PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 26 Feb 2022]
Research Article
Qualitative systems mapping for complex public health problems: A practical guide
Anneleen Kiekens, Bernadette Dierckx de Casterlé, Anne-Mieke Vandamme
Research Article | published 25 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264463
PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 26 Feb 2022]
Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among adults in Nigeria
Halimat Adedeji-Adenola, Olubusola A. Olugbake, Shakirat A. Adeosun
Research Article | published 24 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264371
PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 26 Feb 2022]
Measles containing vaccine coverage and factors associated with its uptake among children aged 24–59 months in Cherangany Sub County, Trans Nzoia County, Kenya
Stella Mamuti, Collins Tabu, Irene Marete, Davies Opili, Rose Jalang’o, Ahmed Abade
Research Article | published 23 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263780
PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 26 Feb 2022]
Estimated impact of the 2020 economic downturn on under-5 mortality for 129 countries
Marcelo Cardona, Joseph Millward, Alison Gemmill, Katelyn Jison Yoo, David M. Bishai
Research Article | published 23 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263245
PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 26 Feb 2022]
Determinants of acceptance of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine among Lebanese health care workers using health belief model
Dalal Youssef, Linda Abou-Abbas, Atika Berry, Janet Youssef, Hamad Hassan
Research Article | published 22 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264128
PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 26 Feb 2022]
Media attention and Vaccine Hesitancy: Examining the mediating effects of Fear of COVID-19 and the moderating role of Trust in leadership
Lulin Zhou, Sabina Ampon-Wireko, Xinglong Xu, Prince Edwudzie Quansah, Ebenezer Larnyo
Research Article | published 18 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263610
Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
https://www.dovepress.com/risk-management-and-healthcare-policy-archive56
[Accessed 26 Feb 2022]
Original Research
Understanding the Facilitators and Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Teachers in the Sagnarigu Municipality of Northern Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study
Dubik SD
Published Date: 24 February 2022
Science
Volume 375| Issue 6583| 25 Feb 2022
https://www.science.org/toc/science/current
Policy Forum
Streamlining ethics review for international health research
BY Mark A. Rothstein et al
24 Feb 2022: 825-826
Single-site review means protection and efficiency
Science
Volume 375| Issue 6583| 25 Feb 2022
https://www.science.org/toc/science/current
Research Articles
A unified genealogy of modern and ancient genomes
BY Anthony Wilder Wohns, et al.
25 Feb 2022
A genealogy of modern and ancient genomes provides insight into human history and evolution.
Science Translational Medicine
Volume 14| Issue 633| 23 Feb 2022
https://www.science.org/toc/stm/current
Research Articles
Predicting the mutational drivers of future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern
BY M. Cyrus Maher, et al.
23 Feb 2022
Open Access
Simple epidemiologic metrics accurately predict which mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome will increase in frequency over the coming months.
Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 6 Pages 833-966 (7 February 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/6
Short communication Open access
Understanding COVID-19 vaccination willingness among youth: A survey study in the Netherlands
Saskia Euser, Floor M. Kroese, Mare Derks, Marijn de Bruin
Pages 833-836
Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 6 Pages 833-966 (7 February 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/6
Short communication Full text access
COVID-19 and Routine Childhood and Adolescent Immunizations: Evidence from Louisiana Medicaid
Brigham Walker, Andrew Anderson, Charles Stoecker, Yixue Shao, … Kevin Callison
Pages 837-840
Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 6 Pages 833-966 (7 February 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/6
Research article Full text access
Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination intentions among adults in the deep South
Casey L. Daniel, Jacob Williams, Rachel Legg, Chelsea McGowen, Jesse Stutzman
Pages 841-853
Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 6 Pages 833-966 (7 February 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/6
Research article Abstract only
Effect of the framing of HPV vaccination on parents’ willingness to accept an HPV vaccine
Zhuoying Huang, Mengdi Ji, Jia Ren, Xiaodong Sun, … Abram L. Wagner
Pages 897-903
Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 6 Pages 833-966 (7 February 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/6
Research article Open access
Improving knowledge and trust in vaccines: A survey-based assessment of the potential of the European Union Clinical Trial Regulation No 536/2014 plain language summary to increase health literacy
Michael Penlington, Philibert Goulet, Beth Metcalfe
Pages 924-933
Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 6 Pages 833-966 (7 February 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/6
Research article Open access
COVID-19 and missed or delayed vaccination in 26 middle- and high-income countries: An observational survey
Gilla K. Shapiro, Nisha Gottfredson, Julie Leask, Kerrie Wiley, … Noel T. Brewer
Pages 945-952
Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 6 Pages 833-966 (7 February 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/6
Research article Abstract only
Vaccine misinformation types and properties in Russian troll tweets
Echo L. Warner, Juliana L. Barbati, Kaylin L. Duncan, Kun Yan, Stephen A. Rains
Pages 953-960
Pre-Print Servers
Gates Open Research
https://gatesopenresearch.org/browse/articles
[Accessed 26 Feb 2022]
Research Article metrics
Revised
Do differentiated service delivery models for HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa save money? Synthesis of evidence from field studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa in 2017-2019 [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
Sydney Rosen, Brooke Nichols, Teresa Guthrie, Mariet Benade, Salome Kuchukhidze, Lawrence Long
Peer Reviewers Ingrid Eshun-Wilson; Michael J. Vinikoor
Funder
NIH
LATEST VERSION PUBLISHED 25 Feb 2022
medRxiv
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/about-medrxiv
medRxiv is a free online archive and distribution server for complete but unpublished manuscripts (preprints) in the medical, clinical, and related health sciences. Preprints are preliminary reports of work that have not been certified by peer review. They should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information. medRxiv is for the distribution of preprints – complete but unpublished manuscripts – that describe human health research conducted, analyzed, and interpreted according to scientific principles…
Waning Effectiveness of the Third Dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine
Tal Patalon, Yaki Saciuk, Asaf Peretz, Galit Perez, Yoav Lurie, Yasmin Maor, Sivan Gazit
medRxiv 2022.02.25.22271494; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.25.22271494
