American Journal of Preventive Medicine
March 2020 Volume 58, Issue 3, p313-472
http://www.ajpmonline.org/current

Research Articles
The Potential Economic Value of a Zika Vaccine for a Woman of Childbearing Age
Sarah M. Bartsch, Lindsey Asti, Owen J. Stokes-Cawley, So Yoon Sim, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Peter J. Hotez, Bruce Y. Lee
p370–377
Published online: January 20, 2020

American Journal of Public Health
March 2020 110(33)
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/toc/ajph/current

HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINE
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Schedule: Adherence Among Commercially Insured Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States, 2011–2017
Demetria Hubbard, Sadeep Shrestha, Emily B. Levitan and Huifeng Yun
110(3), pp. 385–390

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 102, Issue 2, February 2020
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/14761645/102/2

Perspective Pieces
Legal Uncertainty—The Gray Area around Substandard Medicines: Where Public Health Meets Law
Eugenia Olliaro, Piero Olliaro, Calvin W. L. Ho and Raffaella Ravinetto
Pages: 262–267
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.19-0645

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 22 Feb 2020)

Impact of mother’s education on full immunization of children aged 12–23 months in Eritrea: population and health survey 2010 data analysis
Although vaccination coverage in Eritrea has improved in recent years, some children are still missing out, and it’s important to identify risk factors for lower coverage in order to target campaigns and inter…
Authors: Fitsum Kibreab, Sonia Lewycka and Andebrhan Tewelde
Citation: BMC Public Health 2020 20:267
Content type: Research article
Published on: 22 February 2020

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 22 Feb 2020)

Health workers’ perceptions and challenges in implementing meningococcal serogroup a conjugate vaccine in the routine childhood immunization schedule in Burkina Faso
Meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV) was introduced in 2017 into the routine childhood immunization schedule (at 15–18 months of age) in Burkina Faso to help reduce meningococcal meningitis burde…
Authors: Sylvain F. Nkwenkeu, Mohamed F. Jalloh, Jenny A. Walldorf, Robert L. Zoma, Felix Tarbangdo, Soukeynatou Fall, Sansan Hien, Roland Combassere, Cesaire Ky, Ludovic Kambou, Alpha Oumar Diallo, Akshaya Krishnaswamy, Flavien H. Aké, Cynthia Hatcher, Jaymin C. Patel, Isaïe Medah…
Citation: BMC Public Health 2020 20:254
Content type: Research article
Published on: 19 February 2020

EMBO Reports
Volume 21 Issue 2 5 February 2020
https://www.embopress.org/toc/14693178/current

Science & Society 13 January 2020 Open Access
Conjectures, refutations and the search for truths : Science, symbolic truths and the devil
G Paolo Dotto
In times of fake news, post‐truths and post‐science, the principles of science can inform all kinds of inquiries into the true nature of reality.
Science & Society15 January 2020 Open Access

EMBO Reports
Volume 21 Issue 2 5 February 2020
https://www.embopress.org/toc/14693178/current

Real‐time ethics engagement in biomedical research : Ethics from bench to bedside
Jeremy Sugarman, Annelien L Bredenoord

Biomedical research inevitably involves ethical issues. Some raise broad public concerns, particularly when researchers obviously violate established ethical norms. For example, He Jiankui’s work using CRISPR/Cas9 to genetically modify human embryos to prevent HIV transmission, which resulted in the birth of the world’s first two gene‐edited babies, generated widespread condemnation of this use of human germline modifications. Ethical issues also arise in the earlier phases of basic research, such as the public release of the HeLa cell genome by the European Molecular Biological Laboratory that created controversy over privacy concerns. At other times, ethical issues are more subtle and may not be recognized as such or raise public concern. For instance, there are important ethical considerations related to using banked biospecimens in translational research. Similarly, creating neurological chimeric mouse models involves moral considerations related to the potential humanization of these models ¹, and embryo models from human stem cells are entangled in debates about the moral status of the embryo ².
Nonetheless, efforts should be taken to identify and manage ethical issues as early as possible in order to provide ethical guidance throughout the entire research process, and mitigate negative effects, harms and wrongs (K.R. Jongsma & A.L. Bredenoord, under review). In this paper, we describe how ethics expertise can contribute to biomedical research through real‐time engagement and some of the challenges associated with such efforts. To do so, we offer our experiences with two particular examples: organoid technology and umbilical cord blood (UCB) banking and transplantation…

Genome Medicine
https://genomemedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles
[Accessed 22 Feb 2020]

Towards a European health research and innovation cloud (HRIC)
The European Union (EU) initiative on the Digital Transformation of Health and Care (Digicare) aims to provide the conditions necessary for building a secure, flexible, and decentralized digital health infrastructure. Creating a European Health Research and Innovation Cloud (HRIC) within this environment should enable data sharing and analysis for health research across the EU, in compliance with data protection legislation while preserving the full trust of the participants.
Authors: F. M. Aarestrup, A. Albeyatti, W. J. Armitage, C. Auffray, L. Augello, R. Balling, N. Benhabiles, G. Bertolini, J. G. Bjaalie, M. Black, N. Blomberg, P. Bogaert, M. Bubak, B. Claerhout, L. Clarke, B. De Meulder…
Citation: Genome Medicine 2020 12:18
Content type: Opinion
Published on: 19 February 2020

Global Health Action
Volume 12, 2019 Issue 1
https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/zgha20/12/sup1?nav=tocList

Article
Knowing antimicrobial resistance in practice: a multi-country qualitative study with human and animal healthcare professionals
Maddy Pearson & Clare Chandler
Article: 1599560
Published online: 11 Jul 2019

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 22 Feb 2020]

Supporting the use of research evidence in decision-making in crisis zones in low- and middle-income countries: a critical interpretive synthesis
Decision-makers in crisis zones are faced with the challenge of having to make health-related decisions under limited time and resource constraints and in light of the many factors that can influence their decisions, of which research evidence is just one. To address a key gap in the research literature about how best to support the use of research evidence in such situations, we conducted a critical interpretive synthesis approach to develop a conceptual framework that outlines the strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use in crisis zones.
Authors: Ahmad Firas Khalid, John N. Lavis, Fadi El-Jardali and Meredith Vanstone
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems 2020 18:21
Content type: Research
Published on: 18 February 2020

