Think Tanks et al
 
Brookings
http://www.brookings.edu/
Accessed 20 Oct 2018
[No new relevant content]
 
 
Center for Global Development  
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Accessed 20 Oct 2018
[No new relevant content]
 
 
CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 20 Oct 2018
[No new relevant content]
 
 
Council on Foreign Relations
http://www.cfr.org/
Accessed 20 Oct 2018
[No new relevant content]

Milestones :: Perspectives

IVAC 
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
October 2018

Dr. Kate O’Brien appointed Director of WHO’s Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals
Dr. William Moss named Interim Executive Director, IVAC

The International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) congratulates Kate O’Brien, MD, MPH, Executive Director of IVAC in the Department of International Health, on her appointment as Director of the World Health Organization Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals.

Dr. O’Brien’s appointment reflects the important contributions of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Department of International Health and IVAC to strengthening global immunization programs, especially over the past 15 years since the beginning of IVAC’s work as PneumoADIP.

Dr. O’Brien’s career in vaccines and immunizations over the past 25 years at the Bloomberg School was sparked by her field experience in Haiti caring for children who needlessly suffered from vaccine-preventable diseases. Her contributions to on-the-ground field research in vaccine clinical trials, disease epidemiology, and vaccine impact studies have extended to policy- and implementation-oriented work in countries throughout Africa and South Asia. She also directed the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Program at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health.

Dr. O’Brien served as IVAC’s Executive Director for six years and has made lasting contributions to the global immunization landscape through her tenure as a contributor to and member of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization, which shapes global recommendations and practice. She is also a member of the Gavi board and an advocate for research and evidence-based policy, work that is enriched by deep experience on many global- and country-level immunization projects.

She brings to WHO a vision of delivering the greatest possible impact through the immunization and vaccine program for families, communities, and countries. At the center for her strategic direction for maximizing impact at WHO are innovation, tailored support for countries, committed partnership, strong evidence through high-quality data, forward-leaning policies, and equitable access.

Dr. O’Brien brought tremendous energy and drive to her tenure at IVAC and the school and leaves behind a strong team that will continue to advance IVAC’s mission. We look forward to working with Dr. O’Brien in her new role at WHO…

Milestones :: Perspectives

IAVI Announces Clinical Trial of Next-Generation HIV Vaccine Candidate Designed to Induce Antibodies to Block HIV Infection

Phase I trial to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of vaccine candidate engineered to elicit targeted immune response against HIV
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 9, 2018 – The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) announces the start of a Phase I clinical trial (IAVI G001) to test a novel vaccine candidate designed to stimulate the immune system to initiate a key first step in the generation of potent proteins, known as broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), against HIV. The trial will evaluate the safety of the candidate and the immune responses it is able to induce. The candidate, known as eOD-GT8 60mer, represents an important step forward in the quest to develop an HIV vaccine.

Researchers widely agree that a vaccine that induces bNAbs will likely be the best way to confer durable protection against the virus. bNAbs are desirable because in laboratory experiments, they are effective against many of the genetically diverse strains of HIV, and in animal studies, they can block infection of a virus similar to HIV.

“The world urgently needs new ways to prevent HIV infection, and chief among these is a vaccine,” said Mark Feinberg, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of IAVI. “Fortunately, a new generation of HIV immunogen candidates, including eOD-GT8 60mer, is entering clinical trials. These candidates are being developed using highly sophisticated and elegant vaccine science and provide a precedent for vaccine strategies targeting the induction of specific immune responses believed to be critical in protecting against HIV infection.”…

Milestones :: Perspectives

Democratic Republic of Congo launches major vaccination drive
11 October 2018
Mashako Plan aims to boost vaccine coverage by 15 percentage points, protecting 220,000 additional children.
Kinshasa, 11 October 2018 – A quarter of a million more children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are set to be protected against some of the world’s deadliest diseases following the launch of a major new boost to the country’s routine immunisation programme.

The Emergency Plan for the Revitalisation of Routine Immunisation in the DRC, named the Mashako Plan after former DRC Minister of Health Professor Leonard Mashako Mamba, aims to raise routine immunisation coverage by 15 percentage points over the next 18 months, meaning 220,000 children that otherwise wouldn’t have will receive lifesaving vaccines.

“Vaccination is the most cost effective public health intervention,” said Dr Oly Ilunga Kalenga, Minister of Health of DRC. “When children get vaccinated, they are protected against all sorts of preventable diseases that would otherwise prevent them from developing their full potential. Yet more than one million Congolese children are still not completely vaccinated. The ambitious Emergency Plan for Routine Immunisation will be a game-changer. It is an honour to name this plan after the late Dr Mashako, a true visionary who transformed the Congolese health system.”

In 1999, just 25% of children born in the DRC received basic Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough vaccine (DTP3). After nearly 20 years of Gavi support, that figure has grown to 81%. In the same period child mortality has shrunk from 165 to 91 children in every thousand dying before their fifth birthday. Vaccines to protect children from measles, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococcal and polio are now delivered by the country’s routine immunisation programme.

Despite this progress, the DRC still has one of the highest rates of child mortality worldwide and 1.8 million children miss out on a full course of vaccines every year. As a result the country has seen major outbreaks of measles, polio and yellow fever – all vaccine-preventable diseases – in recent years…

The Mashako Plan will target eight vulnerable provinces; Ituri, Kasai, Haut-Katanga, Mongala, Kwilu, Tanganyika, Kinshasa, Tshuapa and Haut-Lomami. It will focus on five key objectives to improve coverage:
:: Immunisation services: Increase the number of immunisation sessions by 20%
:: Vaccine availability: Reduce stockouts by 80% at local health centres
:: Monitoring and evaluation: Monthly updated dashboard of key indicators of the plan
:: Inspection and control: Monthly inspection of immunisation activities in health zones and areas by inspectors
:: Coordination and financing: Operational steering committee of the plan meeting weekly for the next 18 months…

Milestones :: Perspectives

Ebola – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo
11 October 2018
Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
The response to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is becoming increasingly undermined by security challenges in at-risk areas, particularly Beni. These incidents severely impact both civilians and frontline workers, forcing suspension of EVD response activities and increasing the risk that the virus will continue to spread. WHO continues to distinguish between the incidents of conflict between rebel and government forces, and pockets of community push-back on the response. A recent increase in the incidence of new cases (Figure 1) is the result of the multitude of challenges faced by response teams. This also reflects improved active surveillance and reporting from the community.