The effect of job strain and worksite social support on reported side effects of COVID-19 vaccine: a prospective study of employees in Japan
Natsu Sasaki, Reiko Kuroda, Kanami Tsuno, Kotaro Imamura, Norito Kawakami
medRxiv 2022.02.24.22271484; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.24.22271484
Booster protection against Omicron infection in a highly vaccinated cohort
Caroline Tai, Lisa L Maragakis, Sarah Connelly, John DiFiori, Leroy Sims, Eleanor Adams, Deverick Anderson, Michael Merson, David Ho, Yonatan Grad, Christina DeFilippo Mack
medRxiv 2022.02.24.22271347; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.24.22271347
Rapid genome surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and study of risk factors using shipping container laboratories and portable DNA sequencing technology
SARA FARAHI BILOOEI, Dejana Jovicevic, Arash Iranzadeh, Cynthia Mpofu, Ivan Muscat, Anthony Thomas, Helene Steiner, Thomas Meany
medRxiv 2022.02.25.22271277; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.25.22271277
Public Health Impact of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) in the first year of rollout in the United States
Manuela Di Fusco, Kinga Marczell, Kristen A Deger, Mary M Moran, Timothy L Wiemken, Alejandro Cane, Solene de Boisvilliers, Jingyan Yang, Shailja Vaghela, Julie Roiz
medRxiv 2022.02.24.22271478; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.24.22271478
At least three doses of leading vaccines essential for neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
Nagendrakumar B Singanallur, Petrus Jansen van Vuren, Alexander James McAuley, Matthew P Bruce, Michael J Kuiper, Stella May Gwini, Shane Riddell, Sarah Goldie, Trevor W Drew, Kim Rebecca Blasdell, Mary Tachedjian, Shruthi Mangalaganesh, Simran Chahal, Leon Caly, Julian D Druce, Jennifer A Juno, Stephen Kent, Adam K Wheatley, Seshadri S Vasan
medRxiv 2022.02.20.22271237; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.20.22271237
Effectiveness of the third dose of BNT162b2 vaccine on neutralizing Omicron variant in the Japanese population
Hitoshi Kawasuji, Yoshitomo Morinaga, Hideki Tani, Yumiko Saga, Makito Kaneda, Yushi Murai, Akitoshi Ueno, Yuki Miyajima, Yasutaka Fukui, Kentaro Nagaoka, Chikako Ono, Yoshiharu Matsuura, Hideki Niimi, Yoshihiro Yamamoto
medRxiv 2022.02.23.22271433; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.23.22271433
Bibliometric study of preclinical, clinical, and public health systematic reviews and meta-analyses in Ethiopia: systematically mapping publication outputs, authors collaboration networks, trending research topics, and influential articles
Tesfa Dejenie Habtewold, Nigussie Tadesse Sharew, Aklilu Endalamaw, Henok Mulugeta, Getenet Dessie, Nigus Gebremedhin Asefa, Getachew Mulu Kassa, Wubet Alebachew Bayih, Mulugeta Molla Birhanu, Andreas A. Teferra, Abera Kenay Tura, Balewgize Sileshi Tegegne, Sisay Mulugeta Alemu
medRxiv 2022.02.24.22271416; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.24.22271416
The impact of COVID passport mandates on the number of cases of and hospitalizations with COVID-19 in the UK: a difference-in-differences analysis
Kim López-Güell, Albert Prats-Uribe, Martí Catalá, Clara Prats, Jotun Hein, DANIEL PRIETO-ALHAMBRA
medRxiv 2022.02.24.22271325; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.24.22271325
Dynamics of the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States: the battle of supremacy in the presence of vaccination, mask usage and antiviral treatment
Calistus N. Ngonghala, Hemaho B. Taboe, Abba B. Gumel
medRxiv 2022.02.23.22271394; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.23.22271394
When mistrust in the government and scientists reinforce social inequalities in vaccination against Covid-19
Nathalie Bajos, Alexis Spire, Léna Silberzan, Antoine Sireyjol, Florence Jusot, Laurence Meyer, Jeanna-Eve Franck, Josiane Warszawski, the EpiCov study group
medRxiv 2022.02.23.22271397; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.23.22271397
Estimating the impact of implementation and timing of COVID-19 vaccination programme in Brazil: a counterfactual analysis
Leonardo Souto Ferreira, Flavia Maria Darcie Marquitti, Rafael Lopes Paixão da Silva, Marcelo Eduardo Borges, Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes, Oswaldo Gonçruz Cruz, Roberto André Kraenkel, Renato Mendes Coutinho, Paulo Inácio Prado, Leonardo Soares Bastos
medRxiv 2021.12.24.21268384; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.24.21268384
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, vaccination, and hesitancy in agricultural workers in Guatemala
Diva M. Calvimontes, Lyndsay Krisher, Alex Cruz-Aguilar, Daniel Pilloni-Alessio, Luis E. Crisostomo-Cal, Edgar A. Castañeda-Sosa, Jaime Butler-Dawson, Daniel Olson, Lee S. Newman, Edwin J. Asturias
medRxiv 2022.02.22.22270907; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.22.22270907
An inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is safe and induces humoral and cellular immunity against virus variants in healthy children and adolescents in Chile
Jorge A Soto, Felipe Melo-González, Cristián Gutierrez-Vera, Bárbara M Schultz, Roslye V Berríos-Rojas, Daniela Rivera-Pérez, Alejandro Piña-Iturbe, Guillermo Hoppe-Elsholz, Luisa F Duarte, Yaneisi Vázquez, Daniela Moreno-Tapia, Mariana Ríos, Pablo A Palacios, Richard Garcia-Betancourt, Álvaro Santibañez, Constanza Mendez, Benjamín Diethelm-Varela, Patricio Astudillo, Mario Calvo, Antonio Cárdenas, Marcela González, Macarena Goldsack, Valentina Gutiérrez, Marcela Potin, Andrea Schilling, Lorena I Tapia, Loreto Twele, Rodolfo Villena, Alba Grifoni, Alessandro Sette, Daniela Weiskopf, Rodrigo A Fasce, Jorge Fernández, Judith Mora, Eugenio Ramírez, Aracelly Gaete-Argel, Mónica Acevedo, Fernando Valiente-Echeverría, Ricardo Soto-Rifo, Angello Retamal-Díaz, Nathalia Muñoz-Jofré, PedCoronaVac03CL Study Group, Xing Meng, Qianqian Xin, Eduardo Alarcón-Bustamante, José V González-Aramundiz, Nicole Le Corre, María Javiera Álvarez, Pablo A González, Katia Abarca, Cecilia Perret, Leandro J Carreño, Alexis M Kalergis, Susan M Bueno
medRxiv 2022.02.15.22270973; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.15.22270973
Community-based Case Studies of Vaccine Hesitancy and the COVID-19 Response in South Africa; The VaxScenes Study
Charles Shey Wiysonge, Nancy Coulson, Nirvana Pillay, Sara Cooper, Candice Groenewald, Zaynab Essack, Saahier Parker, Gregory Houston, Jane Simmonds, Anelisa Jaca, Muyunda Mutemwa, Patrick DMC Katoto, Heidi van Rooyen
medRxiv 2022.02.21.22271272; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.21.22271272
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies after recovery from COVID-19 or vaccination in Libyan population: comparison of four vaccines
Fawzi Ebrahim, Salah Tabal, Yosra Lamami, Inas M Alhudiri, Salah Edin El Meshri, Samira M Al Dwigen, Ramadan Arfa, Asma Alboeshi, Hafsa A. Alemam, Fauzia Abuhtna, Rabeeah Altrhouni, Mohamed B Milad, Nada A Elgriw, Mahmoud A Ruaua, Zakarya Abusrewil, Warda Harroush, Mwada Jallul, Fouziyah S Ali, Farag Eltaeb, Adam Elzaghied
medRxiv 2022.02.18.22271130; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.18.22271130
Wellcome Open Research [to 26 Feb 2022]
https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/browse/articles
[Accessed 26 Feb 2022]
Wellcome Open Research provides all Wellcome researchers with a place to rapidly publish any results they think are worth sharing. All articles benefit from rapid publication, transparent peer review and editorial guidance on making all source data openly available.