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 22 Feb 2020]

Resource allocation for biomedical research: analysis of investments by major funders
Data on grants for biomedical research by 10 major funders of health research were collected from the World RePORT platform to explore what is being funded, by whom and where. This analysis is part of the Worl…
Authors: Ambinintsoa H. Ralaidovy, Taghreed Adam and Philippe Boucher
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems 2020 18:20
Content type: Research
Published on: 17 February 2020

Human Gene Therapy
Volume 31, Issue 3-4 / February 2020
https://www.liebertpub.com/toc/hum/31/3-4

Review
The National Gene Vector Biorepository: Eleven Years of Providing Resources to the Gene Therapy Community
Kenneth Cornetta, Lorraine Matheson, Ryan Long, and Lisa Duffy
Pages:145–150
Published Online:30 January 2020
Abstract
The National Gene Vector Biorepository (NGVB) program has been highly accessed by gene therapy investigators. The reagent repository has distributed over 1,000 reagents to 397 investigators. The Pharmacology/Toxicology Archive contains over 36,000 specimens from a variety of adeno-associated virus (AAV), adenoviral, and other pharmacology/toxicology studies. NGVB also maintains a searchable database of gene therapy pharmacology/toxicology studies to promote data sharing. NGVB has provided Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-mandated replication-competent virus testing for over 70 clinical trials. From 2008 to 2018, there have been 114 publications acknowledging the NGVB. It is unlikely that any other National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded program has served as many gene therapy investigators as the NGVB.

Humanitarian Exchange Magazine
Number 76, January 2020
https://odihpn.org/magazine/the-crisis-in-yemen/

The Crisis in Yemen
by HPN
This edition of Humanitarian Exchange focuses on the crisis in Yemen. Since the war there began in 2014, thousands of civilians have been killed or injured and air strikes and ground operations have destroyed hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure. An estimated 80% of Yemenis need humanitarian assistance.

In the lead article, Laurie Lee highlights the critical role Yemenis and Yemeni organisations are playing in addressing the humanitarian challenges in the country, and how NGOs can better support them. Genevieve Gauthier and Marcus Skinner reinforce this point with reference to two local organisations, the Yemen Women’s Union and Al Hikma. Warda Saleh, the founder of another Yemeni grassroots organisation, discusses the increased risk of gender-based violence facing women and girls, while Ibrahim Jalal and Sherine El Taraboulsi-McCarthy focus on internal displacement and the opportunities for a more effective humanitarian response. Reflecting on child protection programming in Yemen, Mohammed Alshamaa  and Amanda Brydon conclude that multisectoral approaches with local authorities result in better and more sustainable outcomes. Padraic McCluskey and Jana Brandt consider the ethical dilemmas Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) faced in trying to balance quality and coverage in a mother and child hospital in Taiz. Lindsay Spainhour Baker and colleagues reflect on the challenges involved in gathering and analysing information on the humanitarian situation while Lamis Al-Iryani, Sikandra Kurdi and Sarah Palmer-Felgate discuss the findings from an evaluation of the Yemen Social Fund for Development (SFD) Cash for Nutrition programme. An article by Kristine Beckerle and Osamah Al-Fakih details Yemeni and international organisations’ efforts to document and mitigate harm to civilians caught up in the conflict. The edition ends with a piece by Fanny Pettibon, Anica Heinlein and Dhabie Brown outlining CARE’s advocacy on the arms trade.

Finally, readers will note that this edition is shorter than usual, largely because it was very difficult to persuade potential authors to write on the Yemen crisis. Many of the individuals and organisations we contacted were either too busy responding or were concerned that writing frankly about their work could negatively affect their operations. HPN has covered many similarly sensitive contexts in Humanitarian Exchange over the last 26 years, but this is the first time we have experienced such reluctance to engage. A worrying sign.

JAMA
February 11, 2020, Vol 323, No. 6, Pages 491-580
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/issue.aspx

Viewpoint
Ethical and Legal Aspects of Ambient Intelligence in Hospitals
Sara Gerke, Dipl-Jur Univ, MA; Serena Yeung, PhD; I. Glenn Cohen, JD
free access has audio
JAMA. 2020;323(7):601-602. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.21699
This Viewpoint reviews the ethical and legal implications of using ambient intelligence, the use of artificial intelligence–based technologies to monitor health care and quality measures like handwashing and patient falls in health care setting.

Journal of Medical Ethics
March 2020 – Volume 46 – 3
http://jme.bmj.com/content/current

Original research
Intergenerational monitoring in clinical trials of germline gene editing (31 August, 2019)
Bryan Cwik
Abstract
Design of clinical trials for germline gene editing stretches current accepted standards for human subjects research. Among the challenges involved is a set of issues concerning intergenerational monitoring—long-term follow-up study of subjects and their descendants. Because changes made at the germline would be heritable, germline gene editing could have adverse effects on individuals’ health that can be passed on to future generations. Determining whether germline gene editing is safe and effective for clinical use thus may require intergenerational monitoring. The aim of this paper is to identify and argue for the significance of a set of ethical issues raised by intergenerational monitoring in future clinical trials of germline gene editing. Though long-term, multigenerational follow-up study of this kind is not without precedent, intergenerational monitoring in this context raises unique ethical challenges, challenges that go beyond existing protocols and standards for human subjects research. These challenges will need to be addressed if clinical trials of germline gene editing are ever pursued.

The Lancet
Feb 22, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10224 p537-658, e33-e40
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Editorial
COVID-19: fighting panic with information
The Lancet
… It is the rapid dissemination of trustworthy information—transparent identification of cases, data sharing, unhampered communication, and peer-reviewed research—which is needed most during this period of uncertainty. There may be no way to prevent a COVID-19 pandemic in this globalised time, but verified information is the most effective prevention against the disease of panic.

