WHO & Regional Offices [to 13 June 2020]

Weekly Epidemiological Record, 5 June 2020, vol. 95, 23/24 (pp. 257–264)
Fast-tracking WHO’s COVID-19 technical guidance to training for the frontline

::::::

WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Africa records over 200 000 COVID-19 cases 11 June 2020
COVID-19 continues to spread in Africa since the virus was first detected on the continent in mid-February 2020. More than 200 000 cases have been confirmed so far, with over 5600 deaths. The pandemic is accelerating – it took 98 days to reach 100 000 cases and only 19 days to move to 200 000 cases.
:: No link between two ongoing Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 09 June 2020

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
No new digest content identified.

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: India elected chair of WHO’s Executive Board 22 May 2020

WHO European Region EURO
:: WHO/Europe encourages health workers to ask “why?” 09-06-2020
:: COVID-19: WHO coordinates large-scale response operation in Tajikistan 09-06-2020

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
Website not responding at inquiry

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified.

CDC/ACIP [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html
Latest News Releases
Transcript – CDC Media Telebriefing: Update on COVID-19
Friday, June 12, 2020
… Thank you all for joining us today for this briefing to update you on the CDC’s COVID-19-19 response.  We are joined by director Dr. Robert Redfield and CDC’s incident manager Dr. Jay Butler.  Dr. Redfield will give opening remarks and Dr. Butler will discuss an MMWR being released later today as well as suggestions on how to navigate daily life as communities reopen.

MMWR News Synopsis Friday, June 12, 2020
Trends in Pneumoconiosis Deaths — United States, 1999–2018

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Department Visits — United States, January 1, 2019–May 30, 2020 (Early release June 3, 2020)

Knowledge and Practices Regarding Safe Household Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID-19 Prevention — United States, May 2020 (Early release June 5, 2020)

First Reported Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Companion Animals — New York, March–April 2020 (Early release June 8, 2020)

SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Serologic Responses from a Sample of U.S. Navy Service Members — USS Theodore Roosevelt, April 2020 (Early release June 9, 2020)

Africa CDC [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Outbreak Brief 21: COVID-19 Pandemic – 9 June 2020
…As of 9 am EAT 9 June 2020, a total of 196,254 COVID-19 cases and 5,341 (CFR: 2.7%) deaths have been reported in 54 African countries. This is about 2.8% of all cases reported globally. Since the last brief (2 June 2020), 43,812 new COVID-19 cases have been reported, which is a 29% increase in new cases reported compared to what was reported in the previous week (26 May to 2 June 2020)…

China CDC
http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/
No new digest content identified.

National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
June 13: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
On June 12, 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 11 new cases of confirmed infections, no new cases of suspected infections, and no deaths

Xi hails strengthened ties in pandemic fight
2020-06-12

Beijing CDC: proper use of face masks still necessary
2020-06-12

Beijing reports new case after more than 50 days
2020-06-12

China donates more medical supplies to Lebanon to fight COVID-19
2020-06-12

Announcements

Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group [to 13 June 2020]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
News
No new digest content identified.

BARDA [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.phe.gov/about/barda/Pages/default.aspx
June 11, 2020:
BARDA, Snapdragon Chemistry Inc., demonstrate deployable domestic manufacturing technology for COVID-19 vaccine component

BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases
JUNE 11, 2020
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Appoints President of Gender Equality
SEATTLE, June 11, 2020 – Today the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation named Anita Zaidi, currently director, Vaccine Development & Surveillance (VD&S) and Enteric & Diarrheal Diseases (EDD), as the first president of Gender Equality. In this new role, Anita will oversee a division comprised of the foundation’s Gender Equality program team and Gender Program Advocacy and Communications team. She will also take on responsibility for the foundation’s broader gender integration agenda, working with and across all program teams to ensure gender is being incorporated in a smart, thoughtful way to increase impact. Anita will report directly to CEO Mark Suzman and will join the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). She will assume her new role effective November 2, 2020.

JUNE 10, 2020
Changing the National Conversation About Poverty and Economic Mobility
28 organizations from 18 states and D.C. receive $100,000 Grand Challenge Grants, Sponsored by a Group of 8 Philanthropic Partners

Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.gatesmri.org/
The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is a non-profit biotech organization. Our mission is to develop products to fight malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases—three major causes of mortality, poverty, and inequality in developing countries. The world has unprecedented scientific tools at its disposal; now is the time to use them to save the lives of the world’s poorest people
No new digest content identified.

