WHO & Regional Offices [to 14 Mar 2020]

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WHO & Regional Offices [to 14 Mar 2020]
13 March 2020 News release
WHO, UN Foundation and partners launch first-of-its-kind COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
[See Milestones above for detail]

 

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Weekly Epidemiological Record, 13 March 2020, vol. 95, 11 (pp. 97–104)
97 Evaluation of the early warning, alert and response system for the Rohingya crisis, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
104 COVID-19 update

 

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WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Africa is one-step away from wild polio eradication verdict 13 March 2020
The African region completes a critical step towards wild polio eradication as the independent commission to decide on the African Region’s wild poliovirus-free status has concluded its final field visit to Nigeria today, after conducting critical analysis to verify the documentation presented by the Nigerian Government.
:: First case of COVID-19 confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 10 March 2020
:: South African Development Community unites to tackle COVID-19 10 March 2020

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
:: SCRC statement on COVID-19 situation in Europe 13-03-2020
:: Azerbaijan steps up COVID-19 preparedness and readiness measures, welcoming WHO mission 12-03-2020
:: A new plan for healthcare in North Macedonia 12-03-2020

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: Statement by Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari on COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
12 March 2020, Cairo, Egypt – Today in our region, 9960 cases in 16 countries have been reported, including 366 deaths reported in five countries (as of 3pm Cairo local time). Almost all the deaths were patients aged 60 years or above, who had preexisting conditions that were exasperated when they contracted the virus.
:: Delegation of WHO and public health experts concludes COVID-19 mission to Iran
12 March 2020

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified.

Africa CDC [to 14 Mar 2020]

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Africa CDC [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Africa CDC to Partner with SACIDS Foundation for One Health and East African Integrated Disease Surveillance Network
Partnership for COVID-19 Preparedness and Response
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, 10 MARCH 2020. The Skoll Foundation has attributed a total of $7 million to support Coronavirus (COVID-19) preparedness and response activities in Africa.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the SACIDS Foundation for One Health (SACIDS), and the East African Integrated Disease Surveillance Network (EAIDSNet), through this funding, have agreed to collaborate and coordinate their efforts in order to better prepare and respond to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak across Africa…

 

China CDC

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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
March 14: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
2020-03-14
On March 13, 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 11 new cases of confirmed infections, 17 new cases of suspected infections, and 13 deaths (all in Hubei province). 1,430 patients were released from hospital after being cured. 2,174 people who had had close contact with infected patients were freed from medical observation. Serious cases decreased by 410.
As of 24:00 on March 13, the National Health Commission had received 80,824 reports of confirmed cases and 3,189 deaths in 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and in all 65,541 patients had been cured and discharged from hospital. There still remained 12,094 confirmed cases (including 3,610 in serious condition) and 115 suspected cases. So far, 678,935 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients. 10,879 are now under medical observation…

Announcements

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Announcements

Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group    [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
Press Release
No new digest content identified.
 
 
BMGF – Gates Foundation  [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases
MARCH 10, 2020
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Mastercard Launch Initiative to Speed Development and Access to Therapies for COVID-19
COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will coordinate R&D efforts and remove barriers to drug development and scale-up to address the epidemic
[See Milestones above for detail]
 
 
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute    [to 14 Mar 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 14 Mar 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 14 Mar 2020]
http://cepi.net/
News
14 Mar 2020
$2 billion required to develop a vaccine against the COVID-19 virus
New funding will increase number vaccine candidates in development and enable crucial clinical trials

13 Mar 2020
CEPI-funded Nipah virus vaccine candidate first to reach Phase 1 clinical trial
This trial marks the first time a vaccine developed to prevent Nipah virus infection will be studied in humans.

13 Mar 2020
CEPI gets €140 million funding boost from Germany while expanding coronavirus vaccine search
CEPI also this week announced additional coronavirus vaccine development partnerships with Novavax and The University of Oxford.
10 Mar 2020
CEPI expands investment in COVID-19 vaccine development
CEPI will provide a further $4.4 million to rapidly advance 2 additional vaccine candidates against the novel coronavirus, with Novavax, Inc. and The University of Oxford.
 
 
Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI)  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://clintonhealthaccess.org/
News & Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
EDCTP    [to 14 Mar 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
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Emory Vaccine Center    [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
European Medicines Agency  [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/
News & Press Releases
News: COVID-19: developers of medicines or vaccines to benefit from free scientific advice
Last updated: 13/03/2020
News: COVID-19: EMA meetings with delegates and experts will be held virtually until end April 2020
Last updated: 11/03/2020
News: Addressing the potential impact of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on medicines supply in the EU
Last updated: 10/03/2020

 
 
European Vaccine Initiative  [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/news-events
No new digest content identified.