Comment
COVID-19: what is next for public health?
David L Heymann, Nahoko Shindo
on behalf of the WHO Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for Infectious Hazards
The WHO Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for Infectious Hazards (STAG-IH), working with the WHO secretariat, reviewed available information about the outbreaks of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Feb 7, 2020, in Geneva, Switzerland, and concluded that the continuing strategy of containment for elimination should continue, and that the coming 2–3 weeks through to the end of February, 2020, will be crucial to monitor the situation of community transmission to update WHO public health recommendations if required…

The Lancet
Feb 22, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10224 p537-658, e33-e40
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Articles
Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding
Roujian Lu, et al.

The Lancet
Feb 22, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10224 p537-658, e33-e40
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Impact of HPV vaccination and cervical screening on cervical cancer elimination: a comparative modelling analysis in 78 low-income and lower-middle-income countries
Marc Brisson, et al

The Lancet
Feb 22, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10224 p537-658, e33-e40
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Mortality impact of achieving WHO cervical cancer elimination targets: a comparative modelling analysis in 78 low-income and lower-middle-income countries
Karen Canfell, et al

The Lancet
Feb 22, 2020 Volume 395 Number 10224 p537-658, e33-e40
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

The Lancet Commissions
A future for the world’s children? A WHO–UNICEF–Lancet Commission
Helen Clark, et al

Nature Genetics
Volume 52 Issue 2, February 2020
https://www.nature.com/ng/volumes/52/issues/2

Editorial | 05 February 2020
Necessary voices
Given that it is based on heredity and has the ability to trace connections, genetics as a scientific discipline should be among those most attuned to diversity and global perspectives. Indigenous communities and scientists have much to contribute to genetics research, and they are making their voices heard. We celebrate these essential members of our larger genetics community, and we look forward to working together to learn from past examples, meet present challenges and support future opportunities.

New England Journal of Medicine
February 20, 2020 Vol. 382 No. 8
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

Perspective
A Novel Coronavirus Emerging in China — Key Questions for Impact Assessment
Vincent J. Munster, Ph.D., Marion Koopmans, D.V.M., Neeltje van Doremalen, Ph.D., Debby van Riel, Ph.D., and Emmie de Wit, Ph.D.
[Excerpt]
… We currently do not know where 2019-nCoV falls on the scale of human-to-human transmissibility. But it is safe to assume that if this virus transmits efficiently, its seemingly lower pathogenicity as compared with SARS, possibly combined with super-spreader events in specific cases, could allow large-scale spread. In this manner, a virus that poses a low health threat on the individual level can pose a high risk on the population level, with the potential to cause disruptions of global public health systems and economic losses. This possibility warrants the current aggressive response aimed at tracing and diagnosing every infected patient and thereby breaking the transmission chain of 2019-nCoV.
Epidemiologic information on the pathogenicity and transmissibility of this virus obtained by means of molecular detection and serosurveillance is needed to fill in the details in the surveillance pyramid and guide the response to this outbreak. Moreover, the propensity of novel coronaviruses to spread in health care centers indicates a need for peripheral health care facilities to be on standby to identify potential cases as well. In addition, increased preparedness is needed at animal markets and other animal facilities, while the possible source of this emerging virus is being investigated. If we are proactive in these ways, perhaps we will never have to discover the true epidemic or pandemic potential of 2019-nCoV.

New England Journal of Medicine
February 20, 2020 Vol. 382 No. 8
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

Brief Report: A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019

N. Zhu and Others

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 22 Feb 2020)

High risk for human exposure to Rift Valley fever virus in communities living along livestock movement routes: A cross-sectional survey in Kenya
Caroline Tigoi, Rosemary Sang, Edith Chepkorir, Benedict Orindi, Samuel Okello Arum, Francis Mulwa, Gladys Mosomtai, Samson Limbaso, Osama A. Hassan, Zephania Irura, Clas Ahlm, Magnus Evander
Research Article | published 21 Feb 2020 PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007979

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/

Research Article
Disease burden and seasonal impact of improving rotavirus vaccine coverage in the United States: A modeling study
Chin-En Ai, Molly Steele, Benjamin Lopman
| published 14 Feb 2020 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228942

Public Health Reports
Volume 135 Issue 2, March/April 2020
https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/phrg/135/2

Reports and Recommendations
2020 National Vaccine Plan Development: Recommendations From the National Vaccine Advisory Committee
Approved by the National Vaccine Advisory Committee on September 17, 2019
First Published February 14, 2020; pp. 181–188

Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Volume 33 January–February 2020
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/travel-medicine-and-infectious-disease/vol/33/suppl/C

Editorial Full text access
Going global – Travel and the 2019 novel coronavirus
Alfonso J. Rodríguez-Morales, Kirsten MacGregor, Sanch Kanagarajah, Dipti Patel, Patricia Schlagenhauf

Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Volume 33 January–February 2020
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/travel-medicine-and-infectious-disease/vol/33/suppl/C

Editorial Full text access
The next big threat to global health? 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): What advice can we give to travellers? – Interim recommendations January 2020, from the Latin-American society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI)
Cristian Biscayart, Patricia Angeleri, Susana Lloveras, Tânia do Socorro Souza Chaves, … Alfonso J. Rodríguez-Morales
Article 101567

Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Volume 33 January–February 2020
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/travel-medicine-and-infectious-disease/vol/33/suppl/C

Research article Full text access
Environmental investigation of respiratory pathogens during the Hajj 2016 and 2018
Van-Thuan Hoang, Doudou Sow, Khadidja Belhouchat, Thi-Loi Dao, … Philippe Gautret
Article 101500

Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 8 Pages 1869-2114 (18 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/8

Conference info Abstract only
The science of vaccine safety: Summary of meeting at Wellcome Trust
Stanley A. Plotkin, Paul A. Offit, Frank DeStefano, Heidi J. Larson, … Jason Glanz
Pages 1869-1880

Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 8 Pages 1869-2114 (18 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/8