CARB-X [to 13 June 2020]
https://carb-x.org/
CARB-X is a non-profit public-private partnership dedicated to accelerating antibacterial research to tackle the global rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.
No new digest content identified.

CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 13 June 2020]
http://cepi.net/
Latest News
Greece announces $1.6 million funding to CEPI to support COVID-19 vaccine development
The donation, first announced by Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis on 4 May, will contribute to CEPI’s efforts to advance the development of a safe, effective and globally accessible…
COVID-19
09 Jun 2020

Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) [to 13 June 2020]
https://clintonhealthaccess.org/
News & Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

EDCTP [to 13 June 2020]
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
Latest news
09 June 2020
WHO AVAREF survey highlights EDCTP’s role in supporting ethical and regulatory oversight in Africa
In April 2020, the African Vaccine Regulatory Forum (AVAREF) conducted a digital survey of the state of regulatory activities and ethical review in Africa. On 21 May 2020, the results were presented at a webinar organised by WHO AFRO through the AVAREF Secretariat, which was attended by approximately 125 partners of AVAREF including EDCTP. The survey focused on AVAREF’s joint review process. The results highlight EDCTP’s role in strengthening the capacity for ethics review in African countries, including the use of online platforms…

Emory Vaccine Center [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
No new digest content identified.

European Medicines Agency [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/
News & Press Releases
Press release: Highlights of Management Board: June 2020 meeting
MB, Last updated: 12/06/2020

News: Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 8-11 June 2020
PRAC, Last updated: 12/06/2020

Press release: Latest data support continued use of ACE inhibitors and ARB medicines during COVID-19 pandemic
Last updated: 09/06/2020

Press release: EU actions to support availability of medicines during COVID-19 pandemic – update #7
Last updated: 08/06/2020
Press release: EMA receives application for conditional authorisation of first COVID-19 treatment in the EU
Last updated: 08/06/2020

News: Patients’ and healthcare professionals’ organisations updated on EMA’s response to COVID-19
Last updated: 04/06/2020

European Vaccine Initiative [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/
Latest News
Website not responding at inquiry

FDA [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
Press Announcements
June 12, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup June 12, 2020

June 12, 2020 – FDA Approves Drug to Treat Infants and Children with HIV

June 11, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup June 11, 2020

June 10, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup June 10, 2020

June 10, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes First Next Generation Sequence Test for Diagnosing COVID-19

June 9, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup June 9, 2020

June 8, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup June 8, 2020

June 7, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Reissues Emergency Use Authorizations Revising Which Types of Respirators Can Be Decontaminated for Reuse

Fondation Merieux [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
No new digest content identified.

Gavi [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.gavi.org/
News releases
No new digest content identified.

GHIT Fund [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press
GHIT was set up in 2012 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that No new digest content identified.

Global Fund [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
Voices
In Kenya, A Chance to See Communities Confront COVID-19
09 June 2020

Updates
43rd Board Meeting Documents
09 June 2020

Hilleman Laboratories [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
No new digest content identified.

Human Vaccines Project [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
No new digest content identified.

IAVI [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.iavi.org/newsroom
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

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

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

IFFIm
http://www.iffim.org/
Press Releases
Norway contributes NOK 2 billion to IFFIm
The pledge will back Vaccine Bonds, funding CEPI’s COVID-19 programme
London, 12 June 2020 – The Kingdom of Norway has committed NOK 2 billion (approximately US$ 200 million) to the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) to issue Vaccine Bonds that will expedite funding through Gavi…

IFRC [to 13 June 2020]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
No new digest content identified.

IVAC [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates
Webinar: How will a COVID-19 Vaccine be Delivered?
June 2020
Register: The International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) on June 17, 2020 at 1pm ET will host a 60-minute webinar, “How will a COVID-19 Vaccine be Delivered?“. Description: When a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, it will effectively stop disease transmission only if it reaches the people who need it. Many decisions go into developing a strategy […]

IVI [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.ivi.int/
Selected IVI News & Announcements
No new digest content identified.

JEE Alliance [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
Selected News and Events
No new digest content identified.