Since the last Disease Outbreak News (data as of 2 October), 29 new confirmed EVD cases were reported: 23 from Beni, four from Butembo, one from Mabalako, and one from Masereka Health Zones in North Kivu Province. Fifteen of these confirmed cases have been linked to known cases or were linked retrospectively through case to transmission chains within the respective communities, while fourteen recently reported cases remain under investigation…

…Vaccination: As of 10 October, 90 vaccination rings have been defined, in addition to 31 rings of health and frontline workers. To date, 15 828 eligible and consented people have been vaccinated, including 6327 health and frontline workers and 3439 children. Vaccination preparedness progress is being made in neighbouring Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi. The Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) managed by the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) in Beni has increased its capacity to 25 beds…

 
10: Situation report on the Ebola outbreak in North Kivu  9 October 2018

Featured Journal Content

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Special Issue – Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation
Edited by Angus Thomson, Gaëlle Vallée-Tourangeau, L. Suzanne Suggs

Editorial  Open access
Strategies to increase vaccine acceptance and uptake: From behavioral insights to context-specific, culturally-appropriate, evidence-based communications and interventions
Angus Thomson, Gaëlle Vallée-Tourangeau, L. Suzanne Suggs
Pages 6457-6458
Vaccines save least 5 lives a minute, but they could save many more [1]. An estimated 1.5 million deaths – the equivalent of 8 jumbo jets crashing every day – could be averted if global vaccination uptake improved [2]. Yet, increasing vaccine coverage is not as simple as educating people about the benefits of vaccination. There are many barriers and drivers which affect vaccine uptake, ranging from logistics such as ensuring people have access to and are aware of affordable vaccines, to socio-psychological factors underpinning people’s acceptance to be vaccinated [3]. Until recently, much that had been done to address vaccine hesitancy and low vaccine coverage was based on untested beliefs or good ideas rather than on solid evidence, but this is changing. This special issue, stemming from an annual meeting on vaccine confidence and coverage [4], builds on an increasing body of empirical evidence seeking to identify the determinants of vaccine acceptance and uptake. Importantly, it also echoes changes in this field, by moving beyond understanding to action, highlighting a number of social and behavior change interventions that have been designed and tested for impact. In the remainder of this Editorial, we highlight the key points from the contributing articles and their implications for designing effective communication and intervention strategies to increase vaccine acceptance and uptake.

1. Communicating your reasons are not enough: Begin by understanding your target audience

“People just need to understand the benefits and value of vaccines!” This commonly-heard cry unfortunately assumes that low acceptance is due to lack of knowledge and thus providing facts and arguments will suffice to induce action. Most smokers understand the benefits and value of quitting smoking, illustrating that knowledge attainment does not necessarily influence health related behaviors. The research included in this issue highlights that vaccine hesitancy has numerous possible demographic and socio-psychological root causes, many of which are not knowledge-related. The development of effective strategies to sustain trust in vaccination programs requires an understanding of the particular social and psychological factors that determine the vaccination decisions of different populations with different vaccines. In this issue, a number of studies which variously investigated hesitant compliers (concerned but fully-vaccinated parents), hesitant mothers, pregnant women, parents of young children, and community leaders and members identified both common (eg. trust) and specific factors that may underpin vaccine acceptance in these different groups [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]. The important role in vaccine acceptance and uptake of communities, which may manifest through co-localization or common interests, is also highlighted [11].

2. Saying it is not enough: Target your communications to the needs of your audience

Communication is important to sustaining uptake in any vaccination program, and while the content should be evidence-based, the development and implementation of communication is not always grounded in communication science principles. As a result, when vaccination communication strategies are tested for efficacy in terms of intentions to vaccinate they may often be ineffective, or may even backfire [12]. Through understanding the different communication needs of parents with different attitudes to vaccination, the study by Berry et al. helps facilitate tailoring of a communications intervention [8]. The lessons learned from an online hub of pro-vaccine information, that highlight the importance of transparency and credibility to build trust, and of tone, style (storytelling), and content (videos and animations) to increase resonance with readers provides a practical playbook for other online, and interpersonal, communications projects [13]. Ohlrogge et al. found that national influenza communications in Europe were often inconsistent with national recommendations and were rarely evaluated [14]. One challenge to the development of effective communications is a lack of consistent and validated outcome measures. This has, in part, been addressed by Kaufman et al., whose mapping of core outcome domains for communication on childhood vaccination allows the selection of appropriate measures for different communications approaches [15]. Parrish-Sprowl argues that research and practice that only account for message content misses the impact of the broader communication process and context [16]. Or, the way a healthcare professional (HCP), for example, talks about vaccination to a patient is as important, or perhaps more so, that what they actually say in terms of behavioral outcomes.

3. Communicating to people is not enough: Listen to and engage healthcare professionals too

A recommendation from an HCP consistently emerges as an important determinant of vaccination acceptance. While HCPs are usually the most trusted source of information on vaccines, they themselves may be unsure about vaccination or vaccination conversations with their patients. Attwell et al. observed that while most midwives studied supported vaccination, they held a broad of beliefs and concerns related to vaccination [17]. Two new validated scales for measuring motivation of HCPs towards influenza vaccination and towards advocating influenza vaccination [18] can be used to better understand the drivers of hesitancy among HCPs. A six-country study showed that these scales can identify meaningful and actionable clusters of HCPs, which may inform the tailoring of communications or interventions according to underlying motivations [19]. Equipping HCPs with tools to communicate with their patients may also contribute to establish a more trusting and constructive dialogue. For example, an intervention based on motivational interviewing, which acknowledges the importance of the communication process and context through emphasizing the importance of respect and empathy, and of understanding the position of the parent regarding vaccines, showed effectiveness on acceptance, intention to vaccinate, and actual vaccine coverage [20].

4. Communicating is not enough: Design culturally targeted interventions to improve access to vaccines

Bedford et al underscore the importance of viewing vaccine hesitancy as only one possible determinant of under-vaccination [21]. In India, where just over half of infants are fully vaccinated, mothers reported that non-vaccination of their children was variously due to challenges related to awareness, acceptance and affordability (both financial and non-financial costs) [22]. While Nagar et al.’s randomized controlled trial of a multicomponent intervention with a culturally tailored digital vaccination record and reminders in rural India did not significantly increase timely vaccination, the inclusion of process outcomes will allow further adaptation of the approach to better match communication to the user [23].

The contributions from this special issue illustrate implications for designing effective communication and intervention strategies to increase vaccine acceptance and uptake. Clearly, context matters and communications must be designed to fit the needs and motivations of individuals. However, such communication needs to be designed based on evidence and with validated process and outcome measures. This requires that national authorities, researchers, HCPs and public health professionals understand and act upon the fact that that there is no one-size fits all strategy to solve vaccine hesitancy and that collaborative efforts are needed and must be sustained over time. To sustain and extend the remarkable successes of global immunization programs, governments and funding agencies should not just expand funding and support for research, monitoring and evaluation related to vaccine acceptance and uptake, but they should also mandate that efforts are evidence based and that communications and interventions are culturally and context appropriate.

[Citations at title link above]

Emergencies
 

POLIO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
Polio this week as of 25 September 2018 [GPEI]
:: Papua New Guinea’s National Department of Health, WHO, UNICEF and partners issue a ‘100 Days Report’: featuring the highlights of response operations so far, the report is dedicated to the thousands of front-line polio workers who brave difficult conditions and work long hours to protect children in Papua New Guinea from polio.
:: The G20 group of countries keeps polio eradication in their priorities: in their statement following the G20 Health Ministerial meeting, Ministers recognize “the importance of eradicating polio” and planning for a sustainable polio-free world.
:: World Polio Day is coming up on 24 October: join partners around the world in making this year’s World Polio Day a success.