Short communication Abstract only
Measles-containing vaccines in Brazil: Coverage, homogeneity of coverage and associations with contextual factors at municipal level
Flávia C. Pacheco, Giovanny V.A. França, Guilherme A. Elidio, Mariana B. Leal, … Dirce B. Guilhem
Pages 1881-1887

Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 8 Pages 1869-2114 (18 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/8

Research article Abstract only
Homeschooling parents in California: Attitudes, beliefs and behaviors associated with child’s vaccination status
Salini Mohanty, Caroline M. Joyce, Paul L. Delamater, Nicola P. Klein, … Alison M. Buttenheim
Pages 1899-1905

Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 8 Pages 1869-2114 (18 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/8

Research article Open access
Identifying barriers and drivers to vaccination: A qualitative interview study with health workers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sanjin Musa, Venesa Skrijelj, Aida Kulo, Katrine Bach Habersaat, … Cath Jackson
Pages 1906-1914

Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 8 Pages 1869-2114 (18 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/8

Research article Abstract only
Influenza vaccine coverage and predictors of vaccination among aged care workers in Sydney Australia
Elisa Lai, Hao Yi Tan, Mohana Kunasekaran, Abrar Ahmad Chughtai, … C. Raina MacIntyre
Pages 1968-1974

Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 8 Pages 1869-2114 (18 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/8

Research articlennn Abstract only
Safety of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccination among pregnant active duty U.S. military women
Clinton Hall, Lisa M. Abramovitz, Anna T. Bukowinski, Ashley A. Ricker, … Ava Marie S. Conlin
Pages 1982-1988

Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 8 Pages 1869-2114 (18 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/8

Research articlenn Abstract only
Factors influencing Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination series completion in Mississippi Medicaid
Sushmitha Inguva, Marie Barnard, Lori M. Ward, Yi Yang, … Sara L. Noble
Pages 2051-2057

Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 8 Pages 1869-2114 (18 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/8

Research article Abstract only
Propagandizing anti-vaccination: Analysis of Vaccines Revealed documentary series
Amanda S. Bradshaw, Debbie Treise, Summer S. Shelton, Matthew Cretul, … Daisha Peek
Pages 2058-2069

Vaccine
Volume 38, Issue 8 Pages 1869-2114 (18 February 2020)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/38/issue/8

Research article Abstract only
The echo in flu-vaccination echo chambers: Selective attention trumps social influence
Helge Giese, Hansjörg Neth, Mehdi Moussaïd, Cornelia Betsch, Wolfgang Gaissmaier
Pages 2070-2076

Vaccines — Open Access Journal
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines
(Accessed 22 Feb 2020)

Open Access Article
Open Access Article
An Exploratory Study of Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Healthcare Workers in a Western Chinese City, 2018–2019: Improving Target Population Coverage Based on Policy Interventions
by Lili Xu , Jinhua Zhao , Zhibin Peng , Xiaojin Ding , Yonghong Li , Huayi Zhang , Huaxiang Feng , Jiandong Zheng , Hailan Cao , Binzhong Ma , Yan Shi , Yongcheng Ma and Luzhao Feng
Vaccines 2020, 8(1), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010092 – 19 Feb 2020
Viewed by 114
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate a policy-based intervention to increase seasonal-influenza-vaccination coverage in healthcare workers in Xining, a city in Western China.
Methods: From October 2018 to March 2019, we implemented a free vaccination policy in healthcare workers in Xining. A face-to-face interview with the head of the infection control department and an online survey for medical staff in four tertiary medical facilities was conducted to understand both the implementation of the free policy and influenza vaccination coverage. Possible factors for influenza vaccination among healthcare workers (physician, nurses working on the front-line, HCWs) were investigated by multivariate-logistic regression.
Results: Coverage in two hospitals that implemented the free vaccination policy was 30.5% and 25.9%, respectively, which was statistically different to hospitals that did not implement the free policy (7.2% and 8.7%, respectively) (χ2 = 332.56, p < 0.0001). Among vaccinated healthcare workers, 65.5% and 48.6% reported their main reasons for vaccination were a convenient vaccination service and awareness of the free vaccination policy. The reasons for not being vaccinated among the 3389 unvaccinated healthcare workers included: the inconvenient vaccination service (33.8%), believing vaccination was unnecessary (29.7%), concerns about adverse reactions to the vaccine (28.8%), and having to pay for the vaccine (25.6%).
Conclusions: Implementing the free vaccination policy, combined with improving the accessibility of the vaccination service, increased seasonal-influenza vaccination-coverage in healthcare workers in Xining

From Google Scholar & other sources: Selected Journal Articles, Newsletters, Dissertations, Theses, Commentary

No new digest content identified.

Media/Policy Watch
This watch section is intended to alert readers to substantive news, analysis and opinion from the general media and selected think tanks and similar organizations on vaccines, immunization, global public health and related themes. Media Watch is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of themes and issues CVEP is actively tracking. This section will grow from an initial base of newspapers, magazines and blog sources, and is segregated from Journal Watch above which scans the peer-reviewed journal ecology.
We acknowledge the Western/Northern bias in this initial selection of titles and invite suggestions for expanded coverage. We are conservative in our outlook in adding news sources which largely report on primary content we are already covering above. Many electronic media sources have tiered, fee-based subscription models for access. We will provide full-text where content is published without restriction, but most publications require registration and some subscription level.

The Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
Politics
Trump’s Nationalistic Response to the Coronavirus – The Atlantic
Virology isn’t politics.
Peter Nicholas
February 18, 2020

Ideas
A Coronavirus Quarantine in America Could Be a Giant Legal Mess …
America’s defense against epidemics is divided among more than 2,000 individual public-health departments, which makes implementing a national strategy very difficult.
February 16, 2020
Polly J. Price, Professor of law and global health at Emory University

BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new, unique, relevant content]

The Economist
http://www.economist.com/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new, unique, relevant content]

Financial Times
http://www.ft.com/home/uk
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new, unique, relevant content]

Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new, unique, relevant content]

Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new, unique, relevant content]

Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new, unique, relevant content]

The Guardian
http://www.guardiannews.com/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new, unique, relevant content]

New Yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new, unique, relevant content]

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
Technology
WHO Concerned About Coronavirus Cases With No Clear Link
The World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about the number of coronavirus cases with no clear epidemiological link, although the total number of cases outside China remains relatively small, its director general said on Saturday.
By Reuters
Feb. 18

Europe
Sanofi Teams Up With U.S. Agency Against Coronavirus
French drugmaker Sanofi is working with a U.S. government agency to develop a vaccine against the new coronavirus from China, saying it could have a candidate ready for clinical trials within a year.
By Reuters

Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
Hundreds urge lawmakers to keep religious vaccine exemption
Feb 19, 2020
HARTFORD, Conn. — Hundreds of parents who are skeptical about the safety of vaccines turned out in force Wednesday, hoping to squash the latest proposal to end Connecticut’s religious exemption from certain childhood vaccines.
But members of the medical and science community urged members of the General Assembly not to be swayed by the large numbers of advocates who turned out with young children in tow and stickers that read, “In God we trust.” By late morning, crowds packed the Legislative Office Building and roughly 500 people had signed up to testify before the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee, which has proposed a bill ending the long-standing exemption.
“You’re hearing from a very vocal minority,” warned Dr. Linda Niccolai, professor of epidemiology at the School of Public Health and Yale University, urging lawmakers to “listen to the experts, people who are professionally trained and have science on their side.”…

Think Tanks et al

Brookings
http://www.brookings.edu/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new relevant content]

Center for Global Development
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
February 18, 2020
Cutting Aid is Still A Big Deal: Why We Should Pay Attention to the FY21 Budget Request
President Trump sent his fourth budget request to Congress last week—once again including steep cuts to foreign aid spending. We dug in to explore it.
Erin Collinson and Jocilyn Estes

CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
Commentary
Coronavirus Update: Rapid Construction of Medical Facilities
February 20, 2020 | J. Stephen Morrison, Jude Blanchette, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.
CSIS experts analyze new satellite imagery showing that the Chinese government has made exceptional progress in constructing two emergency medical facilities in Wuhan.

Council on Foreign Relations
http://www.cfr.org/
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
February 13, 2020
Public Health Threats and Pandemics
Threats to Global Health and Bio Security
Panelists discuss threats to global health and U.S. national security, including the coronavirus outbreak in China and the ongoing Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
February 18, 2020
Event by Anthony S. Fauci and Robert P. Kadlec

Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org/search/?post_type=press-release
Accessed 22 Feb 2020
[No new relevant content]

Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

WHO – 146th session of the Executive Board
Geneva, 3–8 February 2020.

Resolutions
In an effort to respond to Member States’ needs, the present texts have been made available as quickly as possible. The definitive versions of the resolutions and decisions adopted, edited for the Official Records, will be made available in due course.
EB146.R1 Appointment of the Regional Director for Africa

EB146.R2 Appointment of the Regional Director for Europe

EB146.R3 Appreciation of the outgoing Regional Director for Europe

EB146.R4 Remuneration of staff in the professional and higher categories

EB146.R5 Salaries of staff in ungraded positions and of the Director-General

EB146.R6 Cervical cancer prevention and control: accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem

EB146.R7 Global strategy for tuberculosis research and innovation

EB146.R8 Integrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness

Decisions
In an effort to respond to Member States’ needs, the present texts have been made available as quickly as possible. The definitive versions of the resolutions and decisions adopted, edited for the Official Records, will be made available in due course.
EB146(1) Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion

EB146(2) Non-State actors in official relations with WHO

EB146(3) Geneva buildings renovation strategy

EB146(4) Membership of the Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee

EB146(5) Participation in the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board

EB146(6) Meningitis prevention and control

EB146(7) Strengthening global immunization efforts to leave no-one behind
[See full text of Annex at end of this edition]

EB146(8) Epilepsy

EB146(9) Neglected tropical diseases

EB146(10) Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property

EB146(11) Polio eradication

EB146(13) Decade of Healthy Ageing

EB146(15) Data and innovation: global strategy on digital health

EB146(18) Primary health care

EMERGENCIES

Editor’s Note:
While we have concentrated key reports below, COVID-19 announcements, analysis and commentary will be found throughout this issue, in all sections.

Coronavirus [COVID-19]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

Situation report – 25
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
14 February 2020
[Excerpt]
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
Globally :: 49,053 laboratory-confirmed [2056 new]
China :: 48,548 laboratory-confirmed [1998 new]
:: 1,381 deaths [121 new]
Outside of China
:: 505 laboratory-confirmed [58 new]
:: 24 countries
:: 2 deaths [1 new]

WHO RISK ASSESSMENT
China – Very High
Regional Level – High
Global Level – High

HIGHLIGHTS
:: No new countries reported cases of 2019-nCoV in the past 24 hours.
:: The second death has been reported outside of China, in Japan. This individual did not have known travel history to China.
:: In China, health care workers account for 1716 confirmed cases of COVID-19 including six deaths.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
WHO’s strategic objectives for this response are to:
:: Limit human-to-human transmission including reducing secondary infections among close contacts and health care workers, preventing transmission amplification events, and preventing further international spread from China*;
:: Identify, isolate and care for patients early, including providing optimized care for infected patients;
:: Identify and reduce transmission from the animal source;
:: Address crucial unknowns regarding clinical severity, extent of transmission and infection, treatment options, and accelerate the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines;
:: Communicate critical risk and event information to all communities and counter misinformation;
:: Minimize social and economic impact through multisectoral partnerships.

*This can be achieved through a combination of public health measures, such as rapid identification, diagnosis and management of the cases, identification and follow up of the contacts, infection prevention and control in health care settings, implementation of health measures for travelers, awareness-raising in the population and risk communication.