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements]
Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
Caring for COVID-19 patients in Tegucigalpa
Project Update 13 Jun 2020

El Salvador
Tropical Storm Amanda is “the last straw” for families in El Salvador amid COVI…
Project Update 11 Jun 2020

Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
“COVID-19 has brought suffering to people everywhere, but its impact…
Speech 10 Jun 2020

Afghanistan
“As midwives in Afghanistan, we are the silent leaders of our count…
Voices from the Field 10 Jun 2020

Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
“COVID-19 has made the health system’s collapse complete” in Yemen
Project Update 10 Jun 2020

DRC Ebola outbreaks
Crisis update – June 2020
Crisis Update 9 Jun 2020

National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
NVAC 2020 Meetings
September 23-24, 2020 Meeting (Virtual)

NIH [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
Selected News Releases
Brain cells can harbor and spread HIV virus to the body
June 11, 2020 — NIH-funded study highlights the importance of addressing the brain in HIV cure strategies.

NIH researchers identify key genomic features that could differentiate SARS-CoV-2 from other coronaviruses that cause less severe disease
June 11, 2020 — Research could be a crucial step in helping scientists develop approaches to predict severity of future coronavirus disease outbreaks.

NIH-funded study to evaluate drugs prescribed to children with COVID-19
June 10, 2020 — Researchers will assess dosage, metabolism and other properties not yet determined in children.

PATH [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Selected Announcements
Racism is a centuries-long public health crisis that demands a public health response.
June 2, 2020 by PATH

Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
Our Commitment to Anti-Racism
Saturday, June 6, 2020
In our strongest and most unified voice, the Sabin Vaccine Institute condemns racism. Dr. Albert Sabin was a great scientist, and importantly his work led him to fight for equality so that all children everywhere – regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender or socioeconomic status – received his lifesaving polio vaccine.

UNAIDS [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
12 June 2020
New HIV community group in Guinea fighting COVID-19

11 June 2020
Five UNAIDS country directors taking the lead in the COVID-19 response

10 June 2020
Peer consultants helping the AIDS response in Kyrgyzstan

8 June 2020
New HIV infections differ by sex and by region

8 June 2020
Targeting sex workers is not the answer

UNICEF [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Selected Press releases/Announcements
Press release
Geneva Palais briefing note on the humanitarian situation for children in Yemen
This is a summary of what was said by Marixie Mercado, UNICEF spokesperson in Geneva – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
12/06/2020

Press release
COVID-19 may push millions more children into child labour – ILO and UNICEF
Child labour down by 94 million since 2000, a gain now under threat
11/06/2020

Press release
Millie Bobby Brown and Sofia Carson join United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore in World’s Largest Lesson Live, encouraging teens to reimagine the world post-COVID
10/06/2020

Press release
New UNICEF, NBIM guidance to help businesses prioritize child rights in global supply chains
As the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic threatens livelihoods across the globe, newly released guidance supports companies to improve their impact on children in the garment and footwear supply chain
09/06/2020

Unitaid [to 13 June 2020]
https://unitaid.org/
Featured News
No new digest content identified.

Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN) [to 13 June 2020]
https://vaccineacceptance.org/news.html#header1-2r
Announcements
No new digest content identified.

Vaccine Confidence Project [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
Latest News & Archive
The misinformation circulating in Africa about Covid-19
10 Jun 2020

Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
No new digest content identified.

Wellcome Trust [to 13 June 2020]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
No new digest content identified.

The Wistar Institute [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
No new digest content identified.

WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News
WFPHA Press Release: 54th General Assembly
Thursday, 11 June 2020
This year, General Assembly was very special: first time ever online and everyone behind a screen. This has never happened in the history of our…

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2020/
Press Releases
12/06/20
The OIE Working Group on Antimicrobial Resistance:Providing guidance and establishing priorities during its first year
Paris, 12 June 2020 – The Working Group on AMR is focused on assisting in the implementation of the OIE Strategy on AMR and the Prudent and Responsible Use of Antimicrobials, providing guidance, establishing priorities, addressing recommendations to maintain and develop the OIE International Standards related to AMR, assisting in the development of the OIE Antimicrobial Use database and supporting OIE Member Countries in developing communication activities and National Action Plans relating to AMR. The Working Group on AMR will also support the implementation of the recommendations of the 2nd OIE Global Conference on AMR and Prudent Use of Antimicrobials in Animals…

::::::

ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 13 June 2020]
https://alliancerm.org/press-releases/
Press Releases
ARM Statement on Racial Inequality & Injustice
June 5, 2020

BIO [to 13 June 2020]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases
New Report Analyzes Bioscience Industry’s Impact on Economy & Global Pandemic
June 8, 2020
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today released new data on the bioscience industry in the United States. The new report, The Bioscience Economy: Propelling Life-Saving Treatments, Supporting State & Local Communities,…

DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News
DCVMN members’ commitments on Cholera, Typhoid and HPV vaccines supply for Gavi eligible countries
04th June 2020

IFPMA [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
Global Pharma Body Names New Communications Director
08 June 2020

ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 13 June 2020]
https://internationalbiotech.org/
News
No new digest content identified.