 
FDA [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
Press Announcements
March 13, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization to Thermo Fisher
 
March 13, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA gives flexibility to New York State Department of Health, FDA issues Emergency Use Authorization diagnostic

March 11, 2020 – FDA Launches New Campaign to Help Consumers Use the New Nutrition Facts Label

March 10, 2020 – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update: Foreign Inspections

March 9, 2020 – Coronavirus Update: FDA and FTC Warn Seven Companies Selling Fraudulent Products that Claim to Treat or Prevent COVID-19

 

Fondation Merieux  [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
COVID-19: The Mérieux Foundation deploys diagnostic and research expertise to strengthen partner laboratories on the front line of the outbreak
March 4, 2020 – Lyon (France)
The Mérieux Foundation is working to strengthen novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) detection and infection control capability among its partner laboratory networks. The Foundation’s support focuses on two interventions: strengthening diagnostic capacity by quickly deploying a molecular test to detect SARS-CoV-2, and assessing the risk of nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals in order to better understand hospital-based prevention and infection control measures. The work is being carried out in partnership with Prof. Philippe Vanhems from Hospices Civils de Lyon and Prof. Jianwei Wang from the Christophe Mérieux Laboratory in Beijing.

 
 
Gavi [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.gavi.org/
Stories
13 March 2020
What is an emergency vaccine stockpile and how can they prevent pandemics?
10 March 2020
Will coronavirus herald a new era in vaccine innovation?

 
 
GHIT Fund   [to 14 Mar 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 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
Sourcing & Management of Health Products
COVID-19 Impact on Supply Chain Logistics: Assessment and Recommendations
12 March 2020
…download in English

Sourcing & Management of Health Products
Opportunity for Evaluation of Selected Medicines
10 March 2020

 
 
Hilleman Laboratories   [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
No new digest content identified.

 
 
Human Vaccines Project   [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 
 
IAVI  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.iavi.org/newsroom
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/
No new digest content identified.

 

IFRC   [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
Global
COVID-19: IFRC, UNICEF and WHO issue guidance to protect children and support safe school operations

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 10 March 2020 – The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) today issued new guidance to help protect children and schools from transmission of the COV …

Africa, Mozambique
Mozambique: Thousands remain vulnerable to recurrent disasters one year on from Cyclone Idai
Beira/Nairobi/Geneva, 11 March 2020 — It is almost 12 months since Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, but communities remain intensely vulnerable to the next big disaster, which is a matter of “when, not if”—the International Federation of Red Cross and Red …

 
 
IVAC  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates
No new digest content identified.

 
 
IVI   [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.ivi.int/
Selected IVI News & Announcements
No new digest content identified.

 
 
JEE Alliance  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
Selected News and Events
No new digest content identified.

 
 
MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières  [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements]
Refugees, IDPs and people on the move
Evacuation of squalid Greek camps more urgent than ever ov…
Press Release 12 Mar 2020

COVID-19 coronavirus
MSF starts COVID-19 response activities in four northern Italia…
Press Release 12 Mar 2020

Greece
Greece, the ‘shield’ of Europe, and EU leaders push migran…
Project Update 11 Mar 2020

DRC Ebola outbreaks
After the fire – how we could have better managed the DRC …
Op-Ed 11 Mar 2020

Mali
Fleeing violence in Niger, refugees in Mali remain vulnera…
Project Update 9 Mar 2020

Syria
Displaced people face a desperate situation in Idlib
Project Update 9 Mar 2020

 
 
DRC Ebola outbreaks
Crisis update – March 2020
Crisis Update 9 Mar 2020

 
 
National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
NVAC 2020 Meetings
June 9-10, 2020 NVAC Meeting
September 23-24, 2020 Meeting (Virtual)

 
 
NIH  [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases

Selected News Releases

Newer anti-HIV drugs safest, most effective during pregnancy
March 11, 2020 — Dolutegravir-containing regimen exhibited superior safety profile in large, NIH-supported study of pregnant women.

Drug-delivery technology leads to sustained HIV antibody production in NIH study
March 9, 2020 — New strategy could be applied to other infectious diseases.

 
 
PATH  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Selected Announcements
No new digest content identified.

 
 
Sabin Vaccine Institute  [to 14 Mar 2020]

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

Statements and Press Releases

Sabin Vaccine Institute Receives $10M Grant to Raise Confidence in Vaccines

WASHINGTON, D.C – The Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) today announced it has received a three-year grant valued at $10.4 million to strengthen vaccine acceptance. In 2019, the World Health Organization identified vaccine hesitancy – the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines – as one of the top 10 threats to global health.