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National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
:: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
Updated: 2020-02-15
…As of 24:00 on Feb 14, the National Health Commission had received 66,492 reports of confirmed cases and 1,523 deaths in 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and in all 8,096 patients had been cured and discharged from hospital. There still remained 56,873 confirmed cases (including 11,053 in serious condition) and 8,969 suspected cases. So far, 513,183 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients. 169,039 are now under medical observation…

China pushes for differentiated measures to battle coronavirus
Updated: 2020-02-14 Xinhua
Epidemic prevention and control in Hubei Province, particularly in the capital city of Wuhan, remain the top priority, said Premier Li Keqiang.
BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese authorities on Feb 13 stressed differentiated measures for different regions to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak at a high-level meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.
The leading group of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak also demanded efforts to improve patient treatment and expedite research on drugs.
Epidemic prevention and control in Hubei Province, particularly in the capital city of Wuhan, remain the top priority, said the leading group headed by Li, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
While ordering Wuhan to speed up hospital admission and suspected case quarantine, the leading group instructed hard-hit cities in Hubei such as Xiaogan and Huanggang to carry out equally strict measures as in Wuhan in surveillance, quarantine and treatment.
The demand for more medics in Hubei and Wuhan should be fulfilled, and the departure channels of the city and the province need further control, according to the meeting.
Multiple steps such as spacing out return trips have prevented large-scale flows of people after the Spring Festival, said the meeting.
Each province is responsible for formulating differentiated epidemic prevention and control strategies based on their own conditions, according to the meeting.
No one-size-fits-all approach should be taken and unfair and extreme practices must be corrected without delay, said the meeting…

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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Accessed 15 Feb 2020
China’s Leader, Under Fire, Says He Led Coronavirus Fight Early On
In pushing a new account of the country’s response, officials said President Xi Jinping was aware of the outbreak nearly two weeks before he first spoke publicly about it. It could draw him directly into questions about whether Chinese officials did too little, too late.
By Amy Qin
Feb. 15, 2020
Under fire for its response to the coronavirus epidemic, China’s authoritarian government appears to be pushing a new account of events that presents President Xi Jinping as taking early action to fight the outbreak that has convulsed the country.

But in doing so, the authorities have acknowledged for the first time that Mr. Xi was aware of the epidemic and involved in the response nearly two weeks before he first spoke publicly about it — and while officials at its epicenter in the city of Wuhan were still playing down its dangers.
That confirmation risks drawing the president, China’s most powerful leader in decades, directly into questions about whether top officials did too little, too late.

In an internal speech published on Saturday, Mr. Xi said he had “issued demands about the efforts to prevent and control” the coronavirus on Jan. 7, during a meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee, the highest council of the Communist Party, whose sessions are typically cloaked in secrecy.

In the speech, he also said he had authorized the unprecedented lockdown of Wuhan and other cities beginning on Jan. 23.

“I have at every moment monitored the spread of the epidemic and progress in efforts to curtail it, constantly issuing oral orders and also instructions,” Mr. Xi said of his more recent involvement…

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WHO News release 12 February 2020
World experts and funders set priorities for COVID-19 research
Leading health experts from around the world have been meeting at the World Health Organization’s Geneva headquarters to assess the current level of knowledge about the new COVID-19 disease, identify gaps and work together to accelerate and fund priority research needed to help stop this outbreak and prepare for any future outbreaks.

The 2-day forum was convened in line with the WHO R&D Blueprint – a strategy for developing drugs and vaccines before epidemics, and accelerating research and development while they are occurring.

“This outbreak is a test of solidarity — political, financial and scientific. We need to come together to fight a common enemy that does not respect borders, ensure that we have the resources necessary to bring this outbreak to an end and bring our best science to the forefront to find shared answers to shared problems. Research is an integral part of the outbreak response,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “I appreciate the positive response of the research community to join us at short notice and come up with concrete plans and commitment to work together.”

The meeting, hosted in collaboration with GloPID-R (the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness) brought together major research funders and over 300 scientists and researchers from a large variety of disciplines. They discussed all aspects of the outbreak and ways to control it including:
:: the natural history of the virus, its transmission and diagnosis;
:: animal and environmental research on the origin of the virus, including management measures at the human-animal interface;
:: epidemiological studies;
:: clinical characterization and management of disease caused by the virus;
:: infection prevention and control, including best ways to protect health care workers;
:: research and development for candidate therapeutics and vaccines;
:: ethical considerations for research;
:: and integration of social sciences into the outbreak response.

“This meeting allowed us to identify the urgent priorities for research. As a group of funders we will continue to mobilize, coordinate and align our funding to enable the research needed to tackle this crisis and stop the outbreak, in partnership with WHO,” said Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah, chair of GloPID-R. “Equitable access – making sure we share data and reach those most in need, in particular those in lower and middle-income countries, is fundamental to this work which must be guided by ethical considerations at all times.”

During the meeting, the more than 300 scientists and researchers participating both in person and virtually agreed on a set of global research priorities. They also outlined mechanisms for continuing scientific interactions and collaborations beyond the meeting which will be coordinated and facilitated by WHO. They worked with research funders to determine how necessary resources can be mobilized so that critical research can start immediately.

The deliberations will form the basis of a research and innovation roadmap charting all the research needed and this will be used by researchers and funders to accelerate the research response.

WHO News release 13 February 2020
Remarks by Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme at media briefing on COVID-19 on 13 February 2020

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Transcript for CDC Media Telebriefing: Update on COVID-19
Friday, February 14, 2020

FDA’s Actions in Response to 2019 Novel Coronavirus at Home and Abroad
Feb 14, 2020

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Emergencies

Ebola – DRC+
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

Ebola Outbreak in DRC 79: 11 February 2020
[Excerpts]
Situation Update
From 3 to 9 February 2020, three new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported in Beni Health Zone, North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Figure 1). All of the cases were registered as contacts and two were under surveillance at the time of detection.

In the past 21 days (20 January to 9 February 2020), 13 new confirmed cases were reported from four of the 30 health areas in two active health zones in North Kivu Province (Figure 2, Table 1): Beni (92%; n=12) and Mabalako (8%; n=1) Health Zones. Although recent trends of this outbreak, including the small number of weekly cases and limited geographic area affected by EVD are encouraging, continued vigilance is crucial, particularly for contact identification and follow up, in order to interrupt possible nosocomial transmission linked to traditional practitioner facilities. In the last 21 days, there were three cases of the 13 new confirmed cases who passed away in the community, outside of Ebola treatment centres.