PhRMA [to 13 June 2020]
http://www.phrma.org/
Selected Press Releases, Statements
Stakeholders raise concerns with proposed drastic changes to the pharmaceutical supply chain
Nicole Longo   |     June 11, 2020
As we work to combat the current global pandemic, it is especially critical to maintain the stability of our global manufacturing supply chain. Unfortunately, recent policy proposals that would mandate drastic changes to pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chains underestimate the significant time, resources and other feasibility challenges and complexities involved. Proponents of these proposals also ignore the strength of a geographically diverse global supply chain…

Industry Watch [to 13 June 2020]
:: FDA Approves Merck’s GARDASIL 9 for the Prevention of Certain HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancers
June 12, 2020

:: Moderna Advances Late-Stage Development of its Vaccine (mRNA-1273) Against COVID-19
June 11, 2020

:: Johnson & Johnson Announces Acceleration of its COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate; Phase 1/2a Clinical Trial to Begin in Second Half of July
Jun 10, 2020, 10:00 ET

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

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 6, June 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/6

oa Ivermectin and COVID-19: Keeping Rigor in Times of Urgency
Carlos Chaccour, Felix Hammann, Santiago Ramón-García and N. Regina Rabinovich
Pages: 1156–1157
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0271
… The discovery of ivermectin’s activity against SARS-CoV-2 gives reason for hope, but off-label and compassionate use requires careful risk–benefit considerations,²⁷ especially in critically ill patients. A path to consider is evaluation first of impacts on virologic outcomes in uncomplicated, low-risk patients early in the course of the disease. Well-conducted clinical trials informed by robust pharmacokinetic models should be considered to validate the impact before the use of ivermectin to treat SARS-CoV-2 is implemented.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 6, June 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/6

oa Rigorous Randomized Controlled Trial Implementation in the Era of COVID-19
Catherine E. Oldenburg and Thuy Doan
Pages: 1154–1155
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0262

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 6, June 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/6

oa An Urgent Need for “Common Cold Units” to Study COVID-19
Scott B. Halstead
Pages: 1152–1153
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0246

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 6, June 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/6

oa COVID-19: The Need for Immunoprevention at Industrial Scale
Scott B. Halstead
Pages: 1151–1151
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0239

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 6, June 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/6

oa COVID-19: Global Health Equity in Pandemic Response
Louise C. Ivers and David A. Walton
Pages: 1149–1150
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0260

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 6, June 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/6

Editorials
oa COVID-19: Shining the Light on Africa
Philip J. Rosenthal, Joel G. Breman, Abdoulaye A. Djimde, Chandy C. John, Moses R. Kamya, Rose G. F. Leke, Matshidiso R. Moeti, John Nkengasong and Daniel G. Bausch
Pages: 1145–1148
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0380

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 6, June 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/6
oa Reflections on Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Six Lessons from Working in Resource-Denied Settings
Leah Ratner, Rachel Martin-Blais, Clare Warrell and Nirmala P. Narla
Pages: 1178–1180
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0274

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 6, June 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/6

oa “Global Health”: Time to Refocus while We still Have Time
David Bell and Eliah Aronoff-Spencer
Pages: 1175–1177
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0081

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 6, June 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/6

Perspective Pieces
Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for the Prevention or Treatment of COVID-19 in Africa: Caution for Inappropriate Off-label Use in Healthcare Settings
Pascale M. Abena, Eric H. Decloedt, Emmanuel Bottieau, Fatima Suleman, Prisca Adejumo, Nadia A. Sam-Agudu, Jean-Jacques Muyembe TamFum, Moussa Seydi, Serge P. Eholie, Edward J. Mills, Oscar Kallay, Alimuddin Zumla and Jean B. Nachega
Pages: 1184–1188
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0290

Artificial Intelligence – An International Journal
Volume 285 August 2020
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/artificial-intelligence/vol/285/suppl/C

Editorial Abstract only
Special issue on autonomous agents modelling other agents: Guest editorial
Stefano V. Albrecht, Peter Stone, Michael P. Wellman
Article 103292
Abstract
Much research in artificial intelligence is concerned with enabling autonomous agents to reason about various aspects of other agents (such as their beliefs, goals, plans, or decisions) and to utilise such reasoning for effective interaction. This special issue contains new technical contributions addressing open problems in autonomous agents modelling other agents, as well as research perspectives about current developments, challenges, and future directions.