Summary of new viruses this week:
Pakistan – Positive samples from environmental surveillance: wild poliovirus in Pakistan (10)
Niger – one new case of cVDPV2
Nigeria – two new cases of cVDPV2
Papua New Guinea – one new case of cVDPV1
Somaiia – one new case of cVDPV2

::::::
::::::

 
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 13 Oct 2018 ]
Democratic Republic of the Congo
:: 10: Situation report on the Ebola outbreak in North Kivu  9 October 2018
:: Disease Outbreak News (DONs)  Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo
11 October 2018
[See Milestones above for detail]

Bangladesh – Rohingya crisis – No new announcements identified
Nigeria – No new announcements identified
Somalia – No new announcements identified
South Sudan – No new announcements identified
Syrian Arab Republic – No new announcements identified
Yemen – No new announcements identified

::::::

 
WHO Grade 2 Emergencies  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
Brazil (in Portugese) – No new announcements identified
Cameroon  – No new announcements identified
Central African Republic  – No new announcements identified
Ethiopia – No new announcements identified
Hurricane Irma and Maria in the Caribbean – No new announcements identified
Iraq – No new announcements identified
occupied Palestinian territory – No new announcements identified
Libya – No new announcements identified
MERS-CoV – No new announcements identified
Myanmar – No new announcements identified
Niger – No new announcements identified
Sao Tome and Principe Necrotizing Cellulitis (2017) – No new announcements identified
Sudan – No new announcements identified
Ukraine – No new announcements identified
Zimbabwe – No new announcements identified

Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 40: 29 September – 05 October 2018

The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 54 events in the AFRO region. This week’s edition covers key ongoing events, including:
:: Hepatitis E in Central African Republic
:: Monkeypox in Central African Republic
:: Dengue fever in Senegal
:: Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
:: Humanitarian crisis in Cameroon.

::::::
 
WHO Grade 1 Emergencies  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
Afghanistan
Angola (in Portuguese)
Chad
Ethiopia
Kenya
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Mali
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Tanzania
Tropical Cyclone Gira
Zambia 

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. 

Yemen:: Yemen Humanitarian Update Covering 28 September – 6 October 2018 | Issue 29

Key Issues
…Suspected cholera cases have increased with roughly 10,000 reported per week, double the average in the first eight months of this year.

Syrian Arab Republic   – No new announcements identified.

::::::

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.

Ethiopia  :: Ethiopia: Gedeo-West Guji, Displacement Crisis, Situation update No.8, 9 October 2018

Somalia  – No new announcements identified.

::::::
::::::
 

Editor’s Note:
We will cluster these recent emergencies as below and continue to monitor the WHO webpages for updates and key developments.

EBOLA/EVD  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.who.int/ebola/en/
[See Milestones above for more detail]

MERS-CoV [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://who.int/emergencies/mers-cov/en/
– No new announcements identified.

Yellow Fever  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/yellowfev/en/
– No new announcements identified.

Zika virus  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/zika/en/
– No new announcements identified.

WHO & Regional Offices [to 13 Oct 2018 ]

WHO SAGE Meeting

Geneva
23-25 October 2018.
:: Draft agenda for SAGE October 2018 meeting pdf, 147kb [as of 10 October 2018]
:: Declaration of interests for SAGE October 2018 meeting pdf, 301kb

Call for nominations for experts to serve on a SAGE Working Group on Meningococcal Vaccines and Vaccination- pdf, 304kb
10 October 2018

Deadline for applications: 7 November 2018

::::::
 
Weekly Epidemiological Record, 12 October 2018, vol. 93, 41 (pp. 541–552)
:: Progress towards eliminating onchocerciasis in the WHO Region of the Americas: advances in mapping the Yanomami focus area
:: Guidance for evaluating progress towards elimination of measles and rubella

::::::
 
WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO

Selected Featured News
– No new announcement identified

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: Jarbas Barbosa of Brazil is sworn in as PAHO/WHO Assistant Director (10/12/2018)

 
WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
– No new announcement identified

WHO European Region EURO
:: HPV vaccination: protecting girls now from cervical cancer in their future 10-10-2018
:: WHO delivers largest cross-border shipment of health supplies to northwest Syrian Arab Republic to date 10-10-2018
:: New WHO noise guidelines for Europe released 10-10-2018

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
– No new announcement identified

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: Governments commit to improve rehab services and recognize Region’s progress on other health issues
MANILA, 12 October 2018 – On the final day of the sixty-ninth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, governments today committed to provide adequate rehabilitation services. They also discussed the Region’s progress in health security, control of infectious diseases, noncommunicable disease and environmental health

CDC/ACIP [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html

Thursday, October 11, 2018
Flu vaccine reduces risk of flu hospitalization among pregnant women
Over the course of six flu seasons, getting a flu shot reduced a pregnant woman’s risk of being hospitalized from flu by an average of 40 percent.
The findings come from a multi-country, CDC-coauthored study published today in Clinical Infectious Diseases. This is the first study to show vaccination protected pregnant women against flu-associated hospitalization. Previous studies have shown that a flu shot can reduce a pregnant woman’s risk of flu illness.

CDC recommends pregnant women get a flu shot because they are at high risk of developing serious flu illness, including illness resulting in hospitalization.
“Expecting mothers face a number of threats to their health and the health of their baby during pregnancy, and getting the flu is one of them,” explains Allison Naleway, PhD, a study co-author from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research. “This study’s findings underscore the fact that there is a simple, yet impactful way to reduce the possibility of complications from flu during pregnancy: get a flu shot.”…

ACIP – October 2018 Draft Meeting Agenda
October 24-25, 2018
MMWR News Synopsis for October 11, 2018
Vaccination Coverage for Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten — United States, 2017–18 School Year
During the 2017-18 school year, the median kindergarten vaccination coverage rate was close to 95% for the following vaccines: MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis or whooping cough) and varicella (Chickenpox). Vaccination coverage among kindergartners remains high. Median vaccination coverage was 95.1% for the state required doses of DTaP, MMR, and chickenpox. State and local school vaccination requirements are put in place to make sure vaccination coverage rates are as high as possible while at the same time lowering the risk from vaccine preventable diseases. Federally funded immunization programs partner with departments of education and school nurses and other school personnel to assess vaccination coverage and exemption status of children enrolled in public and private kindergartens. Kindergarten vaccination requirements help ensure that students are fully vaccinated with age-appropriate vaccinations upon school entry.

Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19–35 Months — United States, 2017
Overall vaccination coverage among children younger than 3 years in 2017 remained high and stable in the United States. Overall vaccination coverage among children 19-35 months remained high and stable in the U.S. in 2017. Vaccines in the study included poliovirus, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), hepatitis B, and varicella (chickenpox). Coverage was lower for most vaccines among uninsured children, those insured by Medicaid and for children living outside of a core city with a population of at least 50,000 people. Vaccination coverage could be increased with greater awareness and use of the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program to help reduce missed opportunities to give children the proper vaccines during visits to their health care providers.
 

