent Conjugate Vaccine) in Adults

Sanofi Pasteur
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified

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

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

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GSK
Press releases for media
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices votes unanimously to recommend Shingrix for immunocompromised adults aged 19 and up
20 October 2021

Merck
News releases
CDC ACIP Unanimously Votes to Provisionally Recommend Merck’s VAXNEUVANCE™ (Pneumococcal 15-valent Conjugate Vaccine) in Series with PNEUMOVAX ® 23 (Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent) as an Option for Pneumococcal Vaccination in Appropriate Adults
October 29, 2021

Merck and Ridgeback Announce Submission of Emergency Use Authorization Application to the U.S. FDA for Molnupiravir, an Investigational Oral Antiviral Medicine, for the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19 in At Risk Adults
October 15, 2021

Novartis
News
Novartis signs new initial agreement with BioNTech to support fill and finish of the mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
Oct 21, 2021
:: At least 24 million doses of the mRNA-based vaccine will be filled in 2022 into vials under sterile conditions at Novartis Technical Operations state-of-the-art facility in Ljubljana, Slovenia
:: New agreement follows earlier supply agreement for the fill and finish of more than 50 million doses in 2021 at the Novartis Stein site in Switzerland

SK Biosciences
Press releases – No new digest announcements identified

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

UNICEF COVID-19 Vaccine Market Dashboard :: Agreements Table Accessed 23 Oct 2021
An overview of information collected from publicly announced bilateral and multilateral supply agreements [agreements view since last week’s edition]

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

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

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

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

Dashboard on Vaccine Equity [accessed 23 Oct 2021]: https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/
See also visualization on Vaccine Access and Vaccine Affordability

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

Our World in Data
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations [Accessed 23 Oct 2021]
:: 48.4% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
:: 6.82 billion doses have been administered globally, and 23.89 million are now administered each day.
:: Only 3% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.

CDC-ACIP
Next ACIP Meetings
:: November 2-3, 2021 – No agenda posted at 23 Oct 2021

White House [U.S.]
Briefing Room – Selected Major COVID Announcements
Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
October 22, 2021 • Press Briefings

Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
October 20, 2021 • Press Briefings

FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Announces Update on Operational Planning for COVID-⁠19 Vaccinations for Kids Ages 5-11
October 20, 2021 • Statements and Releases
…In anticipation of the FDA’s independent advisory committee meeting on October 26 and the CDC’s independent advisory committee meeting on November 2-3, today the Biden Administration is announcing a plan to ensure that, if a vaccine is authorized for children ages 5-11, it is quickly distributed and made conveniently and equitably available to families across the country. The start of a vaccination program for children ages 5-11 will depend on the independent FDA and CDC process and timeline, but our planning efforts mean that we will be ready to begin getting shots in arms in the days following a final CDC recommendation. These steps will be critical in ensuring that we are staying ahead of the virus by keeping kids and families safe, especially those at highest risk…

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

European Medicines Agency
News & Press Releases
News: EMA starts evaluating use of COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty in children aged 5 to 11 (new)
CHMP, Last updated: 18/10/2021

News: New manufacturing sites and new formulation approved for COVID-19 vaccine from BioNTech/Pfizer (new)
CHMP, Last updated: 18/10/2021

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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en
Latest Updates
Publication
COVID-19 surveillance guidance – Transition from COVID-19 emergency surveillance to routine surveillance of respiratory pathogens
Technical report – 18 Oct 2021

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Accessed 23 Oct 2021
https://vaccinetracker.ecdc.europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/vaccine-tracker.html#uptake-tab

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European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en
Questions and answers 22 October 2021
Questions and answers on the list of 10 candidate COVID-19 therapeutics
Vaccination is our primary tool to protect against infection, severe disease and hospitalisation and ultimately to put an end the pandemic.