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 13 June 2020)

Research article
A qualitative study on aspects of consent for genomic research in communities with low literacy
Authors: Daima Bukini, Columba Mbekenga, Siana Nkya, Lisa Purvis, Sheryl McCurdy, Michael Parker and Julie Makani
Content type: Research article
12 June 2020
Background
Low literacy of study participants in Sub – Saharan Africa has been associated with poor comprehension during the consenting process in research participation. The concerns in comprehension are far greater when consenting to participate in genomic studies due to the complexity of the science involved. While efforts are made to explore possibilities of applying genomic technologies in diseases prevalent in Sub Saharan Africa, we ought to develop methods to improve participants’ comprehension for genomic studies. The purpose of this study was to understand different approaches that can be used to seek consent from individuals with low literacy in Sub-Saharan African countries in genomic research to improve comprehension.

BMC Medicine
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/content
(Accessed 13 June 2020)

Estimating the contribution of different age strata to vaccine serotype pneumococcal transmission in the pre vaccine era: a modelling study
Herd protection through interruption of transmission has contributed greatly to the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) and may enable the use of cost-saving reduced dose schedules. To aid PCV age…
Authors: Stefan Flasche, Marc Lipsitch, John Ojal and Amy Pinsent
Citation: BMC Medicine 2020 18:129
Content type: Research article
Published on: 10 June 2020

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 13 June 2020)

High level of vaccination and protection against hepatitis B with low rate of HCV infection markers among hospital health care personnel in north of Iran: a cross-sectional study
hepatitis B virus (HBV) and C virus (HCV) are among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Health care personnel (HCP) are subjected to increased risk of these infections. Therefore, HBV vaccination and po…
Authors: Saffar Hiva, Khoshayand Negar, Parsaei Mohammad-Reza, Ghorbani Gholam-Reza, Aarabi Mohsen, Nadi Ghara Ali-Asghar and Saffar Mohammed-Jafar
Citation: BMC Public Health 2020 20:920
Content type: Research article
Published on: 12 June 2020

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 13 June 2020)

Timely completion of vaccination and its determinants among children in northwest, Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis
Timely vaccination is key to prevent unnecessary childhood mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. Despite the substantial efforts to improve vaccination completeness, the effort towards timeliness of vac…
Authors: Zeleke Abebaw Mekonnen, Kassahun Alemu Gelaye, Martin C. Were and Binyam Tilahun
Citation: BMC Public Health 2020 20:908
Content type: Research article
Published on: 11 June 2020

Clinical Therapeutics
May 2020 Volume 42, Issue 5, p729-958, e87-e100
http://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/current

Review
Use of Real-world Data for New Drug Applications and Line Extensions
Winona R. Bolislis, Myriam Fay, Thomas C. Kühler
p926–938
Published online: April 24, 2020
Purpose
For this article, the authors compiled, summarized, and analyzed data from 27 cases in which real-world data (RWD) were applied in regulatory approval. The aims were to provide an overview of RWD, based on classifications per therapeutic area, age group, drivers of acceptability, utility, data sources, and timelines, and to present insights on how it has been applied in regulatory decision making to date.

The European Journal of Public Health
Volume 30, Issue 3, June 2020
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/issue/30/3

Child and adolescent health
Parental education associated with immune function in adolescence
Isaac Barroso, Maria Cabral, Elisabete Ramos, João T Guimarães
European Journal of Public Health, Volume 30, Issue 3, June 2020, Pages 444–448, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckz229

The European Journal of Public Health
Volume 30, Issue 3, June 2020
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/issue/30/3

European Union initiatives in child immunization—the need for child centricity, e-health and holistic delivery
Michael J Rigby, Catherine E Chronaki, Shalmali S Deshpande, Peter Altorjai, Maria Brenner …
European Journal of Public Health, Volume 30, Issue 3, June 2020, Pages 449–455, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckz199

The European Journal of Public Health
Volume 30, Issue 3, June 2020
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/issue/30/3

