Organization Announcements

::::::

 
 
Organization Announcements
Editor’s Note:
Careful readers will note that the number and range of organizations now monitored in our Announcements section below has grown as the impacts of the pandemic have spread across global economies, supply chains and programmatic activity of multilateral agencies and INGOs.
 
 
Airfinity [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.airfinity.com/insights
INSIGHTS & COMPANY NEWS
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://alleninstitute.org/news-press/
News
A map of all our brains’ blood vessel cells finds new clues to Alzheimer’s disease
February 14, 2022
Scientists release the first cell-by-cell atlas of the human blood-brain barrier
 
 
BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center
Press Releases and Statements
Press release
Feb 17, 2022
Bill Gates Meets Prime Minister Imran Khan to Discuss Progress Against Polio, Steps to Overcome Final Challenges to Eradication
SEATTLE (February 17, 2022) – Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, today met with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and other leaders in Islamabad to discuss the country’s progress in the effort to stop poliovirus transmission. Pakistan is one of two countries in the world, along with Afghanistan, where wild polio continues to circulate, although not a single child has been paralyzed by the wild polio virus in Pakistan for more than a year…

Press release
Feb 15, 2022
Ahead of EU–AU Summit, African Medicines Regulators Receive Boost of More Than 100 Million Euros from Team Europe and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
SEATTLE (February 15, 2022) — In a strong endorsement of the work of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) to strengthen medicines regulators and improve health security on the African continent, the European Union (EU)—including the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and EU member states Belgium, France, and Germany—and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) will mobilize more than 100 million euros over the next five years to support the recently established African Medicines Agency (AMA) and other African medicines regulatory initiatives at regional and national levels. This support to strengthen regulatory capacity will improve health security in Africa, including through the expansion of local manufacturing of quality, safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines, vaccines, and other health tools…
 
 
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.gatesmri.org/news
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 19 Feb 2022]
https://carb-x.org/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy – GE2P2 Global Foundation [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.net/
News/Analysis/Statements
:: Informed Consent: A Monthly Review – February 2022 is now posted here
:: Past weekly editions and posting of all segments of Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review are available here.
:: Statement on ICF [Informed Consent Form] Posting for Clinical Trials Involving Gene Editing/Gene Therapies – Invitation to Endorse
 
 
CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://cepi.net/
Latest News
CEPI, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the Munich Security Conference Convene Global Actors on Accelerating the Development of Vaccines against Future Pandemic Threats
18 Feb 2022
 
 
DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [U.S.] [to 19 Feb 2022
https://www.darpa.mil/news
News
2/16/2022
DARPA Program to Reduce Mosquito Attraction and Biting Moves into Second Phase
Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of diseases, and are responsible for the majority of insect bites worldwide. The insects are attracted to humans, in part, by chemicals emitted in human breath. It is the heat and volatile molecules from the human skin microbiome, however, that direct mosquitoes to specific feeding sites on the body. The ReVector program aims to precisely, safely, and efficiently reduce mosquito attraction and biting, and, subsequently, to help maintain the health of military personnel operating in disease-endemic regions. In its first phase, ReVector performers developed technologies to modify human skin microbes and modulate the volatiles that these microbiomes produce. The teams tested petri dish formulations of their modified microbe communities with three mosquito types to gauge changes in attraction.
 
 
Duke Global Health Innovation Center [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://dukeghic.org/
Our Blog
No new digest content identified.
 
 
EDCTP [to 19 Feb 2022]
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
News
17 February 2022
EDCTP joins Europe PubMed Central
EDCTP has become a member of Europe PMC (PubMed Central), an open science platform that maintains a worldwide collection of scientific articles and research outputs. Joining Europe PMC enables EDCTP-funded researchers to share their publications via one central location. Sharing publications by EuropePMC ensures that they will also satisfy the requirements for EDCTP-funded research projects: making publications openly accessible as soon as possible.
 