Research Article metrics
Revised
Revealing the extent of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya based on serological and PCR-test data [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
John Ojal, Samuel P. C. Brand, Vincent Were, Emelda A. Okiro, Ivy K. Kombe, Caroline Mburu, Rabia Aziza, Morris Ogero, Ambrose Agweyu, George M. Warimwe, Sophie Uyoga, Ifedayo M. O. Adetifa, J. Anthony G. Scott, Edward Otieno, Lynette I. Ochola-Oyier, Charles N. Agoti, Kadondi Kasera, Patrick Amoth, Mercy Mwangangi, Rashid Aman, Wangari Ng’ang’a, Benjamin Tsofa, Philip Bejon, Edwine Barasa, Matt J. Keeling, D. James Nokes
Peer Reviewers Mark Kimathi; Amy Wesolowski
Funders
Wellcome Trust
National Institute for Health Research
Medical Research Council
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
LATEST VERSION PUBLISHED 25 Feb 2022
Research Article metrics
Revised
Individual-level variations in malaria susceptibility and acquisition of clinical protection [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
John Joseph Valletta, John W.G. Addy, Adam J. Reid, Francis M. Ndungu, Yaw Bediako, Jedida Mwacharo, Khadija Said, Jennifer Musyoki, Joyce Mwongeli Ngoi, Joshua Wambua, Edward Otieno, Matt Berriman, Philip Bejon, Kevin Marsh, Jean Langhorne, Chris I. Newbold, Mario Recker
Peer Reviewers Lucy C. Okell; Wendy Prudhomme-O’Meara and Christine Markwalter
Funders
Wellcome Trust
Cancer Research UK
Medical Research Council
Crick Africa Network
LATEST VERSION PUBLISHED 25 Feb 2022
Think Tanks
Brookings
http://www.brookings.edu/
Accessed 26 Feb 2022
Upcoming Event
Public health in Africa: Ensuring equal access and self-sufficiency
Feb 28 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Online Only
Health Care Policy
5 building blocks to help achieve greater health equity
Stuart M. Butler and Nehath Sheriff
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Center for Global Development [to 26 Feb 2022]
https://www.cgdev.org/
Accessed 26 Feb 2022
Operationalizing the African Medicines Agency: The Strategic Design of a Regional Platform for Medicines Regulation
Event 2/24/22
As of November 5, 2021, the African Union signed into force its second specialized health agency: the African Medicines Agency (AMA). More than two years after its introduction, the AMA treaty has now been ratified by 17 African Union member countries – two more than was required – and has been signed by many more, making it the latest regional partnership to strengthen capacity for medicines regulation and facilitate regulatory harmonization across the African continent in order to improve access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines. With high-level support secured, attention now must shift to strategic questions of how to operationalize the AMA and set it up for success.
February 16, 2022
Social Protection in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons from South Africa
South Africa responded to the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown using a combination of existing social protection programmes, unemployment insurance, and additional measures to support those most affected. This paper reviews policies and implementation with the objective of highlighting lessons for the global community, including on the use of digital mechanisms.
Lena Gronbach , Jeremy Seekings and Vayda Megannon
Chatham House [to 26 Feb 2022]
https://www.chathamhouse.org/
Accessed 26 Feb 2022
Explainer The next pandemic – when could it be?
How, when, and where could a new pandemic occur, what measures might prevent such an event, and is the world well-prepared if it does happen?
23 February 2022
CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 26 Feb 2022
Upcoming Event
Overcoming Gender-Related Barriers to Immunization Services
March 8, 2022
Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org/search/?post_type=press-release
Accessed 26 Feb 2022
[No new digest content identified]
Rand [to 26 Feb 2022]
https://www.rand.org/pubs.html
Reports, Selected Journal Articles
Report
Incorporating Complementary and Integrative Health Providers in the Public Health Pandemic Response: Lessons from COVID-19 and Recommendations for the Future from a Multidisciplinary Expert Panel
Complementary and integrative health providers have been an underutilized public health asset in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report seeks to inform how they can be better integrated into future responses to public health emergencies.
Feb 17, 2022
Ian D. Coulter, Margaret D. Whitley, Raheleh Khorsan, Patricia M. Herman
Report
COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium: Final Report
RAND Europe evaluated how the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium contributed to the pandemic response in the United Kingdom and examined the role of pathogen genomics research and sequencing networks in pandemic response.
Feb 15, 2022
Sonja Marjanovic, Robert J. Romanelli, Gemma-Claire Ali, Brandi Leach, Margaretha Bonsu, Daniela Rodriguez-Rincon, Tom Ling
Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review is a weekly digest summarizing news, events, announcements, peer-reviewed articles and research in the global vaccine ethics and policy space. Content is aggregated from key governmental, NGO, international organization and industry sources, key peer-reviewed journals, and other media channels. This summary proceeds from the broad base of themes and issues monitored by the Center for Vaccine Ethics & Policy in its work: it is not intended to be exhaustive in its coverage. You are viewing the blog version of our weekly digest, typically comprised of between 30 and 40 posts below all dated with the current issue date
.– Request an Email Summary: Vaccines and Global Health : The Week in Review is published as a single email summary, scheduled for release each Saturday evening before midnight (EDT in the U.S.). If you would like to receive the email version, please send your request to david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org.
– pdf version: A pdf of the current issue is available here:
– blog edition: comprised of the approx. 35+ entries posted below.
– Twitter: Readers can also follow developments on twitter: @vaxethicspolicy.
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– Links: We endeavor to test each link as we incorporate it into any post, but recognize that some links may become “stale” as publications and websites reorganize content over time. We apologize in advance for any links that may not be operative. We believe the contextual information in a given post should allow retrieval, but please contact us as above for assistance if necessary.
Support this knowledge-sharing service: Your financial support helps us cover our costs and to address a current shortfall in our annual operating budget. Click here to donate and thank you in advance for your contribution.
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David R. Curry, MS
Executive Director
Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy
WHO Director-General’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference – 18 February 2022
Speech
18 February 2022
[Excerpt]
…Taking those recommendations into account, last month WHO’s Executive Board tasked me with developing a set of proposals on strengthening the global architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, to be considered by all Member States at the World Health Assembly in May.
In brief, I see three key pillars of that architecture.
First, we need stronger governance. I think that has been raised by the panelists. Instead of the confusion and incoherence that has fueled this pandemic, we need cooperation and collaboration in the face of common threats, that can address the trust deficit that we have seen.
At a Special Session of the World Health Assembly at the end of last year, WHO’s 194 Member States agreed to negotiate a new legally-binding instrument, to set the rules of the game for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
WHO also supports the recommendation for a heads of state council, to provide high-level political leadership for rapid and coordinated action. In our view, such a council must be anchored in the constitutional mandate of WHO, to ensure political, strategic and technical coherence.
Second, we need stronger systems and tools to prevent, detect, and respond rapidly to epidemics and pandemics. Already, WHO has taken steps to build some of these systems and tools, including the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin, to enhance global surveillance through collaborative intelligence; We’re piloting the WHO BioHub System, a new mechanism for countries to share novel biological materials; Several countries are now piloting the Universal Health and Preparedness Review, a new peer-review mechanism for enhancing national preparedness;
We established the ACT Accelerator, which has given us valuable experience and insights into how to fast-track equitable access to countermeasures; And to strengthen capacities for local production of vaccines and other health products in low- and middle-income countries, we have established the WHO Technology Transfer Hub in South Africa, which has now developed its own mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
Today we announced the first six African countries to receive technology from the hub to produce their own mRNA vaccines: Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. But above all, not only the systems and tools, the central point will be developing the workforce. And that is why we are building the WHO Academy in Lyon, France.
And third, we need stronger financing. It’s obvious that nationally and globally, we need substantial resources for strengthening global health security. Our analysis estimates the needs at US$ 31 billion per year.