Infectious diseases
How do Twitter users react to TV broadcasts dedicated to vaccines in Italy?
Francesco Gesualdo, Angelo D’Ambrosio, Eleonora Agricola, Luisa Russo, Ilaria Campagna …
European Journal of Public Health, Volume 30, Issue 3, June 2020, Pages 510–515, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaa022

Global Health: Science and Practice (GHSP)
2020 | Volume 8 | Number 2
http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/current

EDITORIAL COMMENTARY
Will the Higher-Income Country Blueprint for COVID-19 Work in Low- and Lower Middle-Income Countries?
Stephen Hodgins,a Abdulmumin Saadb
Key Message
Strategies currently pursued in high-income and upper middle-income countries—aimed at radically suppressing incidence of COVID-19—may be unrealistic and counterproductive in most low- and lower middle-income countries. Instead, strategies need to be tailored to the setting, balancing expected benefits, potential harms, and feasibility.

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 13 June 2020]

From COVID-19 research to vaccine application: why might it take 17 months not 17 years and what are the wider lessons?
It is often said that it takes 17 years to move medical research from bench to bedside. In a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) world, such time-lags feel intolerable. In these extraordinary circumstances could ye…
Authors: Stephen R. Hanney, Steven Wooding, Jon Sussex and Jonathan Grant
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems 2020 18:61
Content type: Commentary
Published on: 8 June 2020

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics (formerly Human Vaccines)
Volume 16, Issue 5, 2020
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/khvi20/current

Special Issue: Vaccine Acceptance
Editorials
Building vaccine acceptance through communication and advocacy
Kristen A. Feemster
Pages 1004-1006 | Published online: 13 May 2020
…Conclusion
The key issues for increasing the number of vaccinated people worldwide, especially children, is to increase the supply of available vaccines, assure funding and affordability for lower-income countries, improve distribution and storage networks, assure the availability of healthcare workers to administer vaccines, improve the ability of the population to access vaccination centers, and minimize refusal / hesitation to maximize acceptability of vaccines.
It is noteworthy that among these key issues, all involve physical activities except for the final issue, which is the subject of this Special Issue. Vaccine acceptance / hesitation / refusal is unique in being a state of mind for the potential vaccinee or caregiver, such that different methods must be applied to improve acceptability. The ability of workers in the field to improve acceptability will be directly reflected in increased vaccinations with concomitant reductions in morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. This is a major public health challenge for the coming decade and beyond, which also will be very important for the success of new vaccines in the development pipeline.

This Special Issue includes an extensive number of articles around this theme which we recommend be reviewed.

JAMA
June 9, 2020, Vol 323, No. 22, Pages 2231-2350
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

Research Letter
SARS-CoV-2 Rates in BCG-Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Young Adults
Uri Hamiel, MD; Eran Kozer, MD; Ilan Youngster, MD, MMSc
free access has active quiz
JAMA. 2020;323(22):2340-2341. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.8189
This cohort study compares rates of coronavirus PCR test positivity among Israelis with symptoms suspicious for COVID-19 who did and did not receive BCG vaccination as part of routine childhood immunization in the early 1980s.

JAMA
June 9, 2020, Vol 323, No. 22, Pages 2231-2350
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

COVID-19: Beyond Tomorrow
Privileges and Immunity Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Mark A. Hall, JD; David M. Studdert, LLB, ScD
free access has active quiz
JAMA. 2020;323(22):2243-2244. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.7712
This Viewpoint explains the ethics of implementing licensing or certification of coronavirus immunity as basis for permitting public activities, anticipates challenges to effectively implementing such a system, and proposes potential policy solutions.

JAMA
June 9, 2020, Vol 323, No. 22, Pages 2231-2350
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

Viewpoint
COVID-19: Beyond Tomorrow
The Ethics of COVID-19 Immunity-Based Licenses (“Immunity Passports”)
Govind Persad, JD, PhD; Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD
free access has active quiz has multimedia has audio
JAMA. 2020;323(22):2241-2242. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.8102
This Viewpoint explains the ethical basis for implementing immunity-based licensing—certification of coronavirus immunity as a basis for permitting public activities—and anticipates challenges to effective implementing such a system, and potential solutions.
Audio Interview: Immunity Passports in the Time of COVID-19

JAMA
June 9, 2020, Vol 323, No. 22, Pages 2231-2350
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

COVID-19: Beyond Tomorrow
COVID-19 and Postinfection Immunity -Limited Evidence, Many Remaining Questions
Robert D. Kirkcaldy, MD, MPH; Brian A. King, PhD, MPH; John T. Brooks, MD
free access
JAMA. 2020;323(22):2245-2246. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.7869
This Viewpoint describes what is currently known about the immune response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), highlights important gaps in knowledge, and identifies opportunities for future research.