Funding provided through a National Philanthropic Trust grant will launch Sabin’s new Vaccine Acceptance and Demand initiative and support several program areas: educating media and health care professionals on vaccines and immunization, supporting community-level social and behavioral research to understand vaccine acceptance and hesitancy, and enhancing understanding of social media influence on vaccination decisions.

The initiative is led by Sabin Global Immunization President Dr. Bruce Gellin who commented, “Vaccine hesitancy is creating a global health risk that must be addressed. Misinformation and disinformation about vaccines cost lives daily in communities around the world, as witnessed during the ongoing global measles resurgence. Through Sabin’s role at the intersection of immunization programs, policy and research, we will partner with local researchers, national immunization programs and other global health organizations to build evidence and provide the resources, connections and information stakeholders need to reverse this dangerous trend.”…

 
 
UNAIDS [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
13 March 2020
UNAIDS—a leading organization for gender equality

11 March 2020
Mozambique: helping people living with HIV to get back on treatment

11 March 2020
Getting HIV services to marginalized groups in Papua New Guinea

9 March 2020
Adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa more than twice as likely to acquire HIV
… In sub-Saharan Africa, gender-related factors fueling the epidemic are especially stark: adolescent girls and young women were more than twice (2.4 times) as likely to acquire HIV than their male peers.
 
 
UNICEF  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Statement
Message from UNICEF
NEW YORK, 13 March 2020 – We have just been informed that three people working in UNICEF House in midtown east, New York have developed flu-like symptoms. They have not been confirmed positive to COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution, we have taken the decision to close the UNICEF building and are strongly encouraging all our New York-based staff to work remotely for the next four weeks.  We are in contact with the UN medical team and the relevant local authorities. The safety and well-being of our staff and the wider New York community are first and foremost in our actions.

Press release
FACT SHEET: Handwashing with soap, critical in the fight against coronavirus, is ‘out of reach’ for billions
13/03/2020

Statement
UNICEF statement on COVID-19 outbreak
11/03/2020

Press release
UNICEF and UNFPA renew multi-country initiative to protect millions of girls from child marriage
10/03/2020
 
 
Press release

COVID-19: IFRC, UNICEF and WHO issue guidance to protect children and support safe school operations

Guidance includes practical actions and checklists for administrators, teachers, parents and children

10/03/2020
 
 
Press release
A third of youth surveyed globally by UNICEF say their education is not preparing them with the skills to get jobs
PwC and UNICEF join forces to boost youth skills worldwide
10/03/2020
 
 
Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN)  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://vaccineacceptance.org/news.html#header1-2r
Announcements
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Vaccine Confidence Project  [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
Latest News & Archive
No new digest content identified.
 
 
 
Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia  [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Wellcome Trust  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News | 9 March 2020
Wellcome pledges up to $50 million to new initiative to speed development of COVID-19 treatments
Wellcome joins the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Mastercard in launching a new initiative to speed the development of and access to therapies for COVID-19. Together they are committing up to $125 million in seed funding.
 
 
The Wistar Institute   [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases

Press Releases

Mar. 11, 2020

Coupling Computational Protein Engineering with Synthetic DNA Technology Enhances Nanovaccine Efficacy Allowing the Patient’s Own Body to Customize Production

Synthetic DNA technology allows for in vivo assembly of complex nanovaccines able to elicit stronger immune responses in preclinical studies
 
 
WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)   [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2020/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

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ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine]  [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://alliancerm.org/press-releases/
Press Releases
ARM Announces the Cancellation of the 2020 Meeting on the Med
March 12, 2020
 
 
BIO    [to 14 Mar 2020]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
 
DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network  [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
IFPMA   [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
No new digest content identified.
 
 
PhRMA    [to 14 Mar 2020]
http://www.phrma.org/
Selected Press Releases, Statements
Nearly 400 cell and gene therapies in development to target a broad range of diseases
Andrew Powaleny   |     March 10, 2020
In 2017, the U.S. approved its first cell and gene therapy, making the idea of altering a gene to cure or treat a disease a reality. As the increasing pace of R&D propels cell and gene therapy forward, patients can expect more personalized treatments on the horizon. A new report released today finds that there are 362 investigational cell and gene therapies currently in clinical development – a 20% increase since 2018.

