Reduced Mortality After Oral Polio Vaccination and Increased Mortality After Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis Vaccination in Children in a Low-income Setting

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Clinical Therapeutics
January 2021 Volume 43 Issue 1 p1-210, e1-e32
http://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/current

 

Original Research
Reduced Mortality After Oral Polio Vaccination and Increased Mortality After Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis Vaccination in Children in a Low-income Setting
Christian Bjerregård Øland, et al
Published online: December 02, 2020

A Code of Ethics for Gene Drive Research

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The CRISPR Journal
Volume 4, Issue 1 / February 2021
https://www.liebertpub.com/toc/crispr/4/1

 

Perspectives Open Access
A Code of Ethics for Gene Drive Research
George J. Annas, et al
Pages:19–24
Published Online:10 February 2021
https://doi.org/10.1089/crispr.2020.0096
Abstract
Gene drives hold promise for use in controlling insect vectors of diseases, agricultural pests, and for conservation of ecosystems against invasive species. At the same time, this technology comes with potential risks that include unknown downstream effects on entire ecosystems as well as the accidental or nefarious spread of organisms that carry the gene drive machinery. A code of ethics can be a useful tool for all parties involved in the development and regulation of gene drives and can be used to help ensure that a balanced analysis of risks, benefits, and values is taken into consideration in the interest of society and humanity. We have developed a code of ethics for gene drive research with the hope that this code will encourage the development of an international framework that includes ethical guidance of gene drive research and is incorporated into scientific practice by gaining broad agreement and adherence.

COVID-19 vaccines and treatments nationalism: Challenges for low-income countries and the attainment of the SDGs

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Global Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 3 (2021)
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rgph20/current

 

Article
COVID-19 vaccines and treatments nationalism: Challenges for low-income countries and the attainment of the SDGs
Godwell Nhamo, David Chikodzi, Hlengiwe Precious Kunene & Nthivhiseni Mashula
Pages: 319-339
Published online: 15 Dec 2020

Acceptability of the human papillomavirus vaccine in schools in Lusaka in Zambia: Role of community and formal health system factors

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Global Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 3 (2021)
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rgph20/current

 

Article
Acceptability of the human papillomavirus vaccine in schools in Lusaka in Zambia: Role of community and formal health system factors
Fortress Kucheba, Oliver Mweemba, Tulani Francis L. Matenga & Joseph Mumba Zulu
Pages: 378-389
Published online: 25 Aug 2020

Disability inclusion in humanitarian action

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Humanitarian Exchange Magazine
Number 78, October 2020
https://odihpn.org/magazine/inclusion-of-persons-with-disabilities-in-humanitarian-action-what-now/

 

Disability inclusion in humanitarian action
by HPN October 2020
The theme of this edition of Humanitarian Exchange, co-edited with Sherin Alsheikh Ahmed from Islamic Relief Worldwide, is disability inclusion in humanitarian action. Persons with disabilities are not only disproportionately impacted by conflicts, disasters and other emergencies, but also face barriers to accessing humanitarian assistance. At the same time, global commitments and standards and the IASC Guidelines on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action all emphasise how persons with disabilities are also active agents of change. Disability and age-focused organisations have led on testing and demonstrating how inclusion can be done better. Yet despite this progress, challenges to effective inclusion remain.

As Kirstin Lange notes in the lead article, chief among these challenges is humanitarian agencies’ lack of engagement with organisations of persons with disabilities. Simione Bula, Elizabeth Morgan and Teresa Thomson look at disability inclusion in humanitarian response in the Pacific, and Kathy Al Jubeh and Alradi Abdalla argue for a ‘participation revolution’, building on learning from the gender movement. Tchaurea Fleury and Sulayman AbdulMumuni Ujah outline how the Bridge Article 11 training initiative is encouraging constructive exchange between humanitarian and disability actors. The lack of good, disaggregated data is highlighted by Sarah Collinson; Frances Hill, Jim Cranshaw and Carys Hughes emphasise the need for training resources in local languages and accessible formats; and Sophie Van Eetvelt and colleagues report on a review of the evidence on inclusion of people with disabilities and older people.