Africa CDC   [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://au.int/en/africacdc
October 08, 2018

Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in the DRC: AFRICACDC Optimizes Surveillance in the Response
Kinshasa, DRC 8 October 2018- The Africa CDC has acquired laboratory equipment used in the diagnosis of multi-resistant tuberculosis to strengthen the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases management. As part of the response to this tenth outbreak, 6 Genexpert machines offered to the Congolese Government are optimizing surveillance through alert areas including Goma (1), Kinshasa (1) and affected areas including Mangina (1), Beni (1) and Butembo (2) where in less than two hours, a reliable diagnosis, with quality control on both the sample collected and the manipulation performed by technicians, is delivered daily to coordinate the response.
In the mobile laboratory installed at the Blood Transfusion Centre in Butembo, two Genexpert Machines are available. These devices, offered as a reinforcement by Africa CDC to the Ministry of Health, are used in molecular biology to detect target genetic materials in the structure of the EBOLA virus that strikes this part of North Kivu Province. Held by two technician biologist experts recruited by Africa CDC; this laboratory is vigorously involved in improving the response to the EBOLA virus disease outbreak…

China CDC 
http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/
New website launched…no “news” or “announcements” page identified.

 
National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China
http://en.nhfpc.gov.cn/
Selected Updates/Press Releases

Govt brings 17 anti-cancer drugs under medical insurance coverage
2018-10-10
China’s drug authority on Wednesday approved inclusion of 17 anti-cancer drugs in the government’s basic medical insurance programs, as part of efforts to ease the financial burden on patients.

57 million covered by new long-term care insurance
2018-10-08
More than 57 million people in China are now covered by a new insurance program designed to provide care to those who have lost the ability to live alone, the National Healthcare Security Administration said.

China’s health literacy rate edges higher in 2017
2018-10-07
China’s health literacy rate edged higher in 2017 to 14.18 percent, a 2.6-percentage-point increase than that of 2016, as China is making steady progress in health literacy promotion, the National Health Commission said.

Announcements

AERAS  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.aeras.org/pressreleases
No new digest content identified.
 
BMGF – Gates Foundation  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute    [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.gatesmri.org/
The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is a non-profit biotech organization. Our mission is to develop products to fight malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases—three major causes of mortality, poverty, and inequality in developing countries. The world has unprecedented scientific tools at its disposal; now is the time to use them to save the lives of the world’s poorest people
No new digest content identified.
 
CARB-X   [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://carb-x.org/
CARB-X is a non-profit public-private partnership dedicated to accelerating antibacterial research to tackle the global rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.
No new digest content identified.
 
CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://cepi.net/
No new digest content identified.
 
EDCTP    [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
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
8 October 2018
Ebola emergency call September 2018: research response to the DRC outbreak
On 3 September 2018, EDCTP launched a €2.25 million emergency funding initiative in response to Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This emergency call was open for proposals for seven days…
Approved projects from the call
Five consortia were informed (ahead of finalising the grant agreement preparations) that the projects funded under this initiative may commence immediately with the date of submission of their respective proposals as the earliest possible starting date.
:: The AdjustEBOVGP-Dx project aims to develop biochemical treatments that adjust native Ebola virus glycoproteine (EBOV GP) in patient sample as a target for rapid diagnostic testing. The project is expected to yield the first prototypes of rapid diagnostic tests for the duo-detection of EBOV and Marburg virus (MARV).
:: The EPIRISK-Ebov study will assess the EBOV cross-sectional seroprevalence as well as the incidence of a longitudinal seroconversion. The presence of EBOV and possible additional pathogens will be determined via pan-domain molecular approaches following a pathogen enrichment method.
:: The CAPA-CT II project aims to generate knowledge relevant to the potential spread of the EVD outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the Republic of Uganda. The project also intends generate local knowledge for interpretation of pharmacokinetic data generated through MEURI [Monitored Emergency Use of Unregistered Interventions], drug interactions with antiretroviral drugs and to inform future treatment optimisation approaches.
:: The PEAU-EBOV-DRC aims to improve the management, both therapeutic and diagnostic, of patients with EVD through the application of an optimal standard of care, by focussing on 2 out 12 research priorities identified by the DRC Ministry of Health: 1) to coordinate the design and support the rapid implementation of efficacy trials to evaluate therapeutic product candidates, and 2) to strengthen the DRC’s capacity for the safe handling, diagnosis and reporting of major diseases caused by haemorrhagic fever viruses.
:: The MobEBO-DRC project aims to train teams in DRC and expand capacity for recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) testing to the differentials recommended by the WHO. The project will use a mobile suitcase laboratory for EBOV point-of-care  detection at Ebola treatment centers which was successfully implemented in Guinea during the large EVD outbreak in West-Africa 2014-2015…
 
 
Emory Vaccine Center    [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
European Medicines Agency  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/
News and press releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
European Vaccine Initiative  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/news-events
08 October 2018
TRANSVAC: European Training in Vaccinology
Second call for training modules now open
 
 
FDA [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
October 09, 2018
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on new efforts to advance the development of generic copies of complex drugs to improve patient access to medicines
 
 
Fondation Merieux  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
Mérieux Foundation co-organized event
Dengue pre-vaccination screening based on serostatus: rapid tests and implementation strategies
January 14 – 16, 2019 – Les Pensières Center for Global Helath, Veyrier du Lac (France)
 
 
Gavi [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.gavi.org/
11 October 2018
Democratic Republic of Congo launches major vaccination drive
[See Milestones above for details]
 
 
11 October 2018
Government of Brazil signs grant agreement for US$ 20 million in support to IFFIm
 
 
GHIT Fund   [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press
GHIT was set up in 2012 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that devastate the world’s poorest people. Other funders include six Japanese pharmaceutical
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Global Fund [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/?topic=&type=NEWS;&country
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Hilleman Laboratories   [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Human Vaccines Project   [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
Event
Towards a Universal Influenza Vaccine: Lessons from the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to Now
November 15-16, 2018 I Nashville, TN
The Human Vaccines Project is hosting a scientific summit featuring prominent researchers and thought leaders to discuss cutting-edge influenza research. The 2-day meeting will bring together leading scientists, clinicians and public health specialists including: John Barry, James E. Crowe, Jr., Senator Bill Frist, and Laurie Garrett.  Find a full agenda at:
www.humanvaccinesproject.org/talks/universalinfluenzavaccinesummit
 
 
IAVI  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.iavi.org/
October 9, 2018
IAVI Announces Clinical Trial of Next-Generation HIV Vaccine Candidate Designed to Induce Antibodies to Block HIV Infection
Phase I trial to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of vaccine candidate engineered to elicit targeted immune response against HIV
[See Milestones above for details]
 