We estimate that about US$20 billion could come from existing and projected domestic and international resources, leaving a gap of US$ 10 billion per year. To close the gap for the most essential functions – such as surveillance, research and market-shaping for countermeasures – we support the idea of a new dedicated financing facility, anchored in, and directed by, WHO’s constitutional mandate, inclusive governance and technical expertise.
Any efforts to strengthen the global health security architecture can only succeed if they also strengthen WHO’s role at its centre, rather than creating further mechanisms that would only create further fragmentation and potentially leave the world less safe…
BioNTech introduces first modular mRNA manufacturing facility to promote scalable vaccine production in Africa
16 February 2022
:: Developing turnkey solution to enable mRNA-based vaccine production in modular and scalable sites installed by BioNTech
:: Presidents of Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, the Director of the Africa CDC and the Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany met in Marburg to jointly discuss the infrastructure, regulatory and technological requirements to establish end-to-end manufacturing network for mRNA-based vaccines in Africa
:: First manufacturing facility to become a node in a decentralized and robust African end-to-end manufacturing network
:: Establishment of mRNA manufacturing facilities in Africa is planned in the partner countries Senegal, Rwanda and potentially South Africa; construction of first facility to start in mid-2022 in first partner country, with the others to follow suit. New project in Ghana to support manufacturing with fill-and-finish capacities
MAINZ, Germany, February 16, 2022 – BioNTech SE has taken a next step to improve vaccine supply in Africa. The company has introduced its approach to establishing scalable vaccine production by developing and delivering turnkey mRNA manufacturing facilities based on a container solution. At a high-level meeting at BioNTech’s new manufacturing facility in Marburg and at the invitation of kENUP Foundation, the company presented the container solution named “BioNTainer” to key partners…
The manufacturing solution consists of one drug substance and one formulation module, each called a BioNTainer. Each module is built of six ISO sized containers (2.6m x 2.4m x 12m). This allows for mRNA vaccine production in bulk (mRNA manufacturing and formulation), while fill-and-finish will be taken over by local partners. Each BioNTainer is a clean room which BioNTech equips with state-of-the-art manufacturing solutions. Together, two modules require 800 sqm of space and offer an estimated initial capacity of for example up to 50 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine each year. The BioNTainer will be equipped to manufacture a range of mRNA-based vaccines targeted to the needs of the African Union member states, for example the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and BioNTech’s investigational malaria and tuberculosis vaccines, if they are successfully developed, approved or authorized by regulatory authorities.
The capacity can be scaled up by adding further modules and sites to the manufacturing network on the African continent. One of the most critical parts of the manufacturing process is quality control, which includes all necessary tests for each finished vaccine batch. In partnership with local quality control testing labs, BioNTech will help to ensure the identity, composition, strength, purity, absence of product- and process-related impurities, as well as the absence of microbiological contamination of each produced batch.
The establishment of the first mRNA manufacturing facility by BioNTech in the African Union is expected to start in mid-2022. The first BioNTainer is expected to arrive in Africa in the second half of 2022. Manufacturing in the first BioNTainer is planned to commence approximately 12 months after the delivery of the modules to its final location in Africa. BioNTech expects to ship BioNTainers to Rwanda, Senegal and potentially South Africa in close coordination with the respective country and the African Union.
BioNTech will be responsible for the delivery and installation of the modules, while local organizations, authorities and governments will ensure the needed infrastructure. Partners in Ghana and South Africa could support the manufacturing with fill-and-finish capacities. BioNTech will work closely with local authorities to ensure compliance to relevant regulatory procedures of the national regulatory agencies in each partner country, and also coordinate where appropriate with relevant continental and international agencies, including WHO, Africa CDC, the African Medicines Agency (AMA), and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).
BioNTech will initially staff and operate the facilities to support the safe and rapid initiation of the production of mRNA-based vaccine doses under stringent good manufacturing processes (“GMP”) to prepare for the transfer of know-how to local partners to enable independent operation. Vaccines manufactured in these facilities are expected to be dedicated to domestic use and export to other member states of the African Union at a not-for-profit price..
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Featured Journal Content
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ierj20
Special Report
WHO collaborative registration procedure using stringent regulatory authorities’ medicine evaluation: reliance in action?
Alexandra Vaz et al.
Published online: 12 Feb 2022
https://doi.org/10.1080/17512433.2022.2037419
ABSTRACT
Introduction
The regulatory approval of medical products in countries with limited regulatory resources can be lengthy, which often compromises patients’ timely access to much-needed medicines. To improve the efficiency of regulatory systems, reliance is being used. Reliance allows an authority to leverage the work performed by other authorities, such as scientific evaluations, to decide on medical products approval within their jurisdiction. This reduces duplication of regulatory efforts, resources and time, while maintaining national sovereignty.
Areas covered
This article analyzes the outcomes and stakeholders’ experience of using medicines assessments performed by Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRA) in the Collaborative Registration Procedures (CRP). Since its establishment in 2015, 59 approvals were granted to 16 medicines in 23 countries through SRA CRP. Results show that the procedure is delivering on the intended benefits of access and speed, with long-term positive impact for resource-limited countries. The article concludes with recommendations on the need for guidance on management of post-approval changes, wider promotion of the procedure, and increased collaboration between authorities.
Expert opinion
The SRA CRP provides a mechanism for the use of reliance by strengthening communication and promoting the exchange of information among regulators. This fosters faster regulatory approvals and, consequently, earlier access to medicines.
Featured Journal Content
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Coronavirus [COVID-19] – WHO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Weekly Epidemiological and Operational updates
Last update: 18 Feb 2022
Confirmed cases :: 418 650 474
Confirmed deaths :: 5 856 224
Vaccine doses administered: 10 279 668 555
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Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 – 15 February 2022
Overview
During the week of 7 to 13 February 2022, the global number of new COVID-19 cases decreased by 19% as compared to the number reported during the previous week, while the number of new deaths remained similar to that of the previous week. Across the six WHO regions, just over 16 million new cases and just under 75 000 new deaths were reported. As of 13 February 2022, over 409 million confirmed cases and over 5.8 million deaths have been reported globally.
At the regional level, the Western Pacific Region reported an increase of 19% in the number of new weekly cases while all other regions reported decreases: the South-East Asia Region (37% decrease), the Region of the Americas (32% decrease), the African Region (30% decrease), the European Region (16% decrease) and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (12% decrease). The number of new weekly deaths increased in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (38%), the Western Pacific Region (27%), the African Region (14%) and the Region of the Americas (5%), while it remained similar to that of the previous week in the European Region and decreased in the South-East Asia Region (9%)…
Featured Journal Content
WHO Director General Speeches [selected]
https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches
Selected
18 February 2022
Speech
WHO Director-General’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference – 18 February 2022
18 February 2022
Speech
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at announcement “spokes” of mRNA technology transfer hub – 18 February 2022
18 February 2022
Speech
WHO Director-General’s remarks at thematic roundtable: health systems and vaccine production EU-AU Summit – 18 February 2022
16 February 2022
Speech
WHO Director-General’s remarks at Vaccine Equity for Africa – 16 February 2022
14 February 2022
Speech
WHO Director-General’s remarks at the COVID-19 Global Action Meeting – 14 February 2022
We’re grateful for the leadership of the United States and all countries here today. I’ve just returned from South Africa yesterday, where I met with President Ramaphosa and saw first-hand the progress underway at the WHO mRNA vaccine technology transfer Hub. The commitment from the government and the private sector is real. This historic initiative comes at a critical time.