JAMA
June 9, 2020, Vol 323, No. 22, Pages 2231-2350
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

When Should Clinicians Act on Non–Statistically Significant Results From Clinical Trials?
Paul J. Young, PhD, MBChB; Christopher P. Nickson, MBChB; Anders Perner, MD, PhD
has audio
JAMA. 2020;323(22):2256-2257. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.3508
This Viewpoint discusses considerations that might lead physicians to change their practice based on RCTs reporting non–statistically significant differences in primary outcomes, including trial methodology, totality of evidence, cost, invasiveness, and labor-intensiveness of the interventions being compared.
Audio Interview: When Should Physicians Act on Non–Statistically Significant Results From Clinical Trials?

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health
June 2020 – Volume 74 – 6
https://jech.bmj.com/content/74/6

Glossary
A glossary of theories for understanding power and policy for health equity (20 March, 2020)
Patrick Harris, patrick.harris@unsw.edu.au
Fran Baum, Sharon Friel, Tamara Mackean, Ashley Schram, Bel Townsend
Abstract
Progressing public policies that improve health equity requires understanding and addressing the creation, use and distribution of power. This glossary provides an overview of some of the most relevant conceptualisations of the dynamics of power in policy with implications for health equity. The aim is to provide an accessible overview of the different theories and perspectives behind power for public health focused policy researchers and advocates. The Glossary demonstrates how the broad literature on power in policy deepens understanding of the institutional dynamics that creates and maintains health inequities.

Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 221, Issue 10, 15 May 2020,
https://academic.oup.com/jid/issue/221/10

Editor’s Choice
Is There a Correlate of Protection for Measles Vaccine?
Stanley A Plotkin
The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 221, Issue 10, 15 May 2020, Pages 1571–1572, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz381

Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 221, Issue 10, 15 May 2020,
https://academic.oup.com/jid/issue/221/10

REVIEWS
Editor’s Choice
What Is the Evidence to Support a Correlate of Protection for Measles? A Systematic Review
Shelly Bolotin, Stephanie L Hughes, Nazish Gul, Sumaiya Khan, Paul A Rota …
The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 221, Issue 10, 15 May 2020, Pages 1576–1583, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz380
Our study reviews and evaluates the scientific literature upon which the commonly used 120 mIU/mL measles threshold of protection is based. Our findings suggest that further work is required to characterize the measles immunity threshold.

The Lancet
Jun 13, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10240 p1813-1882, e102-e106
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Comment
The WHO we want
Olivier Nay, Marie-Paule Kieny, Lelio Marmora, Michel Kazatchkine

The Lancet
Jun 13, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10240 p1813-1882, e102-e106
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Expression of concern: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis
The Lancet Editors

The Lancet
Jun 13, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10240 p1813-1882, e102-e106
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

World Report
COVID-19 vaccines for all?
Ann Danaiya Usher

The Lancet
Jun 13, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10240 p1813-1882, e102-e106
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Expression of concern: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis
The Lancet Editors

The Lancet
Jun 13, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10240 p1813-1882, e102-e106
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Articles
Safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a recombinant adenovirus type-5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine: a dose-escalation, open-label, non-randomised, first-in-human trial
Feng-Cai Zhu, et al,
Interpretation
The Ad5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine is tolerable and immunogenic at 28 days post-vaccination. Humoral responses against SARS-CoV-2 peaked at day 28 post-vaccination in healthy adults, and rapid specific T-cell responses were noted from day 14 post-vaccination. Our findings suggest that the Ad5 vectored COVID-19 vaccine warrants further investigation.

Nature
Volume 582 Issue 7811, 11 June 2020
http://www.nature.com/nature/current_issue.html

Article | 13 May 2020
The online competition between pro- and anti-vaccination views
Insights into the interactions between pro- and anti-vaccination clusters on Facebook can enable policies and approaches that attempt to interrupt the shift to anti-vaccination views and persuade undecided individuals to adopt a pro-vaccination stance.
Neil F. Johnson, Nicolas Velásquez[…] & Yonatan Lupu

Nature Biotechnology
Volume 38 Issue 6, June 2020
https://www.nature.com/nbt/volumes/38/issues/6

Editorial | 03 June 2020
The COVID-19 testing debacle
Insufficient SARS-CoV-2 testing has left many nations flying blind as they reopen their economies. Without adequate testing, new infections could outrun control measures.