 
IFFIm
http://www.iffim.org/library/news/press-releases/
11 October 2018
Government of Brazil signs grant agreement for US$ 20 million in support to IFFIm
Becomes second BRICS donor to support accelerated funding for  Gavi immunisation programmes in the world’s poorest countries.
London – 11 October 2018 – The Government of Brazil formally approved today a grant of US$ 20 million to the International Finance Facility for Immunisation, or IFFIm, which will accelerate the availability of funding for immunisation programmes supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Brazil’s commitment of $1 million per year for 20 years makes it the 10th donor to IFFIm overall and the second BRICS donor after South Africa.
The approval today follows a meeting at the time of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York City last month, when Brazil’s Minister of Health, Gilberto Occhi, Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, and Christopher Egerton-Warburton, a member of the IFFIm Board of Directors, met to discuss the country’s commitment.
“Brazil’s grant is important not only because it will provide additional funding for immunisation in the poorest countries,” said Cyrus Ardalan, Chair of IFFIm’s Board of Directors. “It also sends a powerful message that Brazil can play a leading role in efforts to solve some of the biggest public health challenges around the globe.”…
 
 
IVAC  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
October 2018
Dr. Kate O’Brien appointed Director of WHO’s Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals
Dr. William Moss named Interim Executive Director, IVAC
[See Milestones above for details]
 
 
IVI   [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.ivi.int/
[Undated]
‘The Euvichol story’ published in Vaccine
“The Euvichol Story – Development and licensure of a safe, effective and affordable oral cholera vaccine through global public private partnerships” spearheaded by the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), has been published in Vaccine by Elsevier.
The Euvichol Story published on October 9, 2018 in the journal Vaccine describes IVI’s efforts and public-private partnerships with collaborators in Sweden, Vietnam, India, South Korea and the U.S. to increase the supply of affordable oral cholera vaccines; as well as IVI’s collaboration with many other stakeholders to shape the demand of affordable OCVs globally…
 
 
JEE Alliance  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.msf.org/
Selected Press Releases/Statements
Central African Republic
With improved access, malaria and malnutrition cases sharply rise in Bossangoa
Project Update 12 Oct 2018
 
 
DRC 2018 Ebola outbreaks
“Ebola is about human beings and trust”
Interview 12 Oct 2018
Dr Hilde De Clerck is one of MSF’s most experienced Ebola doctors and has been managing outbreaks of Ebola and similar viruses for more than 10 years. Hilde has just returned from North Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the latest outbreak of Ebola has proven hard to control. New drugs, which might help cure those who have contracted the virus, are available, but offering and administering these drugs, says Hilde, is not as easy as it may seem….
 
 
Indonesia
Getting healthcare and safe water to remote areas in Central Sulawesi
Project Update 11 Oct 2018
 
 
DRC 2018 Ebola outbreaks
Crisis update – October 2018
 
 
NIH  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
October 12, 2018
NIH programs shed light on gene variants and their connections to health and disease
ClinGen and ClinVar address major obstacles to genomic medicine.
Programs supported by the National Institutes of Health are establishing which genes and genomic variants play a role in human disease, enabling their use in genomic medicine and research. NIH’s Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen (link is external)) and ClinVar programs address a major barrier to incorporating genomic medicine into healthcare, which is a lack of evidence about the relationship between gene variants and diseases. A special issue of Human Mutation (link is external), published on Oct. 12, highlights the broad array of advances made through these programs, which work in concert to advance knowledge connecting human genomic variation to human health…

Scientists develop novel vaccine for Lassa fever and rabies
October 11, 2018 — A novel vaccine designed to protect people from both Lassa fever and rabies showed promise in preclinical testing, according to new research published in Nature Communications. The investigational vaccine, called LASSARAB, was developed and tested by scientists at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia; the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal; the University of California, San Diego; and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health…

Gene mutation points to new way to fight diabetes, obesity, heart disease
October 9, 2018 — Finding could provide the basis for drug therapies.
 
 
PATH  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.path.org/media center/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Sabin Vaccine Institute  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
No new digest content identified. 
 
 
UNAIDS [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.unaids.org/en
News   12 October 2018
Francophone parliamentary network reiterates its commitment to respond to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
The Parliamentary Network to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria reaffirmed its commitment to increase funding to end the three diseases at its annual meeting in Lomé, Togo, held on 4 and 5 October. The network committed to urge the heads of state and government of the Francophonie to advocate for increased funding during the sixth replenishment conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which will be held in Lyon, France, in October 2019.
 
 
UNICEF  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
Press release
80 per cent of school children returned to school in Ebola-affected areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
12/10/2018
 
Press release
Yemen: UNICEF’s Emergency Cash Transfers for 9 million people resume
 
 
Vaccine Confidence Project  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
Vaccine Confidence Project – Confidence Commentary
Dramatic drop in public confidence after Philippines dengue vaccine controversy
Heidi Larson | 12 Oct, 2018
The Philippines’ highly politicised response to newly-reported risks of a dengue vaccine led to a dramatic drop in public trust in vaccines overall, in new research published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.
Led by the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the study measured the impact of the Dengvaxia crisis on overall vaccine confidence before and after the manufacturer highlighted a risk associated with the vaccine and the associated political fallout.
The study of 1,500 participants revealed a dramatic drop in vaccine confidence, from the majority (93%) “strongly agreeing” that vaccines are important in 2015 to a third (32%) in 2018. The researchers say the findings highlight the importance of identifying gaps or breakdowns in public confidence in vaccines in order to rebuild trust before a pandemic strikes…
 
 
Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Wellcome Trust  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News / Published: 11 October 2018
Wellcome funding puts digital technology at the heart of medical research
Spotting brain injuries from babies’ brainwaves, and predicting the best way to tailor stroke care to individual patients are two examples of how digital technology is transforming health. The projects are funded through our Innovator Awards.
 
News / Published: 11 October 2018
Wellcome’s Berlin office will focus on global health
Wellcome is planning to open a small office in Berlin so that we can work more closely with our international partners, tackling global health challenges such as epidemic preparedness and drug-resistant infections.
The German capital is a leading international centre for global health, research, innovation and culture. As a global foundation, Wellcome wants to be part of this exciting hub, and we want to explore new ideas and opportunities…
 
 
The Wistar Institute   [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Release   Oct. 10, 2018
Synthetic DNA Vaccine Against Ebola Virus Shows Potent and Long-term Efficacy in Preclinical Studies
DNA vaccines are safe and offer an alternative to traditional vaccines for immunization of vulnerable at-risk populations.
 
Press Release  Oct. 8, 2018
Mechanism of Resistance to Novel Targeted Therapy for Ovarian Cancer Identified
BCL2 inhibitors may provide a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent or overcome acquired resistance to EZH2 inhibitors in ARID1A-mutant cancers.
 
 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)   [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2018/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
BIO    [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
https://www.bio.org/insights/press-release
No new digest content identified.
 
 
DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network  [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
29 October 2018 to 31 October 2018
19th DCVMN Annual General Meeting
Kunming / China
 
 
IFPMA   [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
No new digest content identified.
 
 
PhRMA    [to 13 Oct 2018 ]
http://www.phrma.org/press-room
No new digest content identified.