The security situation in several EVD-affected health areas remain unstable and unpredictable. On 8 February, a health centre was attacked in Butembo, destroying equipment and infrastructure. On 8 February 2020, an attack on civilians in Mabalako Health Zone led to a suspension of response activities for 48 hours. This attack resulted in displacement of people fearing armed attacks.

As of 9 February 2020, a total of 3431 EVD cases, including 3308 confirmed and 123 probable cases have been reported, of which 2253 cases died (overall case fatality ratio 66%). Of the total confirmed and probable cases, 56% (1920) were female, 28% (968) were children aged less than 18 years, and 5% (172) were healthcare workers…

…Conclusion
Beni Health Zone remains the hotspot of this outbreak. Ongoing insecurity in other areas is of concern. Continued access and heightened vigilance is required to maintain case investigation and contact tracing activities in all health zones.

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12 February 2020 Statement
Statement on the meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee for Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 12 February 2020
…Conclusions and Advice
It was the unanimous view of the Committee that this event still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the IHR (2005).

The Committee acknowledged the revised risk assessment, which puts the risk now as high at national and regional levels, and low at the global level.

The Committee was concerned that withdrawing the PHEIC now might have adverse consequences for the response efforts through diminishing focus. Additionally, although the primary concern of the Committee is EVD, there are serious ongoing outbreaks of other diseases, including measles and cholera, in DRC. The country continues to need support to combat infectious diseases as well as to strengthen its health system. Further, there remains an urgent need to maintain international solidarity for the response.

The Committee noted the ongoing discussions about the interpretation in the text of the IHR (2005) of the terms international and regional spread, and about creating an intermediate level of response between the binary possibilities of PHEIC or no PHEIC, in a way that does not require reopening negotiations on the Regulations. The Committee supports these discussions, as an intermediate level would be as useful for gradually ending a PHEIC and for signaling the potential for one to be declared…

…Based on this advice, the reports made by the affected State Party, and the currently available information, the Director-General accepted the Committee’s assessment and on 12 February 2020 maintained the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

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ERVEBO® (Ebola Zaire Vaccine, Live) Now Registered in Four African Countries, Within 90 Days of Reference Country Approval and WHO Prequalification
Democratic Republic of the Congo One of the First African Countries to Register ERVEBO
February 14, 2020 11:20 AM Eastern Standard Time
KENILWORTH, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today confirmed that four African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), have approved ERVEBO (pronounced er-VEE-boh). ERVEBO was granted a conditional marketing authorization by the European Commission on November 11, 2019 and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Dec. 20, 2019. In the United States, ERVEBO is indicated for the prevention of disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus in individuals 18 years of age and older. The duration of protection conferred by ERVEBO is unknown. ERVEBO does not protect against other species of Ebolavirus or Marburgvirus. Effectiveness of the vaccine when administered concurrently with antiviral medication, immune globulin (IG), and/or blood or plasma transfusions is unknown…

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Emergencies

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

Polio this week as of 12 February 2020
:: A time-limited working group has been put together to manage and coordinate GPEI’s activities to enable a rapid and effective roll out of nOPV2. Take a look at the terms of reference for the working group.
:: With the evolving public health emergency associated with the increase in new emergences of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, a draft decision was adapted by the WHO Executive Board during last week’s meeting. [see text below]

Summary of new viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
:: Pakistan: five WPV1 cases, twelve WPV1 positive environmental samples and three cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: Nigeria: one cVDPV2 case and one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
:: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo):  two cVDPV2 cases
:: Somalia: two cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: Angola: three cVDPV2 cases
:: Cote d’Ivoire: three cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
:: Ethiopia: seven cVDPV2 cases
:: Philippines: one cVDPV2 case and three cVDPV2 positive environmental samples

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WHO EXECUTIVE BOARD
146th session Provisional agenda item 16.1
24 January 2020 EB 146/21 Add.1
Poliomyelitis
Polio eradication :: Draft decision
The Executive Board is invited to consider the following draft decision:
The Executive Board, having considered the report on poliomyelitis: polio eradication;1 noting with great concern the evolving public health emergency associated with the increase in new emergences due to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, particularly in parts of Africa; and noting the development of the draft Strategy for Control of cVDPV2 2019–2021, an addendum to the Polio Endgame Strategy 2019–2023,2 to more effectively address the evolving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 epidemiology, decided:

(1) to request the Director-General to: (a) continue to ensure adequate and uninterrupted supply of oral polio vaccine type 2 to respond to such outbreaks, in line with existing mandates; (b) accelerate the assessment and roll-out of a novel oral polio vaccine type 2 including through the WHO Emergency Use Listing procedure; (c) initiate a transparent and evidence-based process for prioritizing the equitable allocation of limited supplies of novel oral polio vaccine type 2; and,

(2) to urge Member States to: (a) expedite the processes for authorizing the importation and use of vaccines to respond to polio outbreaks, including novel oral polio vaccine type 2 on the basis of its emergency use listing; and (b) mobilize domestic financial resources to complement international financial and political commitments.

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Editor’s Note:
WHO has posted a refreshed emergencies page which presents an updated listing of Grade 3,2,1 emergencies as below.

WHO Grade 3 Emergencies [to 15 Feb 2020]

Democratic Republic of the Congo
:: Ebola Outbreak in DRC 79: 11 February 2020
[See Emergencies above ford detail]

Yemen
:: Journey to recovery: Yemeni patients get new lease on life in Jordan 9 February 2020

Mozambique floods – No new digest announcements identified
Nigeria – No new digest announcements identified
Somalia – No new digest announcements identified
South Sudan – No new digest announcements identified
Syrian Arab Republic – No new digest announcements identified

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WHO Grade 2 Emergencies [to 15 Feb 2020]
Burkina Faso [in French]
:: Cas suspect d’infection par le nouveau coronavirus au Burkina Faso : les résultats …
14 février 2020
Ouagadougou, le 11 février 2020, le Ministère de la santé a fait un exposé sur les mesures sanitaires préventives prises par le Burkina Faso  pour faire face à un risque de survenue d’une éventuelle épidémie due au nouveau coronavirus dans le pays.
:: Burkina Faso : Riposte vaccinale contre la poliomyélite dans le District sanitaire d…
11 février 2020
Ouargaye( Centre Est au Burkina Faso), 7 févier 2020, lancement du  round 0 de la campagne de vaccination de riposte contre la poliomyélite sous la coordination du Gouverneur de la Région.