Press release 22 October 2021
European Health Union: Commission establishes portfolio of 10 most promising treatments for COVID-19
Delivering on a key action from the EU Strategy on COVID-19 Therapeutics, the Commission is today establishing a portfolio of 10 potential COVID-19 therapeutics.

Statement 18 October 2021
Statement by President von der Leyen on vaccine exports
President von der Leyen has made a statement about an important milestone in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to the world.
“We have reached an important milestone in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to the world. The European Union has exported over 1 billion vaccine doses worldwide, over the past ten months. Vaccines produced in the EU have been shipped to more than 150 countries on all continents – from Japan to Turkey, from the UK to New Zealand, from South Africa to Brazil. We delivered around 87 million doses to low- and middle-income countries through COVAX. Very clearly, the European Union is the largest exporter of COVID-19 vaccines. We have always shared our vaccines fairly with the rest of the world. We have exported as much as we delivered to EU citizens. Indeed, at least every second vaccine produced in Europe is exported.
In parallel, the EU has enabled the vaccination of our citizens. And more than 75% of adults in the EU are now fully vaccinated. But we remained open to the world from the start and continued to export, even when vaccines were scarce at home. Because we knew that we will only beat COVID-19 if we fight it everywhere. And we will do more. Together with President Biden, we aim for a global vaccination rate of 70% by next year. The EU-US Agenda for Beating the Global Pandemic will help us achieve that. The European Union is doing its part.
On top of our exports, the EU will donate in the next months at least 500 million doses to the most vulnerable countries. But other countries need to step up, too. I work closely with Prime Minister Draghi and President Biden to rally G20 leaders at the Rome Summit next week behind this ambitious goal: beating the global pandemic.”

Press release 18 October 2021
The EU Digital COVID Certificate: a global standard with more than 591 million certificates
Today, the Commission adopted a report on the EU Digital COVID Certificate  and its implementation across the EU…The success of the EU Digital COVID Certificate system in figures:
:: EU Member States have issued more than 591 million EU Digital COVID Certificates
:: 43 countries are already connected to the EU system: 27 EU Member States, 3 European Economic Area (EEA) countries, Switzerland, and 12 other countries and territories. In total, the Commission was approached by 60 third countries interested in joining the EU system. Beyond the ones already connected, technical discussions are ongoing with 28 of these countries…

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

Accesses 23 Oct 2021. Full scale, interactive dashboard available at:
https://africacdc.org/covid-19-vaccination/

Russia: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Russia: Sputnik V – “the first registered COVID-19 vaccine”
https://sputnikvaccine.com/newsroom/pressreleases/
Press Releases
On information attacks against Sputnik V vaccine
Press release, 21.10.2021
…Instead of attacking Sputnik, we urge Western mRNA vaccine producers to consider using the one-component Sputnik Light as a booster to help them achieve stronger immunity that lasts longer…

Approval of mixing and matching of COVID booster shots by FDA is yet another confirmation of efficacy of vaccine cocktail approach pioneered by the Russian Sputnik V vaccine
Press release, 21.10.2021

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

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

20.10.2021 Guidelines for International Arrivals
20.10.2021 List of Countries to be referred to in context of ‘Guidelines for international arrivals’ dated 20th October 2021

Government of India – Press Information Bureau
Latest Press Releases
COVID-19 Vaccination Update – Day 281
Posted On: 23 OCT 2021 8:30PM by PIB Delhi
:: India’s cumulative vaccination coverage crosses 102 crore
:: More than 70 lakh Vaccine doses administered today till 7 pm
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 102 Crore (1,02,03,34,409) today. More than 70 lakh (70,71,127) Vaccine Doses have been administered till 7 pm today.  The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late tonight.

PIB’S BULLETIN ON COVID-1
Posted On: 23 OCT 2021 7:51PM by PIB Delhi
101.30 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
16,326 new cases in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently at 98.16%; Highest since March 2020
17,677 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,35,32,126
Active cases account for less than 1% of total cases, currently at 0.51%; Lowest since March 2020
India’s Active caseload stands at 1,73,728; lowest in 233 days
Weekly Positivity Rate (1.24%) less than 2% for last 29 days
Daily positivity rate (1.20%) less than 2% for last 19 days
59.84 crore Total Tests conducted so far

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

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

See China CDC below for announcements.