Among the cell and gene therapies in development are potential treatments for:
:: A gene therapy using adeno-associated virus (AAV)-factor VIII is designed to stimulate the production of factor VIII for the treatment of hemophilia A.
:: A gene therapy using AAV vectors is delivering a high-activity Factor IX gene to the liver for the treatment of hemophilia B.
:: A second-generation CAR-T cell therapy comprised of genetically-modified T-cells, is designed to target B-cell maturation antigen and to redirect the T-cells to recognize and kill malignant myeloma cells.
:: A gene therapy for the treatment of Stargardt disease delivers a corrected version of the ABCR gene directly in the photoreceptors in the retina.
:: A gene therapy uses a recombinant AAV9 capsid to deliver a shortened version of human dystrophin to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
While there are hundreds of potential cell and gene therapies in the pipeline, a few of these innovative medicines have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are helping patients today. Currently, there are six diseases currently treated with gene or cell therapy for the treatment of cancer, eye diseases and rare hereditary diseases…

Journal Watch

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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

Developing a toolkit for engagement practice: sharing power with communities in priority-setting for global health research projects

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BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 14 Mar 2020)

 

Developing a toolkit for engagement practice: sharing power with communities in priority-setting for global health research projects
Communities’ engagement in priority-setting is a key means for setting research topics and questions of relevance and benefit to them. However, without attention to dynamics of power and diversity, their engagement can be tokenistic. So far, there remains limited ethical guidance on how to share power with communities, particularly those considered disadvantaged and marginalised, in global health research priority-setting. This paper generates a comprehensive, empirically-based “ethical toolkit” to provide such guidance, further strengthening a previously proposed checklist version of the toolkit. The toolkit places community engagement and power-sharing at the heart of priority-setting for global health research projects.
Authors: Bridget Pratt
Content type: Research article
14 March 2020

Knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV immunization dropout rate among Brazilian adolescent girls and their guardians

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BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 14 Mar 2020)

 

Knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV immunization dropout rate among Brazilian adolescent girls and their guardians
Infections with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are the main cause of cervical cancer. Since 2014, the HPV vaccine was introduced in the Brazilian National Vaccination Calendar. The purpose of this study was to ass…
Authors: Ana Carolina da Silva Santos, Nayara Nascimento Toledo Silva, Cláudia Martins Carneiro, Wendel Coura-Vital and Angélica Alves Lima
Citation: BMC Public Health 2020 20:301
Content type: Research article
Published on: 6 March 2020

Bio‐informational futures : The convergence of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology

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EMBO Reports
Volume 21 Issue 3 4 March 2020
https://www.embopress.org/toc/14693178/current

 

Science & Society 11 February 2020
Bio‐informational futures : The convergence of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology
Thom A Dixon, Natalie C Curach, Isak S Pretorius
Synthetic biology and artificial intelligence naturally converge in the biofoundry. Navigating the ethical and societal issues of the biofoundry’s potential remains a major challenge.

Integration vs separation in the provision of health care: 24 OECD countries compared

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Health Economics, Policy and Law 
Volume 15 – Issue 2 – April 2020
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/health-economics-policy-and-law/latest-issue

 

Articles
Integration vs separation in the provision of health care: 24 OECD countries compared
Federico Toth
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 December 2018, pp. 160-172
Abstract
This article proposes a classification of the different national health care systems based on the way the network of health care providers is organised. To this end, we present two rivalling models: on the one hand, the integrated model and, on the other, the separated model. These two models are defined based on five dimensions: (1) integration of insurer and provider; (2) integration of primary and secondary care; (3) presence of gatekeeping mechanisms; (4) patient’s freedom of choice; and (5) solo or group practice of general practitioners. Each of these dimensions is applied to the health care systems of 24 OECD countries. If we combine the five dimensions, we can arrange the 24 national cases along a continuum that has the integrated model and the separated model at the two opposite poles. Portugal, Spain, New Zealand, the UK, Denmark, Ireland and Israel are to be considered highly integrated, while Italy, Norway, Australia, Greece and Sweden have moderately integrated provision systems. At the opposite end, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Switzerland and Turkey have highly separated provision systems. Canada, The Netherlands and the United States can be categorised as moderately separated.

Projection of Costs of Polio Eradication Compared to Permanent Control

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Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 221, Issue 4, 15 February 2020
https://academic.oup.com/jid/issue/221/4

 

Projection of Costs of Polio Eradication Compared to Permanent Control
Marita Zimmermann, Brittany Hagedorn, Hil Lyons
J Infect Dis, Volume 221, Issue 4, 15 February 2020, Pages 561–565, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz488
Abstract
Despite increased efforts and spending toward polio eradication, it has yet to be eliminated worldwide. We aimed to project economic costs of polio eradication compared to permanent control. We used historical Financial Resource Requirements from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, as well as vaccination and population data from publicly available sources, to project costs for routine immunization, immunization campaigns, surveillance and laboratory resources, technical assistance, social mobilization, treatment, and overhead. We found that cumulative spending for a control strategy would exceed that for an eradication strategy in 2032 (range, 2027–2051). Eradication of polio would likely be cost-saving compared to permanent control.

Preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against importations of COVID-19: a modelling study

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The Lancet
Mar 14, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10227 p839-920, e46-e51
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Articles
Preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against importations of COVID-19: a modelling study
Marius Gilbert, et al.
Findings
Countries with the highest importation risk (ie, Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa) have moderate to high capacity to respond to outbreaks. Countries at moderate risk (ie, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Angola, Tanzania, Ghana, and Kenya) have variable capacity and high vulnerability. We identified three clusters of countries that share the same exposure to the risk originating from the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, and the city of Beijing, respectively.
Interpretation
Many countries in Africa are stepping up their preparedness to detect and cope with COVID-19 importations. Resources, intensified surveillance, and capacity building should be urgently prioritised in countries with moderate risk that might be ill-prepared to detect imported cases and to limit onward transmission.
Funding
EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020, Agence Nationale de la Recherche.

The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence

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The Lancet
Mar 14, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10227 p839-920, e46-e51
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

 

Rapid Review
The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence
Samantha K Brooks,et al
Summary
The December, 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak has seen many countries ask people who have potentially come into contact with the infection to isolate themselves at home or in a dedicated quarantine facility. Decisions on how to apply quarantine should be based on the best available evidence. We did a Review of the psychological impact of quarantine using three electronic databases. Of 3166 papers found, 24 are included in this Review. Most reviewed studies reported negative psychological effects including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger. Stressors included longer quarantine duration, infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss, and stigma. Some researchers have suggested long-lasting effects. In situations where quarantine is deemed necessary, officials should quarantine individuals for no longer than required, provide clear rationale for quarantine and information about protocols, and ensure sufficient supplies are provided. Appeals to altruism by reminding the public about the benefits of quarantine to wider society can be favourable.

Interventions to Improve Patient Comprehension in Informed Consent for Medical and Surgical Procedures: An Updated Systematic Review

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Medical Decision Making (MDM)
Volume 40 Issue 2, February 2020
http://mdm.sagepub.com/content/current

 

Review
Interventions to Improve Patient Comprehension in Informed Consent for Medical and Surgical Procedures: An Updated Systematic Review
Johanna Glaser, Sarah Nouri, Alicia Fernandez, Rebecca L. Sudore, Dean Schillinger, Michele Klein-Fedyshin, Yael Schenker
First Published January 16, 2020; pp. 119–143

When Does the Incremental Risk Format Aid Informed Medical Decisions? The Role of Learning, Feedback, and Number of Treatment Options

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Medical Decision Making (MDM)
Volume 40 Issue 2, February 2020
http://mdm.sagepub.com/content/current

When Does the Incremental Risk Format Aid Informed Medical Decisions? The Role of Learning, Feedback, and Number of Treatment Options
Kevin E. Tiede, Felicia Ripke, Nicole Degen, Wolfgang Gaissmaier

 

First Published February 8, 2020; pp. 212–221

 

Uniform nanoparticle vaccines

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Nature Biotechnology
Volume 38 Issue 3, March 2020
https://www.nature.com/nbt/volumes/38/issues/3

 

Uniform nanoparticle vaccines
Precise loading of diverse peptides for vaccination is enabled by a strategy for peptide–TLR7/8 conjugate self-assembly of uniform nanoparticles. The approach is compatible with the development of personalized strategies, such as cancer vaccines targeting patient-specific neoepitopes.

Peptide–TLR-7/8a conjugate vaccines chemically programmed for nanoparticle self-assembly enhance CD8 T-cell immunity to tumor antigens

Posted on by

Nature Biotechnology
Volume 38 Issue 3, March 2020
https://www.nature.com/nbt/volumes/38/issues/3

 

Article | 13 January 2020
Peptide–TLR-7/8a conjugate vaccines chemically programmed for nanoparticle self-assembly enhance CD8 T-cell immunity to tumor antigens
Cancer vaccines that self-assemble into uniform nanoparticles improve tumor clearance.
Geoffrey M. Lynn, Christine Sedlik[…] & Robert A. Seder

Freedom, Measles, and Freedom from Measles

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New England Journal of Medicine
March 12, 2020 Vol. 382 No. 11
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

 

Perspective
Freedom, Measles, and Freedom from Measles
Anne A. Gershon, M.D., Kathryn Edwards, M.D., Walter Orenstein, M.D., and William Schaffner, M.D.
False rumors about purported dangers of vaccination continue to circulate. People who reject the scientific facts about vaccines and pathogens in favor of an emotional or faith-based choice risk the health and lives not only of their own children, but of us all.