Rebecca Molyneux and co-authors analyse the findings of a review of a DFID programme in north-east Nigeria, while Carolin Funke highlights the importance of strategic partnerships between disability-focused organisations, drawing on her research in Cox’s Bazar. Sherin Alsheikh Ahmed describes Islamic Relief Worldwide’s approach to mainstreaming protection and inclusion, while Pauline Thivillier and Valentina Shafina outline IRC’s Client Responsive Programming. The edition ends with reflections by Mirela Turcanu and Yves Ngunzi Kahashi on CAFOD’s SADI approach.

All-Cause Excess Mortality and COVID-19–Related Mortality Among US Adults Aged 25-44 Years, March-July 2020

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JAMA
February 23, 2021, Vol 325, No. 8, Pages 705-798
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

Research Letter
All-Cause Excess Mortality and COVID-19–Related Mortality Among US Adults Aged 25-44 Years, March-July 2020
Jeremy Samuel Faust, MD, MS; Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM; Chengan Du, PhD; et al.
free access has active quiz has multimedia has audio
JAMA. 2021;325(8):785-787. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.24243
This study compares all-cause excess mortality and COVID-19–related mortality during the early pandemic period (March-July 2020) with unintentional drug overdoses, the usual leading cause of death in young adults, during the same period in 2018 among adults aged 25 to 44 years.

Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Related to COVID-19

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JAMA
February 23, 2021, Vol 325, No. 8, Pages 705-798
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

Health Policy
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Related to COVID-19
Leo Lopez III, MD, MHS; Louis H. Hart III, MD; Mitchell H. Katz, MD
free access has active quiz has audio
JAMA. 2021;325(8):719-720. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.26443
This Viewpoint reviews data demonstrating worse risk and outcomes for non-White patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and makes policy proposals to mitigate the disparities, including expansion of Medicaid eligibility to expand health care access, multilingual and culturally appropriate communication and outreach, and easing accessibility to social services through health care contacts to address housing, food, legal, and economic stressors.

A Viral Pandemic, Vaccine Safety, and Compensation for Adverse Events

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JAMA
February 23, 2021, Vol 325, No. 8, Pages 705-798
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

A Viral Pandemic, Vaccine Safety, and Compensation for Adverse Events
H. Cody Meissner, MD
free access
JAMA. 2021;325(8):721-722. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.26792
This Viewpoint reviews the system in place to compensate US residents for proven vaccine injury via the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program and emphasizes that the benefit of COVID-19 vaccines outweighs any potential harm.

Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

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JAMA
February 23, 2021, Vol 325, No. 8, Pages 705-798
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

Clinical Update
Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
Tom Shimabukuro, MD, MPH, MBA; Narayan Nair, MD
free access has active quiz has audio
JAMA. 2021;325(8):780-781. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.0600
This JAMA Insights review provides clinical details of anaphylactic reactions reported to and verified by the CDC in the first week of use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the US, December 14-23, 2020.

Evidence‐based Chinese medicine for the response to public health emergencies: The Guangzhou declaration

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Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 1 Pages: 1-81 February 2021
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17565391/current

 

EDITORIAL
Evidence‐based Chinese medicine for the response to public health emergencies: The Guangzhou declaration
Xiaojia Ni et al for the Evidence‐based Traditional and Integrative Medicine Responding to Public Health Emergencies Working Group
Pages: 3-4
First Published: 07 February 2021

Evidence‐based traditional Chinese medicine research: Two decades of development, its impact, and breakthrough

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Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 1 Pages: 1-81 February 2021
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17565391/current

 

REVIEW
Evidence‐based traditional Chinese medicine research: Two decades of development, its impact, and breakthrough
Guihua Tian et al
Pages: 65-74
First Published: 22 February 2021

From hydroxychloroquine to ivermectin: what are the anti-viral properties of anti-parasitic drugs to combat SARS-CoV-2?

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Journal of Travel Medicine
Volume 28, Issue 2, March 2021
https://academic.oup.com/jtm/issue

 

Systematic Review
Editor’s Choice
From hydroxychloroquine to ivermectin: what are the anti-viral properties of anti-parasitic drugs to combat SARS-CoV-2?
S Rakedzon, MD, A Neuberger, MD, A J Domb, Professor, N Petersiel, MD, E Schwartz

SARS-CoV-2 testing to assure safety in air travel

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Journal of Travel Medicine
Volume 28, Issue 2, March 2021
https://academic.oup.com/jtm/issue

 

SARS-CoV-2 testing to assure safety in air travel
Lin H Chen, MD, Robert Steffen, MD
Journal of Travel Medicine, Volume 28, Issue 2, March 2021, taaa241, https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taaa241
To support the resumption of travel, rational and consistent testing and quarantine guidelines will be critical. Uniformity in the documentation of COVID-19 test results and vaccination will also be important. We discuss evidence to support standardized testing and quarantine requirements and propose a strategy to allow ease in travel planning.