In some countries, high vaccine coverage, combined with the lower severity of Omicron, is driving a false narrative that the pandemic is over. At the same time, low vaccine coverage and low testing rates in other countries are creating the ideal conditions for new variants to emerge. We can bring the pandemic under control this year – but we are at increased risk of squandering that opportunity.
Currently, 116 countries are off track for our shared target of vaccinating 70% of the population of every country by the middle of this year. Through the ACT Accelerator and the COVAX pillar and our partnership with UNICEF, we are now overcoming some of the supply and delivery constraints we faced last year, with more than 1 billion vaccine doses shipped. In many countries, the issues are not primarily a problem of absorptive capacity. We need to urgently support political leaders to accelerate the rollout of vaccines.
We welcome the ongoing engagement of all countries represented here today, the lines of effort proposed by the United States, and continued alignment with the ACT Accelerator and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT).
Let me leave you with three requests.
First, to vaccinate the world, we ask all countries to support WHO’s global target of 70%.
Second, to save lives now, we ask all countries to contribute their fair share to fully fund the ACT Accelerator, especially for the immediate need of US$ 16 billion.
Third, we need to support models such as the mRNA technology transfer hub in South Africa and its network of spokes around the world, to build capacity for controlling COVID-19 and other preventable diseases.
As I mentioned, I have just witnessed the collaborative work being done at the Hub and by the vaccine developers participating in this historic effort, including Afrigen, Biovac, and the Biomedical Research Institute at Stellenbosch University. Fostering local vaccine manufacturing capacity throughout the globe, supplemented by temporary intellectual property waivers for COVID-19 tools, will help bring this pandemic to an end and keep us all safer.
By working together, across the public and private sectors, we can bring the pandemic under control and drive an inclusive and sustainable recovery…
Featured Journal Content
SAVE THE DATE – Developing a framework for evaluating new COVID-19 vaccines
23 February 2022 13:00 – 19:30 CET
Download Agenda
Registration: https://who-e.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MBB2uq8ATsiuG-V2xQSR4w
The WHO R&D Blueprint is organizing a consultation to discuss emerging evidence towards the establishment of correlates of protection for COVID-19 vaccines. There is a global need to increase the supply of vaccines that likely meet the WHO TPP criteria for effectiveness against severe disease.
WHO is considering the development of a framework to help evaluate new vaccines, against currently circulating variants or for pan-sarbecovirus vaccines. This may also help inform researchers and developers decisions on how to generate additional data for the assessment of new vaccines.
The scientific elements of the proposed framework will be presented and discussed during this meeting.
EPI-WIN webinar: Update on COVID-19 vaccines & vaccine safety monitoring
23 February 2022 14:00 – 15:00 CET
Please join us for a technical briefing on the different types of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine safety monitoring.
Speakers:
:: Dr. Martin Friede, Unit Head,Vaccine and Immunology Research , WHO
:: Dr Madhava Ram Balakrishnan, Medical Officer, Global Vaccine Safety, WHO
Registratoin: https://who-e.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_L_tGfKBdSe6ENX7as9NThA
Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process 23 December 2021
[Full scale view available at title link above]
[Updated on 18 February 2022]
COVID Vaccines/Therapeutics – Developer/Manufacturer Announcements
[Selected press releases/announcements from organizations from WHO EUL/PQ listing above and other organizations]
AstraZeneca
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified
Bharat Biotech
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified
BioCubaFarma – Cuba
Últimas Noticias – No new digest announcements identified
Biontech
Press Releases
BioNTech introduces first modular mRNA manufacturing facility to promote scalable vaccine production in Africa
16 February 2022
[See Perspectives above for detail]
CanSinoBIO
News – [Website not responding at inquiry]
Clover Biopharmaceuticals – China
News – No new digest announcements identified
Curevac [Bayer Ag – Germany]
News
February 10, 2022
CureVac Doses First Participant in Phase 1 Study with Multivalent Influenza Vaccine Candidate Based on Second-Generation mRNA Backbone Developed in Collaboration with GSK
Gamaleya National Center
Latest News and Events – See Russia below
IMBCAMS, China
Home – Website not responding at inquiry
Janssen/JNJ
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified
Moderna
Press Releases
February 18, 2022
Moderna Expands Its mRNA Pipeline with Three New Development Programs
:: mRNA-1608 is a vaccine candidate against Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
:: mRNA-1468 is a vaccine candidate against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) to reduce the rate of herpes zoster (shingles)
:: mRNA-4359 is a new checkpoint cancer vaccine
February 16, 2022
Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia Authorizes Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine in Children (6-11 Years)
Moderna Announces Plan to Expand Commercial Footprint in Europe Across Six Additional Countries
February 15, 2022
Moderna Announces Plan to Expand Footprint in Asia with Four Additional Subsidiaries
Novavax
Press Releases
Health Canada Authorizes Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine
Feb 17, 2022
Singapore Health Sciences Authority Issues Interim Authorization for Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine
Feb 14, 2022
Novavax Files for Conditional Marketing Authorization of COVID-19 Vaccine in Switzerland
Feb 14, 2022
Pfizer
Recent Press Releases
02.15.2022
European Medicines Agency Approves Pfizer’s 20-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Against Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Pneumonia in Adults
Sanofi Pasteur
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified
Serum Institute of India
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS – No new digest announcements identified
Shifa Pharmed [Iran]
http://shafapharmed.com/
No news page identified.
Sinopharm/WIBPBIBP
News – No new digest announcements identified
Sinovac
Press Releases
CUHK and SINOVAC Biotech (Hong Kong) Limited strategic collaboration framework agreement signing ceremony
2022/02/18
Vector State Research Centre of Viralogy and Biotechnology
Home – No new digest announcements identified
Zhifei Longcom, China
[Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co., Ltd.]
[No website identified]
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GSK
Press releases for media
GSK provides update on phase III RSV maternal vaccine candidate programme
18 February 2022 GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced that it has voluntarily paused enrolment and vaccination in the GRACE phase III trial (NCT04605159), evaluating its potential respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) maternal vaccine candidate, as well as two other trials investigating this candidate in pregnant women (NCT04980391, NCT05229068).
This decision was made following a recommendation from the Independent Data Monitoring Committee based on an observation from a routine safety assessment. Monitoring safety signals is an integral part of the clinical development process for potential new vaccines…
Merck
News releases – No new digest announcements identified
Novartis
News – No new digest announcements identified
SK Biosciences
Press releases – No new digest announcements identified
Valneva
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified
Featured Journal Content
UNICEF COVID-19 Vaccine Market Dashboard :: Agreements Table Accessed 19 Feb 2022
An overview of information collected from publicly announced bilateral and multilateral supply agreements [no new agreements since 10/22/2021 reported]
Featured Journal Content
COVID-19 Global Targets and Progress Tracker – IMF
The COVID-19 Global Targets and Progress Tracker presents a consolidated view of the progress towards global COVID-19 targets, barriers in access to COVID-19 tools, and delivery of donor pledges. The global targets presented in the Tracker are based on an alignment of the targets identified in the IMF Pandemic Proposal, ACT-A Strategic Plan & Budget, and the US-hosted Global C19 Summit, and as such have been reaffirmed by multilateral institutions and global leaders. We will continue to enhance the tracker as we improve our data collection efforts.