Emergencies

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

Polio this week as of 20 October 2021
:: This week, the GPEI got the greenlight to resume house-to-house vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan which had been halted for over three years. Starting November 8, the campaigns will target over 3.3 million children in parts of the country that were previously inaccessible. Read more on this positive development.
:: For many of the women and men who spent their careers fighting polio, retirement offers not rest and relaxation, but a continuation of their life’s work towards eradication. Across the Eastern Mediterranean Region, once and forever polio fighters are inspiring the next generation of eradicators with their commitment to the cause, and belief in the benefits of a polio-free future. Read more in our latest feature story.
:: Following careful review of safety and genetic stability data from mass immunization campaigns conducted with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) endorsed the transition to the next use phase for the vaccine. Read more…

Summary of new WPV and cVDPV viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
:: Nigeria: 37 cVDPV2 cases and 19 cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: Senegal: one cVDPV2 case
:: Somalia: one cVDPD2 case

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House-to-house polio vaccination set to recommence across Afghanistan in November
18 October 2021
[See Milestones above for detail]

Over 80 million reached as Africa trailblazes novel polio vaccine
22 October 2021
[See Milestones above for detail]

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WHO/OCHA Emergencies

Health emergencies list – WHO
“The health emergencies list details the disease outbreaks, disasters and humanitarian crises where WHO plays an essential role in supporting countries to respond to and recover from emergencies with public health consequences.”
Afghanistan crisis
:: House-to-house polio vaccination set to recommence across Afghanistan in November
18 October 2021

Crisis in Northern Ethiopia [Last apparent update: 5 Aug 2021]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yemen crisis [Last apparent update: 12 February 2021]

Syria crisis [Last apparent update: 18 June 2021]

Somalia crisis [Last apparent update: 24 March 2018]

Nigeria crisis
:: Case study: Pilot implementation in Nigeria and Zambia, SBI COVID-19 data collection tool
1 October 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: Weekly Humanitarian Update (11 – 17 October 2021)

Afghanistan: ICCT Real-Time Response Overview Situation Report (21 October 2021)
HIGHLIGHTS
Humanitarians seek US$606 million as part of the Flash Appeal to provide prioritised multi-sectoral assistance to 11 million people in the four remaining months of 2021. Donors are urged to fast-track funding to mitigate against avoidable deaths, prevent displacement and reduce suffering. Donors are also urged to ensure that funding is flexible enough to adapt to the fast-changing conditions on the ground. As at 21 October, the Flash Appeal remained only 45 per cent funded, with a shortfall of some $334 million.
Humanitarians remain concerned about “conditional humanitarianism” or attempts to “leverage” humanitarian assistance for political purposes. Humanitarian action should never be conditioned to political, development, human rights or other non-humanitarian objectives. The conditioning of humanitarian aid is antithetical to the core principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, serves to erode respect for International Humanitarian Law and compromises humanitarian actors. Donors are urged to ensure transactions and other activities required for humanitarian operations are excluded from the scope of sanctions regimes to allow humanitarian activities to continue without impediment.
Since 1 September 2021, partners have reached 39,383 children with community-based education activities, supported 53,983 people with standard NFIs assistance, provided 4 million people with food assistance, reached 790,000 people with primary healthcare, provided treatment for Acute Malnutrition to 85,623 children under five, supported 27,310 people with psychosocial support services, and assisted 165,000 drought-affected people with water trucking.
The majority of activities during the reporting period have been carried out with existing funding. Humanitarians continue to urge for pledged funding to be rapidly translated into commitments to resource immediate response and preparedness activities.