Reports/Research/Analysis/Commentary/Conferences/Meetings/Book Watch/Tenders

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review has expanded its coverage of new reports, books, research and analysis published independent of the journal channel covered in Journal Watch below. Our interests span immunization and vaccines, as well as global public health, health governance, and associated themes. If you would like to suggest content to be included in this service, please contact David Curry at: david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org

Vaccines to tackle drug resistant infections – An evaluation of R&D opportunities
Wellcome Trust, BCG – Boston Consulting Group
2018 :: 175 pages
PDF: https://vaccinesforamr.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Vaccines_for_AMR.pdf
Executive Summary
AMR is a significant and growing problem. Drug resistant infections cause 700,000 deaths per year; this number could rise to 10 million by 2050 1 unless urgent action is taken. Furthermore, this figure does not capture the impact of being unable to safely perform high-risk medical procedures such as complex surgery or chemotherapy.

Immediate and coordinated action is required to tackle the threat posed by AMR. Vaccines alone will not be sufficient to achieve this, but they are critical tools that can play an important role when deployed alongside broader activities. A multi-faceted, One Health approach must be used because the emergence of resistance stems from behaviour across human and animal health. The development of new antibiotics and alternative therapeutics, the rational use of antibiotics in human and animal health, more effective use of diagnostics, improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene, and vaccines can all support efforts to combat AMR.

However, vaccines do have some unique advantages, and therefore bringing additional, and more effective, vaccines to market could have a huge impact on AMR. Vaccines already play a critical role, with an impressive track-record of reducing AMR 2. Both H. influenzae b and S. pneumoniae vaccines have resulted in a dramatic reduction in disease burden and have been associated with decreased incidence of resistant strains. Additionally, both vaccines have an additional “indirect” effect on AMR by reducing antibiotic usage and therefore selection pressure on pathogens. Evidence shows that universal coverage with 13-valent S. pneumoniae vaccination could avoid 11.4 million days of antibiotic use per year in children under five 3.

Vaccines also offer a long-term sustainable approach to infection prevention, because pathogen resistance to vaccines is not common. For example, vaccines against diphtheria and pertussis have been in use for 70 years without resistance developing.

Purpose of this report
This report seeks to provide an independent, actionable assessment of the potential of vaccines to combat AMR, and encourages greater attention, focus, and funding for vaccine development against pathogens whose resistance to antimicrobial medicines was identified by WHO as posing the greatest threat to human health. By employing a carefully considered prioritisation framework to evaluate these pathogens, this report enables comprehensive comparisons across pathogens. This assessment and prioritisation provides a guide for research priorities, policy focus and investment decisions, while recognising that individuals and institutions have varied areas of focus and seek to interact at different parts of the value chain. Additionally, this report consolidates information on these pathogens, and on the development efforts against them, which is currently fragmented, providing a critical new resource to the community working to address AMR.

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 focus 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

Annals of Internal Medicine
2 October 2018 Vol: 169, Issue 7
http://annals.org/aim/issue

Editorials
Scoping Reviews and Systematic Reviews: Is It an Either/Or Question?
Stephanie Chang, MD, MPH

Annals of Internal Medicine
2 October 2018 Vol: 169, Issue 7
http://annals.org/aim/issue

Research and Reporting Methods |2 October 2018
PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation
Andrea C. Tricco, PhD, MSc; Erin Lillie, MSc; Wasifa Zarin, MPH; Kelly K. O’Brien, PhD, BScPT; Heather Colquhoun, PhD; Danielle Levac, PhD, MSc, BScPT; David Moher, PhD, MSc; Micah D.J. Peters, PhD, MA(Q); Tanya Horsley, PhD; Laura Weeks, PhD; Susanne Hempel, PhD; Elie A. Akl, MD, PhD, MPH; Christine Chang, MD, MPH; Jessie McGowan, PhD; Lesley Stewart, PhD, MSc; Lisa Hartling, PhD, MSc, BScPT; Adrian Aldcroft, BA(Hons), BEd; Michael G. Wilson, PhD; Chantelle Garritty, MSc; Simon Lewin, PhD; Christina M. Godfrey, PhD, RN; Marilyn T. Macdonald, PhD, MSN; Etienne V. Langlois, PhD; Karla Soares-Weiser, MD, PhD; Jo Moriarty, MA; Tammy Clifford, PhD, MSc; Özge Tunçalp, MD, PhD, MPH; Sharon E. Straus, MD, MSc
Abstract
Scoping reviews, a type of knowledge synthesis, follow a systematic approach to map evidence on a topic and identify main concepts, theories, sources, and knowledge gaps. Although more scoping reviews are being done, their methodological and reporting quality need improvement. This document presents the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist and explanation. The checklist was developed by a 24-member expert panel and 2 research leads following published guidance from the EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) Network. The final checklist contains 20 essential reporting items and 2 optional items. The authors provide a rationale and an example of good reporting for each item. The intent of the PRISMA-ScR is to help readers (including researchers, publishers, commissioners, policymakers, health care providers, guideline developers, and patients or consumers) develop a greater understanding of relevant terminology, core concepts, and key items to report for scoping reviews.

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 13 Oct 2018 )

Research article
Global research output on HIV/AIDS–related medication adherence from 1980 to 2017
“Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)” and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are global health burden. Medication adherence in people living with HIV (PLWH) is a key element in reducing morbidity and mor…
Authors: Waleed M. Sweileh
Citation: BMC Health Services Research 2018 18:765
Published on: 10 October 2018

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 13 Oct 2018 )

Research article
Factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in elderly people: a cross-sectional study among elderly club members in Miyakonojo City, Japan
Pneumonia is the third leading cause of death in Japan. All elderly people aged 65 years or older are recommended to receive a pneumococcal vaccine. A subsidy for part of the cost of routine pneumococcal vacci…
Authors: Akihiro Sakamoto, Charnchudhi Chanyasanha, Dusit Sujirarat, Nobuhiro Matsumoto and Masamitsu Nakazato
Citation: BMC Public Health 2018 18:1172
Published on: 12 October 2018
 

BMC Research Notes
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcresnotes/content
(Accessed 13 Oct 2018 )

Research note
Poliovirus excretion following vaccination with live poliovirus vaccine in patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders: clinicians’ perspectives in the endgame plan for polio eradication
Primary immunodeficiency (PID) patients are prone to developing viral infections and should not be vaccinated with live vaccines. In such patients, prolonged excretion and viral divergence may occur and they m…
Authors: Nermeen M. Galal, Safaa Meshaal, Rabab ElHawary, Eman Nasr, Laila Bassiouni, Humayun Ashghar, Noha H. Farag, Ondrej Mach, Cara Burns, Jane Iber, Qi Chen and Aisha ElMarsafy
Citation: BMC Research Notes 2018 11:717
Published on: 11 October 2018

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Volume 12 – Issue 4 – August 2018
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/latest-issue

Editorial
Advancing population health science to public health policy
James J James
https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2018.108
Published online: 08 October 2018, p. 421

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 13 Oct 2018 ]

Proceedings
A health equity research agenda for India: results of a consultative exercise
This paper describes the process and outcome of a consultative exercise undertaken to develop a medium-term agenda for the next decade, and to identify a short list of immediate priorities for health equity re…
Authors: T.K. Sundari Ravindran and Tanya Seshadri
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems 2018 16(Suppl 1):94
Published on: 9 October 2018

JAMA
October 9, 2018, Vol 320, No. 14, Pages 1401-1506
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/issue.aspx

Viewpoint
Eliminating Poverty in the 21st Century – The Role of Health and Human Capital
Jim Yong Kim, MD, PhD
JAMA. 2018;320(14):1427-1428. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.13709
In this Viewpoint, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim explains the World Bank’s Human Capital Index, which uses data on each country’s level of education and indicators of health status to answer a simple but powerful question: how productive will children born today be as members of the future workforce, relative to what is possible if they were in full health and had complete education?