50 years of the inverse care law

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The Lancet
Feb 27, 2021 Volume 397 Number 10276 p767-852, e7
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Editorial
50 years of the inverse care law
The Lancet
“The availability of good medical care tends to vary with the need for it in the population served. This inverse care law operates more completely where medical care is most exposed to market forces, and less so where such exposure is reduced.”
These understated opening lines of Julian Tudor Hart’s paper, The Inverse Care Law, are as relevant now (50 years to the day since publication) as in 1971. The paper is one of the landmark publications in The Lancet’s near 200-year history, and the resonance of Tudor Hart’s definition of the inverse care law has global and timeless importance. Simply expressed, Tudor Hart observed that disadvantaged populations need more health care than advantaged populations, but receive less…

The inverse care law re-examined: a global perspective

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The Lancet
Feb 27, 2021 Volume 397 Number 10276 p767-852, e7
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Health Policy
The inverse care law re-examined: a global perspective
Richard Cookson, Tim Doran, Miqdad Asaria, Indrani Gupta, Fiorella Parra Mujica
Summary
An inverse care law persists in almost all low-income and middle-income countries, whereby socially disadvantaged people receive less, and lower-quality, health care despite having greater need. By contrast, a disproportionate care law persists in high-income countries, whereby socially disadvantaged people receive more health care, but of worse quality and insufficient quantity to meet their additional needs. Both laws are caused not only by financial barriers and fragmented health insurance systems but also by social inequalities in care seeking and co-investment as well as the costs and benefits of health care. Investing in more integrated universal health coverage and stronger primary care, delivered in proportion to need, can improve population health and reduce health inequality. However, trade-offs sometimes exist between health policy objectives. Health-care technologies, policies, and resourcing should be subjected to distributional analysis of their equity impacts, to ensure the objective of reducing health inequalities is kept in sight.
and threaten an upswing in armed conflict.

Approval of artificial intelligence and machine learning-based medical devices in the USA and Europe (2015–20): a comparative analysis

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Lancet Digital Health
Mar 2021 Volume 3 Number 3 e135-e203
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/issue/current

 

Health Policy
Approval of artificial intelligence and machine learning-based medical devices in the USA and Europe (2015–20): a comparative analysis
Urs J Muehlematter, Paola Daniore, Kerstin N Vokinger
Summary
There has been a surge of interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)-based medical devices. However, it is poorly understood how and which AI/ML-based medical devices have been approved in the USA and Europe. We searched governmental and non-governmental databases to identify 222 devices approved in the USA and 240 devices in Europe. The number of approved AI/ML-based devices has increased substantially since 2015, with many being approved for use in radiology. However, few were qualified as high-risk devices. Of the 124 AI/ML-based devices commonly approved in the USA and Europe, 80 were first approved in Europe. One possible reason for approval in Europe before the USA might be the potentially relatively less rigorous evaluation of medical devices in Europe. The substantial number of approved devices highlight the need to ensure rigorous regulation of these devices. Currently, there is no specific regulatory pathway for AI/ML-based medical devices in the USA or Europe. We recommend more transparency on how devices are regulated and approved to enable and improve public trust, efficacy, safety, and quality of AI/ML-based medical devices. A comprehensive, publicly accessible database with device details for Conformité Européene (CE)-marked medical devices in Europe and US Food and Drug Administration approved devices is needed.

A scorecard of progress towards measles elimination in 15 west African countries, 2001–19: a retrospective, multicountry analysis of national immunisation coverage and surveillance data

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Lancet Global Health
Mar 2021 Volume 9 Number 3 e218-e371
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current

 

Articles
A scorecard of progress towards measles elimination in 15 west African countries, 2001–19: a retrospective, multicountry analysis of national immunisation coverage and surveillance data
Oghenebrume Wariri, et al.