Featured Journal Content
Global Dashboard on COVID-19 Vaccine Equity
The Dashboard is a joint initiative of UNDP, WHO and the University of Oxford with cooperation across the UN system, anchored in the SDG 3 Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All.
Dashboard on Vaccine Equity [accessed 19 Feb 2022]: https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/
See also visualization on Vaccine Access and Vaccine Affordability
Featured Journal Content
Duke – Launch and Scale Speedometer
The Race for Global COVID-19 Vaccine Equity
A flurry of nearly 200 COVID-19 vaccine candidates are moving forward through the development and clinical trials processes at unprecedented speed; more than ten candidates are already in Phase 3 large-scale trials and several have received emergency or limited authorization. Our team has aggregated and analyzed publicly available data to track the flow of procurement and manufacturing and better understand global equity challenges. We developed a data framework of relevant variables and conducted desk research of publicly available information to identify COVID vaccine candidates and status, deals and ongoing negotiations for procurement and manufacturing, COVID burden by country, and allocation and distribution plans. We have also conducted interviews with public officials in key countries to better understand the context and challenges facing vaccine allocation and distribution
[accessed 24 July 2021]
See our COVID Vaccine Purchases research
See our COVID Vaccine Manufacturing research
See our COVID Vaccine Donations & Exports research
Featured Journal Content
COVID Vaccines – OCHA:: HDX
COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
19 Feb 2022 | COVAX (WHO,GAVI,CEPI), UNDESA, Press Reports | DATA
Global COVID-19 Figures: 418M total confirmed cases; 5.9M total confirmed deaths
Global vaccines administered: 10.4B
Number of Countries: 28
COVAX Allocations Round 4-9 (Number of Doses): 170M
COVAX Delivered (Number of Doses): 250M
Other Delivered (Number of Doses): 230M
Total Delivered (Number of Doses): 480M
Total Administered (Number of Doses): 320M
Featured Journal Content
Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 [IMF, World Bank Group, WHO, WTO]
https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data
A global effort to help developing countries access and deliver COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and therapeutics, as they work to end the pandemic and boost economic recovery.
The International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization have joined forces to accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics by leveraging multilateral finance and trade solutions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Website accessed 19 Feb 2022: https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data The global view below is complemented by country-specific dashboards here.
Featured Journal Content
Our World in Data
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations [Accessed 19 Feb 2022]
:: 61.9% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
:: 10.42 billion doses have been administered globally, and 30.92 million are now administered each day.
:: Only 10.6% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.
Featured Journal Content
U.S.: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
HHS
News
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Welcomes Robert Califf Back to HHS as FDA Commissioner
February 17, 2022 | News Release
BARDA – U.S. Department of HHS [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsRoomHome.aspx
News
DOD Awards Contracts to Purchase COVID-19 Antigen Over-the-Counter Test Kits in Support of POTUS’ One Billion Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Friday, February 18, 2022
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FDA
Press Announcements
No new digest content identified.
Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee– FDA
https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/blood-vaccines-and-other-biologics/vaccines-and-related-biological-products-advisory-committee
Calendar
Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee March 3, 2022 Meeting Announcement – 03/03/2022
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White House [U.S.]
Briefing Room – Selected Major COVID Announcements
Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency Concerning the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
February 18, 2022 • Statements and Releases
Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency Concerning the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
February 18, 2022 • Presidential Actions
On March 13, 2020, by Proclamation 9994, the President declared a national emergency concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant risk to the public health and safety of the Nation. For this reason, the national emergency declared on March 13, 2020, and beginning March 1, 2020, must continue in effect beyond March 1, 2022. ,,
Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
February 16, 2022 • Press Briefings
U.S. Department of State
https://www.state.gov/coronavirus/releases/
Media Notes
Special Briefing
Digital Press Briefing with Acting Coordinator for Global COVID-19 Response and Health Security Mary Beth Goodman
Digital Press Briefing with Acting Coordinator for Global COVID-19 Response and Health Security Mary Beth Goodman February 15, 2022
Press Statement
The COVID-19 Global Action Meeting
Antony J. Blinken February 14, 2022
… Participants joining the United States in the COVID-19 Global Action Meeting included the Commonwealth of Australia, Canada, the Republic of Colombia, the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of India, the Republic of Indonesia, the Italian Republic, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Senegal, the Republic of South Africa, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the African Union/Africa Centres for Disease Control, the European Commission, and the World Health Organization.
Featured Journal Content
Europe: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
European Medicines Agency
News & Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en
Latest Updates [Selected]
Publication
Data collection on COVID-19 outbreaks in closed settings: long-term care facilities, version 2.1
Technical report – 18 Feb 2022
Publication
Evaluation of the SARS-CoV-2 testing policy in Belgium from June to December 2021
Technical report – 14 Feb 2022
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Accessed 19 Feb 2022
https://vaccinetracker.ecdc.europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/vaccine-tracker.html#uptake-tab
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European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en
Speech 19 February 2022
Speech by President von der Leyen at the Munich Security Conference 2022
Statement 18 February 2022
Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference on the global mRNA technology transfer hub
Statement 16 February 2022
Statement by President von der Leyen at the ‘Vaccine Equity for Africa’ launch event, co-organised by BioNTech SE and the kENUP Foundation
Press release 15 February 2022
Press release on the EU participation to the small group of foreign ministers meeting to coordinate enhanced COVID-19 response
In the COVID-19 Global Action Meeting, convened by US Secretary of State Blinken and gathering the EU, represented by Commissioner Urpilainen, and other partner countries, participants discussed yesterday a ‘COVID-19 Global Action Plan’…The EU and its Member States, acting as Team Europe, have been at the fore-front of efforts to tackle the pandemic globally and are committed to co-lead this Global Action Plan, in line with the ongoing Team Europe response to the pandemic. The EU will remain active in all 6 priority areas and specifically offered to co-lead with partners to coordinate actions to tackle vaccine hesitancy and combat disinformation, get shots in arms, bolster supply chain resilience and strengthen the global health security architecture…
Featured Journal Content
Africa: COVID-19 – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Accessed 19 Feb 2022. Full scale, interactive dashboard available at:
https://africacdc.org/covid-19-vaccination/
Featured Journal Content
Russia: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Russia: Sputnik V – “the first registered COVID-19 vaccine”
https://sputnikvaccine.com/newsroom/pressreleases/
Press Releases
Clinical trials in Russia and Azerbaijan demonstrated safety of AstraZeneca and Sputnik Light vaccines combination
Press release, 14.02.2022
Featured Journal Content
India: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government of India – Press Information Bureau
Latest Press Releases
COVID – 19 Vaccination Update – Day 400
:: India’s cumulative vaccination coverage over 175 Crore
:: More than 27 lakh Vaccine doses administered today till 7 pm
Posted On: 19 FEB 2022 8:06PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR)
https://www.icmr.gov.in/media.html
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
Featured Journal Content
China: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Financial Times
19 Feb 2022, p.1
Coronavirus pandemic
Illegal border crossings push Hong Kong Covid outbreak into China
Pressure from Beijing to eradicate outbreak raises prospect of stricter controls
China’s rigorous “zero-Covid” policy is facing an unexpected new threat in the form of illegal border crossings by people fleeing a worsening virus outbreak in Hong Kong.