JAMA
October 9, 2018, Vol 320, No. 14, Pages 1401-1506
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/issue.aspx

Original Investigation
Association Between Third-Trimester Tdap Immunization and Neonatal Pertussis Antibody Concentration

1. Mary Healy, MD; Marcia A. Rench, BSN; Laurie S. Swaim, MD; et al.

JAMA. 2018;320(14):1464-1470. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.14298
This prospective cohort study assesses whether maternal immunization with tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, compared with no immunization, is associated with high concentrations of pertussis toxin antibodies at birth and if there is an optimal gestational age for maternal immunization.

Journal of Medical Microbiology
Volume 67, Issue 10, October 2018
http://jmm.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/67/10

Review
Review of vaccination in pregnancy to prevent pertussis in early infancy
Helen Campbell, Saurabh Gupta, Gayle P. Dolan, Smita J. Kapadia, Awnish Kumar Singh, Nick Andrews, Gayatri Amirthalingam
First Published Online: 17 September 2018, Journal of Medical Microbiology 67: 1426-1456, doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.000829

The Lancet
Oct 13, 2018 Volume 392 Number 10155 p1279-1368  e11
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Editorial
DR Congo: managing Ebola virus in war
The Lancet
The latest Ebola virus outbreak across DR Congo is testing international and local health responses under conditions of extreme stress. The country is deep in a protracted conflict, and efforts to control Ebola virus in the conflict zone are hampered by conditions of war, which have led to a fractured society, a weakened health system, and widespread poverty and hunger.
Against this backdrop, WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, last week, in his speech at a UN Security Council meeting, raised the risk assessment of regional spread of Ebola virus disease from high to very high, and highlighted concern of spread into Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Burundi.

The current violence in DR Congo has its origins in the refugee crisis that arose from the 1994 Rwanda genocide, and there are now at least 70 armed groups fighting in the eastern region of the country. The Ebola response, led by the Government of DR Congo with support from WHO and other partners, is being carried out in the shadow of this deadly warfare. Although these teams have the tools and experience to respond to and control Ebola virus, attacks on health workers and local mistrust are seriously hampering efforts.

Violence and war are, and have always been, a risk factor in public health emergencies. Cholera, a treatable disease, reached record levels in Yemen last year, and is on the rise this year. Neglected diseases, such as leishmaniasis, and diseases that should be on the way to eradication, such as polio, are resurging in conflict areas. What has changed is the nature of war. Wars are no longer ending, and new wars are being declared. The complexity of the geopolitical scene makes the UN Security Council’s mandate to maintain international peace and security ever more challenging—and important.

This situation is not isolated—it is our present and our future. Long and protracted wars are common-place, and are a threat to us all. Violence and conflict are compounders of public health crises. What is happening in DR Congo means that a fragile political situation, a complex virus, and a raging conflict puts the whole world under threat.

Nature 
Volume 562 Issue 7726, 11 October 2018
http://www.nature.com/nature/current_issue.html

Editorial | 10 October 2018
UK Biobank data on 500,000 people paves way to precision medicine
Treatments tailored to individuals rely on the wisdom of crowds.

Nature 
Volume 562 Issue 7726, 11 October 2018
http://www.nature.com/nature/current_issue.html

Article | 10 October 2018 | open
The UK Biobank resource with deep phenotyping and genomic data
Deep phenotype and genome-wide genetic data from 500,000 individuals from the UK Biobank, describing population structure and relatedness in the cohort, and imputation to increase the number of testable variants to 96 million.
Clare Bycroft, Colin Freeman[…] & Jonathan Marchini

Nature Medicine
Volume 24 Issue 10, October 2018
https://www.nature.com/nm/volumes/24/issues/10

Article | 03 September 2018
Route of immunization defines multiple mechanisms of vaccine-mediated protection against SIV
Distinct routes of immunization elicit different antibody isotypes and functions associated with protection against SIV infection that converge on phagocytosis as a candidate protective mechanism of independent SIV vaccines.
Margaret E. Ackerman, Jishnu Das[…] & Galit Alter

New England Journal of Medicine
October 11, 2018   Vol. 379 No. 15
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

Perspective
The Next Phase of Human Gene-Therapy Oversight
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., and Scott Gottlieb, M.D.
As gene therapy continues to change, so must the federal framework set up to oversee it. As new biotechnologies continue to emerge, the NIH and the FDA are proposing reductions in duplicative oversight and changes to the role of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee.
 

PLOS Currents: Disasters
http://currents.plos.org/disasters/
[Accessed 13 Oct 2018 ]

Impact of the 2013 Floods on the Incidence of Malaria in Almanagil Locality, Gezira State, Sudan
October 8, 2018 · Research Article
Background: Heavy rain hit Sudan in August 2013 with subsequent flash floods in different parts of the country. This study investigated the impact of the flooding on incidence of malaria in Almanagil Locality in central Sudan.

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 13 Oct 2018 )

Research Article
The impact and cost-effectiveness of controlling cholera through the use of oral cholera vaccines in urban Bangladesh: A disease modeling and economic analysis
Ashraful Islam Khan, Ann Levin, Dennis L. Chao, Denise DeRoeck, Dobromir T. Dimitrov, Jahangir A. M. Khan, Muhammad Shariful Islam, Mohammad Ali, Md. Taufiqul Islam, Abdur Razzaque Sarker, John D. Clemens, Firdausi Qadri
| published 09 Oct 2018 PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006652

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 13 Oct 2018 )

Research Article
Dengue illness index—A tool to characterize the subjective dengue illness experience
Stephen J. Thomas, Liane Agulto, Kim Hendrickx, Martin Erpicum, Kay M. Tomashek, M. Cristina Cassetti, Catherine Laughlin, Alexander Precioso, Alexander C. Schmidt, Federico Narvaez, João Bosco Siqueira, Hasitha Tissera, Robert Edelman
| published 04 Oct 2018 PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006593

Research Ethics
Volume 14 Issue 3, July 2018
http://journals.sagepub.com/toc/reab/current

Original Article: Empirical
Research ethics, informed consent and the disempowerment of First Nation peoples
Juan M Tauri
First Published November 14, 2017; pp. 1–14
Preview
Recently, Indigenous commentators have begun to analyse the way in which institutional Research Ethics Boards (REBs) engage with Indigenous researchers and participants, respond to Indigenous peoples’ concerns with academic research activities, and scrutinise the ethics proposals of Indigenous scholars. Of particular concern for Indigenous commentators is that the work of REBs often results in the marginalisation of Indigenous approaches to knowledge construction and dissemination, especially in relation to the vexed issue of informed consent. Based on analysis of the results of research with Indigenous researchers and research participants, this paper argues that institutionalised REBs’ preference for ‘universal’ and ‘individualised’ approaches for determining ethical research conduct marginalises Indigenous approaches to ethical research conduct. The paper concludes by calling for a decolonisation of REB processes through recognition of the validity of communal processes for attaining the informed consent of Indigenous research participants.