The direct effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in children in the Latin American and Caribbean region (SIREVA 2006–17): a multicentre, retrospective observational study

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Lancet Infectious Diseases
Mar 2021 Volume 21 Number 3 p297-438, e36-e63
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

 

Articles
The direct effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in children in the Latin American and Caribbean region (SIREVA 2006–17): a multicentre, retrospective observational study
Clara Inés Agudelo, et al. and the the SIREVA Working Group

The scientific and ethical feasibility of immunity passports

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Lancet Infectious Diseases
Mar 2021 Volume 21 Number 3 p297-438, e36-e63
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

 

Personal View
The scientific and ethical feasibility of immunity passports
Rebecca C H Brown, Dominic Kelly, Dominic Wilkinson, Julian Savulescu
Summary
There is much debate about the use of immunity passports in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have argued that immunity passports are unethical and impractical, pointing to uncertainties relating to COVID-19 immunity, issues with testing, perverse incentives, doubtful economic benefits, privacy concerns, and the risk of discriminatory effects. We first review the scientific feasibility of immunity passports. Considerable hurdles remain, but increasing understanding of the neutralising antibody response to COVID-19 might make identifying members of the community at low risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 possible. We respond to the ethical arguments against immunity passports and give the positive ethical arguments. First, a strong presumption should be in favour of preserving people’s free movement if at all feasible. Second, failing to recognise the reduced infection threat immune individuals pose risks punishing people for low-risk behaviour. Finally, further individual and social benefits are likely to accrue from allowing people to engage in free movement. Challenges relating to the implementation of immunity passports ought to be met with targeted solutions so as to maximise their benefit.

Host genetics and infectious disease: new tools, insights and translational opportunities

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Nature Reviews Genetics
Volume 22 Issue 3, March 2021
https://www.nature.com/nrg/volumes/22/issues/3

 

Review Article | 04 December 2020
Host genetics and infectious disease: new tools, insights and translational opportunities
Infectious diseases are an ever-present global threat. In this Review, Kwok, Mentzer and Knight discuss our latest understanding of how human genetics influence susceptibility to disease. Furthermore, they discuss emerging progress in the interplay between host and pathogen genetics, molecular responses to infection and vaccination, and opportunities to bring these aspects together for rapid responses to emerging diseases such as COVID-19.
Andrew J. Kwok, Alex Mentzer & Julian C. Knight

Research in the Context of a Pandemic

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New England Journal of Medicine
February 25, 2021 Vol. 384 No. 8
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

 

Editorial
Research in the Context of a Pandemic
H. Clifford Lane, M.D., and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
The current literature on the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is filled with anecdotal reports of therapeutic successes in clinical trials with small numbers of patients and observational cohort studies claiming efficacy with little regard to the effect of unrecognized confounders. For the field to move forward and for patients’ outcomes to improve, there will need to be fewer small or inconclusive studies and more studies such as the dexamethasone trial now reported by the RECOVERY Collaborative Group1 in this issue of the Journal…

Assessment of the Effects of Active Immunisation against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) using Decision-Analytic Models: A Systematic Review with a Focus on Vaccination Strategies, Modelling Methods and Input Data

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PharmacoEconomics
Volume 39, issue 3, March 2021
https://link.springer.com/journal/40273/volumes-and-issues/39-3

 

Assessment of the Effects of Active Immunisation against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) using Decision-Analytic Models: A Systematic Review with a Focus on Vaccination Strategies, Modelling Methods and Input Data
Marina Treskova, Francisco Pozo-Martin, Thomas Harder,
Content type: Systematic Review
Published: 19 January 2021

Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on invasive pneumococcal disease in children under 5 years of age in the Czech Republic

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PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 27 Feb 2021]

 

Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on invasive pneumococcal disease in children under 5 years of age in the Czech Republic
Jana Kozakova, Pavla Krizova, Marek Maly
Research Article | published 26 Feb 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247862

Implementing WHO guidance on conducting and analysing vaccination coverage cluster surveys: Two examples from Nigeria

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Implementing WHO guidance on conducting and analysing vaccination coverage cluster surveys: Two examples from Nigeria
John Ndegwa Wagai, Dale Rhoda, Mary Prier, Mary Kay Trimmer, Caitlin B. Clary, Joseph Oteri, Bassey Okposen, Adeyemi Adeniran, Carolina Danovaro-Holliday, Felicity Cutts
Research Article | published 26 Feb 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247415