Northern Ethiopia
Ethiopia – Northern Ethiopia Humanitarian Update Situation Report, 21 Oct 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
Two airstrikes on Mekelle killing three children and injuring 10 people, according to health officials.
Another airstrike carried on 20 October, injuring a number of people.
Between 7-13 October, only about 52,000 people reached with food or 1 per cent of the targeted population in Tigray, in which half of them received only one or two food items.
Fuel is still not allowed to enter Tigray via Afar.
The percentage of children identified with severe acute malnutrition in Tigray is rising on weekly basis and alarming at above two per cent.
Partners reached more than 807,000 people with food since early August in Amhara Region, including nearly 97,000 people during the reporting period.

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WHO & Regional Offices [to 23 Oct 2021]
https://www.who.int/
22 October 2021
Departmental news
WHO, WIPO, WTO update information note on an integrated health, trade, IP response to COVID-19

21 October 2021
Departmental news
Determination, innovation and adaptation can keep lymphatic filariasis elimination on track

21 October 2021
News release
WHO unveils action plan to address findings of Independent Commission on DRC SEA allegations

21 October 2021
News release
WHO and partners call for action to better protect health and care workers from COVID-19

21 October 2021
Departmental news
Global TB Report app – Updated data in line with 2021 Global TB Report

20 October 2021
Departmental news
NTDs: countries must adapt and innovate to mitigate COVID-19 disruptions

20 October 2021
Departmental news
Health and Care Worker Deaths during COVID-19
[See Milestones above for detail]

20 October 2021
Departmental news
WHO launches women’s health chatbot with messaging on breast cancer

19 October 2021
Departmental news
Scientists share data from first WHO-recommended malaria vaccine

19 October 2021
Departmental news
WHO’s 7 policy recommendations on building resilient health systems

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WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Over 80 million reached as Africa trailblazes novel polio vaccine 22 October 2021

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
No new digest content identified

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

WHO European Region EURO
:: World Polio Day 2021 highlights progress and ongoing commitment to end polio everywhere 21-10-2021
:: Azerbaijan strengthens its health workforce to boost primary health care 21-10-2021
:: One billion COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the WHO European Region – but risks for the unvaccinated leave no room for complacency 21-10-2021

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: House-to-house polio vaccination set to recommence across Afghanistan in November 18 October 2021

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified

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New WHO Publications [Selected]
https://www.who.int/publications/i
Selected Titles
22 October 2021
Integrated health, trade and IP approach to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, 30 August 2021
Overview
The Trilateral Study is a result of the more than 10 years of trilateral cooperation between the Secretariats of WHO, WIPO and WTO. It seeks to strengthen the understanding of the ever-evolving interplay between the distinct policy domains of health, trade and intellectual property and their effect on innovation and access to health technologies, such as medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and medical devices.

21 October 2021
Interim recommendations for use of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, CoronaVac, developed by Sinovac

21 October 2021
Annexes to the recommendations for use of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine against COVID-19: Grading of…

21 October 2021
Coadministration of seasonal inactivated influenza and COVID-19 vaccines
Overview
Vaccination programmes against COVID-19 and seasonal influenza are currently being implemented in parallel in many countries. Administration of both vaccines during the same visit has potential advantages. This document presents the evidence related to coadministration of Covid-19 and influenza vaccines and the interim guidance.

19 October 2021
Fourteenth report of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTDs)

19 October 2021
Infection prevention and control in primary care: a toolkit of resources

19 October 2021
Building health systems resilience for universal health coverage and health security during the COVID-19…

19 October 2021
WHO consultative meeting on science and technology foresight function for global health, 13 July 2021
…The Global Health Foresight function in the Science Division aims to address the following areas:
strengthen capabilities for the early identification of trends or advances in science and technology with notable impacts on public health;
generate country foresight and scenarios through structured, transparent processes that help identify how these trends might affect health and health systems in countries; and
develop strategic options to prepare future health systems to take advantage of opportunities, and proactively confront risks and challenges, and informing globalhealth policy.
WHO’s Science Division is working with various stakeholders, including international and regional organizations, technical experts, and other partnerships. It is important that the foresight function provides timely, useful, and actionable outputs relevant to all levels of the organization, member states, as well as the global community…