Some Chinese cities have offered rewards for information about people smuggling after 15 individuals illegally entered Zhuhai, in southern Guangdong province, by boat from Hong Kong. At least four of them had Covid-19 and later travelled to other parts of China, according to Chinese media reports.
The cases came in a week when President Xi Jinping said eradicating the outbreak must be Hong Kong’s top priority. The local authorities are already weighing mandatory testing for the territory’s entire population followed by quarantine for anyone found to be infected.
The prospect of strict controls continuing with no end date is heightening business concern that Hong Kong’s position as a financial centre is being hurt by the decision to effectively cut off the territory from the outside world since early in the pandemic.
On Friday, the Chinese government’s top representative in Hong Kong summoned real estate tycoons to a meeting at which they discussed contributing hotels, properties and other resources to the effort…
Emergencies
POLIO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
https://polioeradication.org/polio-today/polio-now/this-week/
Polio this week as of 16 February 2022
:: During the fourth meeting of the Regional Subcommittee on Polio Eradication and Outbreaks convened on Wednesday 9 February, members issued two statements on Yemen and Afghanistan calling for uninterrupted access for vaccinations to all children and declared the ongoing circulation of any strain of poliovirus in the Region to be a regional public health emergency. Read more…
Summary of new WPV and cVDPV viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):
– Djibouti: two cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
– Mozambique: two cVDPV2 cases
– Nigeria: 16 cVDPV2 cases and 18 positive environmental samples
– Somalia: one cVDPV2 case
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Republic of Malawi Reported Confirmed Case of Poliomyelitis
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- February 18 2022. On 17 February 2022, the Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Health reported one confirmed case of Poliomyelitis in the country. The Government of Malawi has declared this outbreak as a Public Health Emergency and will activate an Emergency Operations Committee, with the aim of conducting rapid risk assessment and situational analysis. The Government of Malawi has also stated that this is an imported case and there is no evidence of community circulation of the virus. In the absence prompt and effective response, the outbreak has the potential to spread in the country and even beyond boarders and could negatively affect the global Polio elimination and eradication agenda…
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Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
:: 14 February 2022 | Lassa Fever – Nigeria
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WHO/OCHA Emergencies
Health emergencies list – WHO
“The health emergencies list details the disease outbreaks, disasters and humanitarian crises where WHO plays an essential role in supporting countries to respond to and recover from emergencies with public health consequences.”
Afghanistan crisis [Last apparent update: 17 Jan 2022]
Crisis in Northern Ethiopia [Last apparent update: 1 June 2021]
Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021 [Last apparent update: 17 Aug 2021]
Ebola outbreak outbreak, N’Zerekore, Guinea, 2021 [Last apparent update: 17 Aug 2021]
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic [See COVID above]
Ebola outbreak, Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2020
[Last apparent update: 17 Aug 2021]
Ebola outbreak, North Kivu, Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018 – 2020
[Last apparent update: 17 Aug 2021]
Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018 [Last apparent update: 24 July 2018]
Yemen crisis [Last apparent update: 12 February 2021]
Syria crisis [Last apparent update: 18 June 2021]
Somalia crisis [Last apparent update: 24 March 2018]
Nigeria crisis [Last apparent update: 1 Oct 2021]
Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2017 [Last apparent update: 17 Aug 2021]
Zika virus disease outbreak, 2015-2016 [Last apparent update: 24 Jan 2020]
Ebola outbreak: West Africa, 2014-2016 [Last apparent update: 17 Aug 2021]
Iraq crisis [Last apparent update: 9 Jan 2008]
South Sudan crisis [Last apparent update: 23 Sep 2020]
Avian influenza A (H7N9) virus outbreak [Last apparent update: 13 September 2021]
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) outbreak [Last apparent update: 8 July 2019]
Influenza A (H1N1) virus, 2009-2010 pandemic [Last apparent update: 10 Aug 2010]
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UN OCHA – Current Emergencies
Current Corporate Emergencies
Afghanistan
No new updates identified.
Northern Ethiopia
Ethiopia – Northern Ethiopia Humanitarian Update Situation Report, 17 February 2022
HIGHLIGHTS
The humanitarian situation in Afar continues to deteriorate with large-scale displacement leading to increased needs while access to many areas is not feasible due to insecurity.
Additional medical supplies airlifted to Mekelle, but partners are not able to dispatch and distribute them to health facilities across Tigray due to lack of fuel.
As part of the second measles campaign in Tigray last week, more than 60,000 children under five and about 11,000 pregnant and lactating women were screened for malnutrition.
About 78,000 children and pregnant and lactating women in seven woredas in Afar are currently benefiting from supplementary feeding programs.
More than 127,000 people reached with food assistance under two food distribution rounds in Amhara during the reporting week.
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WHO & Regional Offices [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.who.int/
News [Selected]
18 February 2022
News release
WHO announces first technology recipients of mRNA vaccine hub with strong support from African and European partners
[See COVID above for detail]
17 February 2022
Statement
A € 500 million pledge under the WHO – EIB partnership, with the support of the EU, for health systems in Africa
17 February 2022
Departmental news
WHO announces the development of new guidance on offering long acting injectable cabotegravir as HIV prevention for people at substantial risk for HIV infection
15 February 2022
Departmental news
WHO collaborative registration procedure using stringent regulatory authorities’ medicine evaluation: reliance in action?
[See Featured Journal Content above for detail]
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WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region
17 February 2022 Malawi declares polio outbreak
WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: PAHO launches 120th Anniversary campaign
Washington D.C. 17 February 2022 (PAHO) – Today, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) kicks off its anniversary campaign to celebrate 120 years of active work promoting health and wellbeing throughout the Americas, with a calendar of events set to catalyze dialogue around the region’s pressing health challenges. Founded in 1902 under the…
:: Reduced public health measures contributed to deadly COVID-19 surge in the Americas, PAHO Director says
Deaths rose to 202 people per hour in the Region, despite overall decline in cases. Washington D.C. February 16, 2022 (PAHO) – Complacency around mask wearing, travel, and indoor gatherings created a perfect opportunity for the new Omicron variant to spread rapidly throughout the region and increase deaths, alerted PAHO Director, Carissa F.…
:: PAHO delivers 100 million COVAX vaccine doses to Latin America and the Caribbean
Milestone reached today with delivery of 1.5 million total doses, donated by Spain to Ecuador Washington D.C. 14 February 2022 (PAHO) – The number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine delivered by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to Latin America and the Caribbean reached 100 million today, thanks to the efforts of the organization’s…
:: 55% of children and adolescents with cancer recover in Latin America and the Caribbean
PAHO calls for improvements in survival rates. Washington, DC, February 15, 2022 (PAHO)- To mark the International Day against Childhood Cancer, celebrated today, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) calls for improvements in survival rates of children and adolescents with cancer, currently at 55% in Latin America and the Caribbean.…
WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
No new digest content identified
WHO European Region EURO
:: Preparing the next generation of laboratory leaders 16-02-2022
:: WHO launches fact sheet series on environmental health inequalities in Europe 16-02-2022
:: Risk remains high in eastern Europe and central Asia with arrival of COVID-19 Omicron variant 15-02-2022
:: New WHO report highlights scale of childhood cancer inequalities in the European Region 15-02-2022
WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: WHO validates the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Saudi Arabia 15 February 2022
WHO Western Pacific Region
:: 18 January 2022 WHO supports whole-of-UN response to volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga
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WHO Events
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/2
[Selected]
WHO Consultation on the Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines for Use in the 2022-23 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season
21 – 24 February 2022
SAVE THE DATE – Developing a framework for evaluating new COVID-19 vaccines
23 February 2022 13:00 – 19:30 CET
EPI-WIN webinar: Update on COVID-19 vaccines & vaccine safety monitoring
23 February 2022 14:00 – 15:00 CET
COVID-19 Global Research and Innovation Forum: An invitation to the research community
24 – 25 February 2022
9th ACT-Accelerator Facilitation Council meeting
28 February 2022 12:30 – 15:00 CET
Primary Objectives
:: To take stock of progress to meet global COVID-19 targets for vaccines, tests, treatments and PPE
:: Share country experience, lessons learnt and progress in meeting global COVID-19 targets
:: Reinforce Facilitation Council commitment and political support for the ACT-Accelerator campaign
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New WHO Publications
https://www.who.int/publications/i
Selected Titles
18 February 2022
WHO Guidelines for malaria
Overview
The WHO Guidelines for malaria bring together the Organization’s most up-to-date recommendations for malaria in one user-friendly and easy-to-navigate online platform.