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 13 Oct 2018 ]

Research Article
Low coverage of influenza vaccination among Chinese children aged 12-23 months: Prevalence and associated factors
Joseph T. F. Lau, Catalina S. M. Ng, Anise M. S. Wu, Yee Ling Ma, Mason M. C. Lau
Research Article | published 10 Oct 2018 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205561

Research Ethics
Volume 14 Issue 3, July 2018
http://journals.sagepub.com/toc/reab/current

Original Article: Empirical
Research ethics, informed consent and the disempowerment of First Nation peoples
Juan M Tauri
First Published November 14, 2017; pp. 1–14
Preview
Recently, Indigenous commentators have begun to analyse the way in which institutional Research Ethics Boards (REBs) engage with Indigenous researchers and participants, respond to Indigenous peoples’ concerns with academic research activities, and scrutinise the ethics proposals of Indigenous scholars. Of particular concern for Indigenous commentators is that the work of REBs often results in the marginalisation of Indigenous approaches to knowledge construction and dissemination, especially in relation to the vexed issue of informed consent. Based on analysis of the results of research with Indigenous researchers and research participants, this paper argues that institutionalised REBs’ preference for ‘universal’ and ‘individualised’ approaches for determining ethical research conduct marginalises Indigenous approaches to ethical research conduct. The paper concludes by calling for a decolonisation of REB processes through recognition of the validity of communal processes for attaining the informed consent of Indigenous research participants.

Reproductive Health
http://www.reproductive-health-journal.com/content
[Accessed 13 Oct 2018 ]

Research
|   11 October 2018
Integration of postpartum care into child health and immunization services in Burkina Faso: findings from a cross-sectional study
The Missed Opportunities for Maternal and Infant Health (MOMI) project, which aimed at upgrading maternal and infant postpartum care (PPC), implemented a package of interventions including the integration of maternal PPC in infant immunization services in 12 health facilities in Kaya Health district in Burkina Faso from 2013 to 2015. This paper assesses the coverage and the quality of combined mother-infant PPC in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services (RMNCH).
Authors: Danielle Yugbaré Belemsaga, Anne Goujon, Aristide Bado, Seni Kouanda, Els Duysburgh, Marleen Temmerman and Olivier Degomme

Science         
12 October 2018  Vol 362, Issue 6411
http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl
Special Issue – Brain Development

Policy Forum
Return of results and data to study participants
By Susan M. Wolf, Barbara J. Evans
Science12 Oct 2018 : 159-160 Restricted Access
A recent report urges progress but builds barriers to research participants’ access
Summary
Researchers conducting imaging, environmental health, and genetics studies have offered participants their research findings for years, publishing data on this experience and producing consensus guidelines (1–5). Research participants have articulated the value in the return of results and data (6). The National Academies recently issued a report at the request of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Food and Drug Administration (7) that focuses on the return of results in studies with human biospecimens. It proclaims support for the interests of research participants, endorses the importance of offering participants their individual-specific results, and advocates assessing the value of results from the standpoint of participants. Unfortunately, in our view, the report’s announced commitment to participant-centered progress is undercut by its actual recommendations. We believe the report creates major roadblocks to the return of data and results and would constrict participants’ existing rights of access.

Tropical Medicine & International Health
Volume 23, Issue 10   Pages: i-iv, 1045-1156  October 2018
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/13653156/current

Editorial   Free Access
Stakeholder participation on the path to universal health coverage: the use of evidence‐informed deliberative processes
Rob Baltussen, Maarten Jansen, Leon Bijlmakers
Pages: 1071-1074
First Published: 15 August 2018

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Edited by Angus Thomson, Gaëlle Vallée-Tourangeau, L. Suzanne Suggs
Editorial  Open access
Strategies to increase vaccine acceptance and uptake: From behavioral insights to context-specific, culturally-appropriate, evidence-based communications and interventions
Angus Thomson, Gaëlle Vallée-Tourangeau, L. Suzanne Suggs
Pages 6457-6458
[See Milestones/Perspective above for full text]

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Research article  Abstract only
‘Hesitant compliers’: Qualitative analysis of concerned fully-vaccinating parents
Stephanie L. Enkel, Katie Attwell, Thomas L. Snelling, Hayley E. Christian
Pages 6459-6463

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Research article  Abstract only
‘Hesitant compliers’: Qualitative analysis of concerned fully-vaccinating parents
Stephanie L. Enkel, Katie Attwell, Thomas L. Snelling, Hayley E. Christian
Pages 6459-6463

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Research article  Abstract only
What is ‘confidence’ and what could affect it?: A qualitative study of mothers who are hesitant about vaccines
Judith A. Mendel-Van Alstyne, Glen J. Nowak, Ann L. Aikin
Pages 6464-6472

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Research article  Abstract only
Vaccine decision-making begins in pregnancy: Correlation between vaccine concerns, intentions and maternal vaccination with subsequent childhood vaccine uptake
M.H. Danchin, J. Costa-Pinto, K. Attwell, H. Willaby, … H. Marshall
Pages 6473-6479

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Research article  Abstract only
Sharing knowledge about immunisation (SKAI): An exploration of parents’ communication needs to inform development of a clinical communication support intervention
Nina J. Berry, Margie Danchin, Lyndal Trevena, Holly O. Witteman, … Julie Leask
Pages 6480-6490

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Research article  Open access
Innovative vaccine delivery strategies in response to a cholera outbreak in the challenging context of Lake Chilwa. A rapid qualitative assessment
Leonard W. Heyerdahl, Bagrey Ngwira, Rachel Demolis, Gabriel Nyirenda, … Elise Guillermet
Pages 6491-6496

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Research article  Open access
A rapid qualitative assessment of oral cholera vaccine anticipated acceptability in a context of resistance towards cholera intervention in Nampula, Mozambique
Rachel Démolis, Carlos Botão, Léonard W. Heyerdahl, Bradford D. Gessner, … Elise Guillermet
Pages 6497-6505

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Discussion   No access
Hearts, minds, nudges and shoves: (How) can we mobilise communities for vaccination in a marketised society?
Katie Attwell, David T. Smith
Pages 6506-6508

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Discussion   Abstract only
Lessons from an online vaccine communication project
Gary Finnegan, Daphne Holt, Peter M. English, Steffen Glismann, … Paolo Bonanni
Pages 6509-6511

Vaccine
Volume 36, Issue 44, Pages 6457-6578 (22 October 2018)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/36/issue/44
Vaccine Hesitancy: Towards a Better Understanding of Drivers and Barriers to Awareness, Acceptance and Activation

Discussion   Abstract only
Lessons from an online vaccine communication project
Gary Finnegan, Daphne Holt, Peter M. English, Steffen Glismann, … Paolo Bonanni
Pages 6509-6511