Consequences of Undervaccination — Measles Outbreak, New York City, 2018–2019

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New England Journal of Medicine
March 12, 2020 Vol. 382 No. 11
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

 

Original Articles
Consequences of Undervaccination — Measles Outbreak, New York City, 2018–2019
Jane R. Zucker, M.D. et al.
Importation of measles and vaccination delays among young children led to an outbreak of measles in New York City. The outbreak response was resource intensive and caused serious illness, particularly among unvaccinated children.

Adherence to Timely Vaccinations in the United States

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Pediatrics
Vol. 145, Issue 3 1 Mar 2020
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/

 

Articles
Adherence to Timely Vaccinations in the United States
Allison L. Hargreaves, Glen Nowak, Paula Frew, Alan R. Hinman, Walter A. Orenstein, Judith Mendel, Ann Aikin, Jessica A. Nadeau, Louise-Anne McNutt, Allison T. Chamberlain, Saad B. Omer, Laura A. Randall, Robert A. Bednarczyk
Pediatrics, Mar 2020, 145 (3) e20190783

Pediatricians’ Experiences With and Perceptions of the Vaccines for Children Program

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Pediatrics
Vol. 145, Issue 3 1 Mar 2020
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/

 

Pediatricians’ Experiences With and Perceptions of the Vaccines for Children Program
Sean T. O’Leary, Mandy A. Allison, Tara Vogt, Laura P. Hurley, Lori A. Crane, Michaela Brtnikova, Erin McBurney, Brenda L. Beaty, Nathan Crawford, Megan C. Lindley, Shannon K. Stokley, Allison Kempe
Pediatrics, Mar 2020, 145 (3) e20191207

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Breakthrough Infections: 2001–2016

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Pediatrics
Vol. 145, Issue 3 1 Mar 2020
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/

 

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Breakthrough Infections: 2001–2016
Tolulope A. Adebanjo, Tracy Pondo, David Yankey, Holly A. Hill, Ryan Gierke, Mirasol Apostol, Meghan Barnes, Susan Petit, Monica Farley, Lee H. Harrison, Corinne Holtzman, Joan Baumbach, Nancy Bennett, Suzanne McGuire, Ann Thomas, William Schaffner, Bernard Beall, Cynthia G. Whitney, Tamara Pilishvili
Pediatrics, Mar 2020, 145 (3) e20190836

Fever After Influenza, Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis, and Pneumococcal Vaccinations

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Pediatrics
Vol. 145, Issue 3 1 Mar 2020
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/

 

Fever After Influenza, Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis, and Pneumococcal Vaccinations
Emmanuel B. Walter, Nicola P. Klein, A. Patricia Wodi, Wes Rountree, Christopher A. Todd, Amy Wiesner, Jonathan Duffy, Paige L. Marquez, Karen R. Broder
Pediatrics, Mar 2020, 145 (3) e20191909

A Centralized Approach for Practicing Genomic Medicine

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Pediatrics
Vol. 145, Issue 3 1 Mar 2020
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/

 

Special Article
A Centralized Approach for Practicing Genomic Medicine
Sawona Biswas, Livija Medne, Batsal Devkota, Emma Bedoukian, Donna Berrodin, Kosuke Izumi, Matthew A. Deardorff, Jennifer Tarpinian, Jacqueline Leonard, Loiusa Pyle, Christopher Gray, Jasmine Montgomery, Tyrah Williams, Sierra Fortunato, Jamila Weatherly, Deborah McEldrew, Manindar Kaur, Sarah E. Raible, Alisha Wilkens, Nancy B. Spinner, Cara Skraban and Ian D. Krantz
Pediatrics March 2020, 145 (3) e20190855; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-0855
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing has revolutionized the diagnostic process, making broadscale testing affordable and applicable to almost all specialties; however, there remain several challenges in its widespread implementation. Barriers such as lack of infrastructure or expertise within local health systems and complex result interpretation or counseling make it harder for frontline clinicians to incorporate genomic testing in their existing workflow. The general population is more informed and interested in pursuing genetic testing, and this has been coupled with the increasing accessibility of direct-to-consumer testing. As a result of these changes, primary care physicians and nongenetics specialty providers find themselves seeing patients for whom genetic testing would be beneficial but managing genetic test results that are out of their scope of practice. In this report, we present a practical and centralized approach to providing genomic services through an independent, enterprise-wide clinical service model. We present 4 years of clinical experience, with >3400 referrals, toward designing and implementing the clinical service, maximizing resources, identifying barriers, and improving patient care. We provide a framework that can be implemented at other institutions to support and integrate genomic services across the enterprise.