The WHO Guidelines for malaria supersedes 2 previous WHO publications: the Guidelines for the treatment of malaria, third edition and the Guidelines for malaria vector control. Recommendations on malaria will continue to be reviewed and, where appropriate, updated based on the latest available evidence. Any updated recommendations will always display the date of the most recent revision in the MAGICapp platform. With each update, a new PDF version of the consolidated guidelines will also be available for download on the WHO website.
The third version of the Guidelines includes a new section on malaria vaccines and replaces the versions published on 16 February 2021 and 13 July 2021.
17 February 2022
Contact tracing and quarantine in the context of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: interim guidance
Overview
This interim guidance has been developed in the background of the present global surge of cases due to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and is meant to be read in conjunction with the current WHO guidance on contact tracing and quarantine. A consolidated contact tracing and quarantine guidance with updated evidence is currently under development, which, when ready, will replace both this CT Omicron interim guidance as well as the current contact tracing and quarantine guidance documents. This Omicron CT interim guidance should also be read in conjunction with the following WHO interim guidance documents…
17 February 2022
Antiretroviral medicines in low- and middle-income countries: forecasts of global and regional demand…
16 February 2022
HIV diagnostic tests in low- and middle-income countries: forecasts of global demand for 2021–2025
16 February 2022
Antiretroviral medicines in low- and middle-income countries: forecasts of global and regional demand…
15 February 2022
Questions and Answers: COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy
14 February 2022
Public health surveillance for COVID-19: interim guidance
14 February 2022
WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis
CDC/ACIP [U.S.] [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html
Latest News Releases, Announcements [Selected]
CDC Media Telebriefing: COVID-19 Vaccination and Pregnancy
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
ACIP Meetings
Next meeting scheduled for February 23-24, 2022
Draft Agenda – February 23-24, 2022
MMWR News Synopsis Friday, February 18, 2022
Selected Content
:: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2022
:: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger — United States, 2022
:: Multistate Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant Infections Among Persons in a Social Network Attending Convention — New York City, November 18–December 20, 2021
:: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Associated With a Large Indoor Convention — New York City, November–December 2021
:: Notes from the Field: Outbreak of COVID-19 Among a Highly Vaccinated Population Aboard a U.S. Navy Ship After a Port Visit — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 2021
:: Previously Released: Waning 2-Dose and 3-Dose Effectiveness of mRNA Vaccines Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Adults During Periods of Delta and Omicron Variant Predominance — VISION Network, 10 States, August 2021–January 2022
:: Previously Released: Effectiveness of Maternal Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy Against COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization in Infants Aged
:: Previously Released: Hospitalizations of Children and Adolescents with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — COVID-NET, 14 States, July 2021–January 2022
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)– CDC
Approximately 25 announcements/reports/data summaries.
2/18/22 EARLY RELEASE: Pediatric Emergency Department Visits Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 2019–January 2022
2/18/22 Overall US COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Fri, 18 Feb 2022 06:00:00 EST
2/18/22 Steps for Determining Close Contact and Quarantine in K–12 Schools
2/17/22 Notes from the Field: Outbreak of COVID-19 Among a Highly Vaccinated Population Aboard a U.S. Navy Ship After a Port Visit — Reykjavik, Iceland, July 2021
2/17/22 Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Associated With a Large Indoor Convention — New York City, November–December 2021
2/17/22 Multistate Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant Infections Among Persons in a Social Network Attending a Convention — New York City, November 18–December 20, 2021
2/17/22 Hospitalizations of Children and Adolescents with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — COVID-NET, 14 States, July 2021–January 2022
Africa CDC [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Republic of Malawi Reported Confirmed Case of Poliomyelitis
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- February 18 2022. On 17 February 2022, the Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Health reported one confirmed case of Poliomyelitis in the country. The Government of Malawi has declared this outbreak as a Public Health Emergency and will activate an Emergency Operations Committee, with the aim of conducting rapid risk assessment and situational analysis. The Government of Malawi has also stated that this is an imported case and there is no evidence of community circulation of the virus. In the absence prompt and effective response, the outbreak has the potential to spread in the country and even beyond boarders and could negatively affect the global Polio elimination and eradication agenda…
Communiqué
Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing: Scaling up Rapid Antigen Self-testing
17 February 2022
China CDC http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/
National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://en.nhc.gov.cn/
News
Feb 19: Daily briefing on novel coronavirus cases in China
On Feb 18, 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps on the Chinese mainland reported 137 new cases of confirmed infections.
Central-level agency announced to supervise disease control
Updated: 2022-02-17
chinadaily.com.cn
A central-level disease control and prevention body, which was established amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will take charge of a range of work regarding building the country’s emergency response capacity and regular monitoring of public health risks, according to a circular issued on Wednesday.
The document, jointly issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, stipulates that the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control — the official name of the new agency — will also be tasked to supervise and manage local disease control agencies and disease control work at medical institutions.
Such responsibilities were previously dispersed among several bureaus of the National Health Commission — the country’s top health authority.
The commission, a ministerial-level body, will still oversee the newly-established disease control agency, which is designated as being on a vice-ministerial level, according to the circular…
NHC fully supports Hong Kong in countering COVID-19 outbreak
2022-02-17
BEIJING — China’s National Health Commission (NHC) on Thursday said it will continue fully supporting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and meet its demands in containing the current COVID-19 outbreak.
The commission said in a statement on the website that it has been paying close attention to the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong…
National Medical Products Administration – PRC [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://english.nmpa.gov.cn/
News
4.56 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on Chinese mainland
2022-02-17
The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on the Chinese mainland grew by more than 4.56 million on Tuesday, with the total number now over 3.05 billion, data from the National Health Commission showed on Feb 16.
CCDC Weekly Reports: Current Volume (4)
2022-02-18 / No. 7ONE HEALTH ISSUE
View PDF of this issue
:: Foreword: Insight on Infectious Diseases from the Perspective of One Health
:: Preplanned Studies: A Landscape Analysis on Virus: based on NCBI Database
vaccines and global health :: ethics and policy 