19 October 2021
Mapping health systems’ responsiveness to refugee and migrant health needs
Overview
This mapping exercise reviews the ways in which countries with significant refugee and migrant populations have adapted their health-care systems and service delivery to meet the diverse needs of refugee and migrant populations. Understanding the models of care through which countries provide health services to refugees and migrants is critical to determining how the delivery of these services can be improved to ensure safe, effective and culturally sensitive care that also recognizes the strengths of refugee and migrant populations. The review identifies four models of care adopted by countries in response to migration trends and health needs of refugees and migrants: mainstream, specialized-focus, gateway and limited. It examines the strengths and weaknesses associated with each model. The application of these models in practice is described using case studies from 18 countries engaged in local integration or third-country resettlement of refugees and migrants.

19 October 2021
An overview of infodemic management during COVID-19, January 2020–May 2021

CDC/ACIP [U.S.] [to 23 Oct 2021]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html
Latest News Releases, Announcements
CDC Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots
Thursday, October 21, 2021
[See U.S. COVID above for detail]

CDC to Renew Advisory Committee to the Director
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
The Advisory Committee to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACD), as authorized by federal law, is being re-established.
The ACD advises the CDC director, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Assistant Secretary for Health on policy and broad strategies that will enable CDC to fulfill its mission of protecting the nation’s health. It specifically recommends ways to prioritize CDC’s activities, improve results, and address health disparities.
As an official federal advisory committee, the ACD also provides guidance to help CDC work more effectively with its various private and public sector constituents to make health protection a reality. Meetings are open to the public.
“As a physician scientist, I have always valued collaboration and diversity of thought,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H.  “For 57 years, this committee provided invaluable advice and counsel to prior CDC directors to help shape public health policy intended to protect people and save lives.  I look forward to future collaborations with the committee.”…

Next ACIP Meetings
No registration is required to watch the webcast.
:: November 2-3, 2021 – No agenda posted at 23 Oct 2021

MMWR News Synopsis Friday, October 22, 2021
Selected Content
:: HIV Infection and HIV-Associated Behaviors Among Persons Who Inject Drugs — 23 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, United States, 2018
:: Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA Vaccination Against COVID-19 Hospitalization Among Persons Aged 12–18 Years — United States, June–September 2021

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)– CDC
Approximately 25 announcements/reports/data summaries.

Africa CDC [to 23 Oct 2021]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
No new digest content identified

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

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China [to 23 Oct 2021]
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
Oct 23: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
On Oct 22, 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on the Chinese mainland reported 50 new cases of confirmed infections.

National Medical Products Administration – PRC [to 23 Oct 2021]
http://english.nmpa.gov.cn/news.html
News
Over 2.238b COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on Chinese mainland
2021-10-22
More than 2.238 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered on the Chinese mainland as of Wednesday, data from the National Health Commission showed on Oct 21.

CCDC Weekly – Weekly Reports: Current Volume (3)
2021-10-22 / No. 43
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Perspectives: Senior Research Scholars in China CDC’s National Immunization Program
China CDC’s National Immunization Program’s Senior Research Scholars Program (NIP-SRSP) is a program created to foster the professional development of early-to-mid-career immunization experts, strengthen knowledge exchange and cooperation between national and provincial/prefectural-level CDCs, and deepen scientific and programmatic capacity of the National Immunization Program and provincial/prefectural immunization programs. Initiated in September 2019, the NIP-SRSP recruits immunization professionals for a 12-to-18-month experience in Beijing who have worked at the Vice-Senior professional level or above and are recommended by their provincial/prefectural CDC supervisor and leadership. The first cohort of National Immunization Program Senior Research Scholars successfully completed the program and were recognized by CDC Director, Academician George F. Gao at a commencement ceremony on August 25, 2021…