Conscientious vaccination exemptions in kindergarten to eighth-grade children across Texas schools from 2012 to 2018: A regression analysis

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PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 14 Mar 2020)

 

Research Article
Conscientious vaccination exemptions in kindergarten to eighth-grade children across Texas schools from 2012 to 2018: A regression analysis
Maike Morrison, Lauren A. Castro, Lauren Ancel Meyers
| published 10 Mar 2020 PLOS Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003049

Factors associated with hindering the acceptance of HPV vaccination among caregivers – A cross-sectional study in Argentina

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PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 14 Mar 2020]

 

Factors associated with hindering the acceptance of HPV vaccination among caregivers – A cross-sectional study in Argentina
Raúl Martín Chaparro, Belén Rodríguez, Yanina Maza, Daniela Moyano, Akram Hernández-Vásquez
Research Article | published 10 Mar 2020 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229793

Impact of international travel and border control measures on the global spread of the novel 2019 coronavirus outbreak

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PNAS – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/
[Accessed 14 Mar 2020]

 

Impact of international travel and border control measures on the global spread of the novel 2019 coronavirus outbreak
Chad R. Wells, Pratha Sah, Seyed M. Moghadas, Abhishek Pandey, Affan Shoukat, Yaning Wang, Zheng Wang, Lauren A. Meyers, Burton H. Singer, and Alison P. Galvani
PNAS first published March 13, 2020.
Significance
To contain the global spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19), border control measures, such as airport screening and travel restrictions, have been implemented in several countries. Our results show that these measures likely slowed the rate of exportation from mainland China to other countries, but are insufficient to contain the global spread of COVID-19. With most cases arriving during the asymptomatic incubation period, our results suggest that rapid contact tracing is essential both within the epicenter and at importation sites to limit human-to-human transmission outside of mainland China.
Abstract
The novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in mainland China has rapidly spread across the globe. Within 2 mo since the outbreak was first reported on December 31, 2019, a total of 566 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS CoV-2) cases have been confirmed in 26 other countries. Travel restrictions and border control measures have been enforced in China and other countries to limit the spread of the outbreak. We estimate the impact of these control measures and investigate the role of the airport travel network on the global spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. Our results show that the daily risk of exporting at least a single SARS CoV-2 case from mainland China via international travel exceeded 95% on January 13, 2020. We found that 779 cases (95% CI: 632 to 967) would have been exported by February 15, 2020 without any border or travel restrictions and that the travel lockdowns enforced by the Chinese government averted 70.5% (95% CI: 68.8 to 72.0%) of these cases. In addition, during the first three and a half weeks of implementation, the travel restrictions decreased the daily rate of exportation by 81.3% (95% CI: 80.5 to 82.1%), on average. At this early stage of the epidemic, reduction in the rate of exportation could delay the importation of cases into cities unaffected by the COVID-19 outbreak, buying time to coordinate an appropriate public health response.

Socioeconomic inequalities and the equity impact of population-level interventions for adolescent health: an overview of systematic reviews

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Public Health
Volume 180 Pages 1-196 (March 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/public-health/vol/180/suppl/C

 

Review article Abstract only
Socioeconomic inequalities and the equity impact of population-level interventions for adolescent health: an overview of systematic reviews
A.K. Macintyre, C. Torrens, P. Campbell, M. Maxwell, … J. McLean
Pages 154-162

Rethink the expansion of access and benefit sharing

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Science
13 March 2020 Vol 367, Issue 6483
http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl

 

Policy Forum
Rethink the expansion of access and benefit sharing
By Sarah Laird, Rachel Wynberg, Michelle Rourke, Fran Humphries, Manuel Ruiz Muller, Charles Lawson
Science13 Mar 2020 : 1200-1202 Full Access
Several UN policy processes are embracing a calcified approach to conservation and equity in science
Summary
Access and benefit sharing (ABS), a policy approach that links access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge to the sharing of monetary and nonmonetary benefits, first found expression in the 1992 United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Predicated on the sovereign rights of countries over their biodiversity and associated genetic resources and intended to harness the economic power of those resources to create incentives for and fund biodiversity conservation, the ABS transaction was conceived to foster equitable relations between those parties providing genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge and those wishing to make use of them for research and development. Yet although challenges faced within the CBD suggest that it is time to rethink ABS, several other international policy processes under the auspices of the UN have instead been embracing the ABS approach, and are doing so largely outside of mainstream scientific discourse and attention. The resulting policies could have a major impact on how genetic resources and associated information are collected, stored, shared, and used, and on how research partnerships are configured. We highlight implications for science of the recent expansion of ABS in global policy, in particular the potential incorporation of genetic sequence data.