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 27 Feb 2021]

 

Implementing WHO guidance on conducting and analysing vaccination coverage cluster surveys: Two examples from Nigeria
John Ndegwa Wagai, Dale Rhoda, Mary Prier, Mary Kay Trimmer, Caitlin B. Clary, Joseph Oteri, Bassey Okposen, Adeyemi Adeniran, Carolina Danovaro-Holliday, Felicity Cutts
Research Article | published 26 Feb 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247415

Knowledge, attitude and practice of vaccinators and vaccine handlers on vaccine cold chain management in public health facilities, Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study

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PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 27 Feb 2021]

 

Knowledge, attitude and practice of vaccinators and vaccine handlers on vaccine cold chain management in public health facilities, Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study
Solomon Ahmed Mohammed, Birhanu Demeke Workneh, Mesfin Haile kahissay
Research Article | published 25 Feb 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247459

Optimizing age-specific vaccination

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Science
26 February 2021 Vol 371, Issue 6532
http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl

 

Policy Forum
Optimizing age-specific vaccination
By Meagan C. Fitzpatrick, Alison P. Galvani
Science26 Feb 2021 : 890-891 Full Access
Vaccination strategies are not one-size-fits-all
Summary
Efficacious vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been developed, tested, and approved for emergency use with unprecedented speed. Deployment of multiple vaccines was initiated in several countries less than 1 year after identification of the virus. Although vaccine production is being rapidly scaled up, demand will exceed supply for the next several months. Consequently, an urgent challenge is the optimization of vaccine allocation to maximize public health benefit. On page 916 of this issue, Bubar et al. (1) demonstrate that vaccination of older people is the optimal age-based strategy to alleviate the burden of COVID-19. Although vaccination of younger adults is projected to avert the greatest incidence, vaccinating older adults will most effectively reduce mortality. In addition, they assess targeted vaccination that was based on serological status, finding that vaccinating seronegative individuals improves efficiency especially in settings where seroprevalence is high.

Model-informed COVID-19 vaccine prioritization strategies by age and serostatus

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Science
26 February 2021 Vol 371, Issue 6532
http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl

 

Report
Model-informed COVID-19 vaccine prioritization strategies by age and serostatus
By Kate M. Bubar, Kyle Reinholt, Stephen M. Kissler, Marc Lipsitch, Sarah Cobey, Yonatan H. Grad, Daniel B. Larremore
Science26 Feb 2021 : 916-921 Open Access
To minimize mortality, vaccinate seronegative persons most at risk of death: those with comorbidities and those 60+ years of age.

Effectiveness of the live-attenuated herpes zoster vaccine 2 years after its introduction in Australia

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Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 10 Pages 1473-1546 (5 March 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/10

 

Research article Abstract only
Effectiveness of the live-attenuated herpes zoster vaccine 2 years after its introduction in Australia
Jialing Lin, Timothy Dobbins, James G. Wood, Carla Bernardo, … Bette Liu
Pages 1493-1498

Social amplification of risk and “probable vaccine damage”: A typology of vaccination beliefs in 28 European countries

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Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 10 Pages 1473-1546 (5 March 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/10

 

Research article Abstract only
Social amplification of risk and “probable vaccine damage”: A typology of vaccination beliefs in 28 European countries
Simona – Nicoleta Vulpe, Cosima Rughiniş
Pages 1508-1515

Internal and External Validity of Social Media and Mobile Technology-Driven HPV Vaccination Interventions: Systematic Review Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) Framework

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Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 27 Feb 2021)

 

Open Access Review
Internal and External Validity of Social Media and Mobile Technology-Driven HPV Vaccination Interventions: Systematic Review Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) Framework
by Matthew Asare, Braden Popelsky, Emmanuel Akowuah, Beth A. Lanning and Jane R. Montealegre
Vaccines 2021, 9(3), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9030197 – 26 Feb 2021
Abstract
Social media human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination interventions show promise for increasing HPV vaccination rates. An important consideration for the implementation of effective interventions into real-world practice is the translation potential, or external validity, of the intervention. To this end, we conducted a systematic […]