New England Journal of Medicine
June 11, 2020 Vol. 382 No. 24
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

Perspective
The Vaccines for Children Program at 25 — Access, Affordability, and Sustainability
Jason L. Schwartz, Ph.D., and James Colgrove, Ph.D., M.P.H.
The success of the Vaccines for Children program has meant that vaccine costs are seldom a major obstacle to childhood-vaccination efforts. But the program’s financial sustainability and the implications of its growth for other public health priorities are key issues.

New England Journal of Medicine
June 11, 2020 Vol. 382 No. 24
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

Perspective
Drug Evaluation during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Benjamin N. Rome, M.D., and Jerry Avorn, M.D.
The search for a treatment for Covid-19 is testing our country’s ability to quickly develop, test, and deploy medications, presenting both opportunities and challenges to our drug-assessment apparatus. Several aspects of the U.S. response raise serious concerns, highlighting how the processes for evaluating and approving drugs can go awry during a public health crisis…

New England Journal of Medicine
June 11, 2020 Vol. 382 No. 24
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

Original Article
Compassionate Use of Remdesivir for Patients with Severe Covid-19
Jonathan Grein, M.D., et al.
Abstract
Background
Remdesivir, a nucleotide analogue prodrug that inhibits viral RNA polymerases, has shown in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2.
Methods
We provided remdesivir on a compassionate-use basis to patients hospitalized with Covid-19, the illness caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2. Patients were those with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who had an oxygen saturation of 94% or less while they were breathing ambient air or who were receiving oxygen support. Patients received a 10-day course of remdesivir, consisting of 200 mg administered intravenously on day 1, followed by 100 mg daily for the remaining 9 days of treatment. This report is based on data from patients who received remdesivir during the period from January 25, 2020, through March 7, 2020, and have clinical data for at least 1 subsequent day.
Results
Of the 61 patients who received at least one dose of remdesivir, data from 8 could not be analyzed (including 7 patients with no post-treatment data and 1 with a dosing error). Of the 53 patients whose data were analyzed, 22 were in the United States, 22 in Europe or Canada, and 9 in Japan. At baseline, 30 patients (57%) were receiving mechanical ventilation and 4 (8%) were receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. During a median follow-up of 18 days, 36 patients (68%) had an improvement in oxygen-support class, including 17 of 30 patients (57%) receiving mechanical ventilation who were extubated. A total of 25 patients (47%) were discharged, and 7 patients (13%) died; mortality was 18% (6 of 34) among patients receiving invasive ventilation and 5% (1 of 19) among those not receiving invasive ventilation.
Conclusions
In this cohort of patients hospitalized for severe Covid-19 who were treated with compassionate-use remdesivir, clinical improvement was observed in 36 of 53 patients (68%). Measurement of efficacy will require ongoing randomized, placebo-controlled trials of remdesivir therapy. (Funded by Gilead Sciences.)

PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 13 June 2020)

Social determinants of health, data science, and decision-making: Forging a transdisciplinary synthesis
Sandro Galea, Salma M. Abdalla, Jeffrey L. Sturchio
Perspective | published 11 Jun 2020 PLOS Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003174

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 13 June 2020)

Inclusion of women susceptible to and becoming pregnant in preregistration clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries: A proposal for neglected tropical diseases
Monique Couderc-Pétry, Elisabeth Eléfant, Monique Wasunna, Alwyn Mwinga, Nilima A. Kshirsagar, Nathalie Strub-Wourgaft
Policy Platform | published 11 Jun 2020 PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008140

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 13 June 2020)

Video as a public health knowledge transfer tool in Burkina Faso: A mixed evaluation comparing three narrative genres
Catherine Hébert, Christian Dagenais, Esther Mc Sween-Cadieux, Valéry Ridde
Research Article | published 10 Jun 2020 PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008305

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

8 Jun 2020
Monitoring inequality changes in full immunization coverage in infants in Latin America and the Caribbean
Original research | English
Full immunization coverage in the countries in the study shows higher-income inequality gaps that are not seen by observing national coverage only, but these differences appear to be reduced over time. Actions monitoring immunization coverage based on income inequalities should be considered for inclusion in the assessment of public health policies to appropriately reduce the gaps in immunization for infants in the lowest-income quintile.