New coronavirus outbreak: Framing questions for pandemic prevention

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Science Translational Medicine
11 March 2020 Vol 12, Issue 534
https://stm.sciencemag.org/

 

Editorial
New coronavirus outbreak: Framing questions for pandemic prevention
By Scott P. Layne, James M. Hyman, David M. Morens, Jeffery K. Taubenberger
Science Translational Medicine11 Mar 2020 Full Access
We need to understand and quantify the dominant variables that govern the SARS–CoV-2 outbreak, rather than relying exclusively on confirmed cases and their geospatial spread.

European survey of hepatitis B vaccination policies for healthcare workers: An updated overview

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Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 11 Pages 2433-2642 (4 March 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/11

 

Review article Abstract only
European survey of hepatitis B vaccination policies for healthcare workers: An updated overview
Antoon De Schryver, Tom Lambaerts, Nathalie Lammertyn, Guido François, … Lode Godderis
Pages 2466-2472

Incorporation of health economic evaluation into immunization policy-making in Canada: Barriers and facilitators

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Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 11 Pages 2433-2642 (4 March 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/11

 

Review article Abstract only
Incorporation of health economic evaluation into immunization policy-making in Canada: Barriers and facilitators
Hester A. Hopman, Natasha S. Crowcroft, Tomris Cesuroglu, Joanne M. Langley
Pages 2512-2518

Shades of gray in vaccination decisions – Understanding community pharmacists’ perspectives of, and experiences with, influenza vaccine hesitancy in Ontario, Canada

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Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 11 Pages 2433-2642 (4 March 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/11

 

Review article Abstract only
Shades of gray in vaccination decisions – Understanding community pharmacists’ perspectives of, and experiences with, influenza vaccine hesitancy in Ontario, Canada
Gokul Raj Pullagura, Richard Violette, Sherilyn K.D. Houle, Nancy M. Waite
Pages 2551-2558

Barriers and facilitators of implementing a collaborative HPV vaccine program in an incarcerated population: A case study

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Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 11 Pages 2433-2642 (4 March 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/11

 

Review article Abstract only
Barriers and facilitators of implementing a collaborative HPV vaccine program in an incarcerated population: A case study
Amanda Emerson, Molly Allison, Patricia J. Kelly, Megha Ramaswamy
Pages 2566-2571
Abstract
Background
Men and women in county jails make up a population that is difficult to reach with traditional preventive health interventions. Collaborations between local health departments and county jails represent an opportunity to enhance public health by reaching a vulnerable population with services like vaccinations. The objective of this study was to coordinate planning and implementation of a collaborative program between a local health department (HD) and a county jail to offer human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to adolescents (ages 10–17) and young adults (ages 18–26) in the jail and to identify facilitators and barriers to inform future program development.
Methods
A county-municipal jail and a local HD in Kansas participated. A case study method was employed based on data collected from a focus group, telephone interviews, and site observations, September 2016 to December 2017. Data were coded using codes roughly drawn from the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR). Codes were then consolidated into themes related to barriers and facilitators.
Results
No adults were vaccinated; two juveniles were vaccinated. Barriers to a collaborative program to offer HPV vaccine to young adults arose in two areas: constrained resources and divergent organizational cultures and priorities. Barriers to offering HPV vaccinations to juveniles in the jail included parental consent and the unpredictable, often brief duration of juvenile detentions. A shared commitment to offering HPV vaccination services by leaders and staff in the two agencies was a key facilitator.
Conclusion
Finding ways to leverage leadership and staff buy-in and address specific barriers of constrained resources and divergent culture and priorities merits close attention, since partnerships between jails and local HD have potential to increase HPV vaccination rates in an overlooked population and advance public health.

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To attend or not to attend? The effect of school-immunization exemption policies on enrollment rates for prekindergarten, kindergarten and elementary aged youth

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Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 11 Pages 2433-2642 (4 March 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/11

 

Review article Abstract only
To attend or not to attend? The effect of school-immunization exemption policies on enrollment rates for prekindergarten, kindergarten and elementary aged youth
Emily R. Zier, W. David Bradford
Pages 2578-2584

Parents’ hesitancy towards vaccination in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study in Indonesia

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Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 11 Pages 2433-2642 (4 March 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/11

 

Review article Abstract only
Parents’ hesitancy towards vaccination in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study in Indonesia
Amanda Yufika, Abram Luther Wagner, Yusuf Nawawi, Nur Wahyuniati, … Harapan Harapan
Pages 2592-2599