Afghanistan – No new digest announcements identified
Angola – No new digest announcements identified
Burundi – No new digest announcements identified
Cameroon – No new digest announcements identified
Central African Republic – No new digest announcements identified
Ethiopia – No new digest announcements identified
HIV in Pakistan – No new digest announcements identified
Iran floods 2019 – No new digest announcements identified
Iraq – No new digest announcements identified
Libya – No new digest announcements identified
Malawi floods – No new digest announcements identified
Measles in Europe – No new digest announcements identified
MERS-CoV – No new digest announcements identified
Myanmar – No new digest announcements identified
Niger – No new digest announcements identified
occupied Palestinian territory – No new digest announcements identified
Sudan – No new digest announcements identified
Ukraine – No new digest announcements identified
Zimbabwe – No new digest announcements identified

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WHO Grade 1 Emergencies [to 15 Feb 2020]

Chad – No new digest announcements identified
Djibouti – No new digest announcements identified
Kenya – No new digest announcements identified
Namibia – viral hepatitis – No new digest announcements identified
Tanzania – No new digest announcements identified

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UN OCHA – L3 Emergencies
The UN and its humanitarian partners are currently responding to three ‘L3’ emergencies. This is the global humanitarian system’s classification for the response to the most severe, large-scale humanitarian crises. 
Syrian Arab Republic
:: Recent Developments in Northwest Syria – Situation Report No. 8 – As of 13 February 2020
HIGHLIGHTS
:: People in northwest Syria are living through some of the worst crisis since the war in Syria began. More than 800,000 people have been displaced since 1 December, due to intense conflict in freezing weather. The humanitarian community is doing everything it can but is overwhelmed by the scale of needs. An immediate cessation of the violence is critical. More resources, including funding, is immediately needed to save people’s lives and alleviate their suffering…

Yemen – No new digest announcements identified

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UN OCHA – Corporate Emergencies
When the USG/ERC declares a Corporate Emergency Response, all OCHA offices, branches and sections provide their full support to response activities both at HQ and in the field.
CYCLONE IDAI and Kenneth – No new digest announcements identified
EBOLA OUTBREAK IN THE DRC
– No new digest announcements identified

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WHO & Regional Offices [to 15 Feb 2020]
News release 14 February 2020
Four countries in the African region license vaccine in milestone for Ebola prevention

News release 13 February 2020
Remarks by Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme at media briefing on COVID-19 on 13 February 2020

News release 12 February 2020
World experts and funders set priorities for COVID-19 research

News release 10 February 2020
WHO and FIND formalize strategic collaboration to drive universal access to essential diagnostics

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Weekly Epidemiological Record, 14 February 2020, vol. 95, 07 (pp. 61–68)
:: Report of the thirtieth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication, 22 October 2019

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WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Four countries in the African region license vaccine in milestone for Ebola preventi…
14 February 2020
:: Supporting media to bust harmful myths on coronavirus disease 13 February 2020

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: PAHO prepares a further 9 countries in the Americas for laboratory diagnosis of new coronavirus (02/14/2020)
:: PAHO prepares 8 Caribbean countries for laboratory diagnosis of new coronavirus (02/12/2020)
:: Cases of dengue in the Americas exceeded 3 million in 2019 (02/12/2020)
:: New coronavirus: Fiocruz, Ministry of Health of Brazil and PAHO provide training in laboratory diagnosis in nine countries (02/11/2020)

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

WHO European Region EURO
:: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): European Region focusing on readiness 14-02-2020
:: Poland can strengthen financial protection by exempting poor people from copayments for medicines 12-02-2020
:: Harms and benefits of evidence-based screening outlined in new WHO report 11-02-2020
:: Well-prepared laboratories are first line of defence against novel coronavirus in Europe 10-02-2020

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: Yemeni patients get new lease on life in Jordan 9 February 2020

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: 14 February 2020 | Commentary
It is time for all of us to play our part in the fight against the novel coronavirus in the Pacific
Our Region is at a critical juncture in the novel coronavirus (now known as COVID-19) outbreak. While the vast majority of cases are still in China, as of 14 February the virus has also been confirmed in 24 other countries on several continents. And there are now cases of local transmission in several countries, increasing the risk of onward spread.

CDC/ACIP [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html
ACIP Meetings
Next ACIP Meeting: February 26-27, 2020
Agenda (Draft) pdf icon[2 pages]

Latest News Releases
:: Transcript for CDC Media Telebriefing: Update on COVID-19 Friday, February 14, 2020
:: CDC Media Telebriefing: Update on COVID-19 Friday, February 14, 2020
:: CDC Confirms 15th Case of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Thursday, February 13, 2020
:: CDC Confirms 14th Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Wednesday, February 12, 2020
:: Transcript for CDC Telebriefing: CDC Update on Novel Coronavirus Wednesday, February 12, 2020

MMWR News Synopsis Friday, February 14, 2020
Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Cases — United States, 2010–2017
Persons Evaluated for 2019 Novel Coronavirus — United States, January 2020

Africa CDC [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Africa Identifies First Case of Coronavirus Disease: Statement by the Director of Africa CDC
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, 15 FEBRUARY 2020. On 14 February 2020, the Minister of Health and Population of Egypt, Dr Hala Zayed, confirmed the first case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Egypt.  In her statement, she confirmed that the patient is male, 33 years old, of foreign origin and is currently receiving treatment at an isolation centre in Egypt. The 17 contacts of the patient have tested negative, and all of them…