 
Emory Vaccine Center [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
Vaccine Center News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
European Vaccine Initiative [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/
Latest News, Events
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Evidence Aid [to 19 Feb 2022]
Evidence Aid aims to save lives and livelihoods in disasters by providing decision-makers with the best available evidence and by championing its use.
http://www.evidenceaid.org/
New Resources
Interleukin-1 blocking agents for treating COVID-19 (search done on 5 November 2021) Added February 17, 2022

 
 

Fear of needles: possible impact on delivery of vaccines and treatments Added February 15, 2022
 
 
Fondation Merieux [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Gavi [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.gavi.org/
News Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
GHIT Fund [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Global Fund [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness [GloPID-R] [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.glopid-r.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Hilleman Laboratories [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
News & Insights
HILLEMAN VACCINES & BIOLOGICS SYMPOSIUM – 23 February 2022
agenda
register
 
 
HHMI – Howard Hughes Medical Institute [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.hhmi.org/news
Press Room
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Human Vaccines Project [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/
News
Global COVID Lab Meeting
Feb 24, 2022
Salim Abdool Karim: Covid-19 in South Africa – an Update on Omicron
 
 
HVP COVID Report
Feb 18, 2022
Kristen Jill Abboud: How Many Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Are Enough?
 
 
IAVI [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.iavi.org/
Latest News
February 9, 2022
Meet the IAVI 2022 TB vaccine social media advocacy fellows
Using the power of social media to illuminate the urgent need for sustainable TB vaccine R&D

 
 

International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities [ICMRA]
http://www.icmra.info/drupal/en/news
Selected Statements, Press Releases, Research
No new digest content identified.

 
 

IFFIm
http://www.iffim.org/
Press Releases/Announcements
No new digest content identified.
 
 
IFRC [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
17/02/2022
Solomon Islands: Vaccines vital as COVID overloads Health system
Kuala Lumpur/Honiara/Suva, 17 February 2022 – Ramping up vaccinations is critical in the Solomon Islands as COVID-19 crashes across the country overloading the country’s fragile health system from the capital city Honiara to remote islands and villages.
Free of COVID-19 in the community one month ago, the Solomon Islands has reported nearly 5,000 infections and more than 50 deaths. Last week, authorities said one in every two people had COVID-19 symptoms, and testing was overwhelmed, indicating that many more people are sick with the virus…

Institut Pasteur [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
Press Documents
17.02.2022
Legionellosis: a novel mechanism by which the bacterium Legionella pneumophila regulates the immune response of its host cells

16.02.2022
SARS-CoV-2-related viruses capable of infecting human cells discovered in bats in northern Laos
 
 
IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases
News – Selected
News
18 Feb 2022
COVID-19 Immunization Campaign Targets Mobile Communities Along Gambia-Senegal Border: Over 1,500 Vaccinated

News
18 Feb 2022
IOM Concerned about Increasing Deaths on Greece-Turkey Border

News
17 Feb 2022
UN Secretary-General Launches Report on the Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

News
16 Feb 2022
IOM Issue Briefs Present a Way Forward on UN Secretary-General’s GCM Report Recommendations
 
 
ISC / International Science Council [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://council.science/current/
ISC is a non-governmental organization with a unique global membership that brings together 40 international scientific Unions and Associations and over 140 national and regional scientific organizations including Academies and Research Councils.
News Blogs Podcasts
Blogs
Strengthening emergency communications for complex, cascading and compounding events – lessons learned from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption and tsunami in Tonga
14.02.2022
 
 
IVAC [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates; Events
Dr. Rupali Limaye Appointed Deputy Director of IVAC
February 2022
The International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) is pleased to announce that Rupali Limaye, PhD, MPH, MA, been appointed as its new Deputy Director. Dr. Limaye joined IVAC in 2020 as the Director of Behavioral and Implementation Science and is a full-time faculty member in the Departments of International Health, Epidemiology, and Health, Behavior and Society […]
 
 
IVI [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.ivi.int/
IVI News & Announcements
IVI named operator of ‘2022 Global Bio-Intensive Training Courses’ by Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare
Institute to run training program on vaccines and biologics development and manufacturing and GxP for 450 trainees from LMICs and Korea
February 16, 2022
 
 
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/news/center-news/
Center News
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the Munich Security Conference Convene Global Actors on Accelerating the Development of Vaccines against Future Pandemic Threats
February 18, 2022
Today, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research convened 9 government officials and 9 technical experts for a tabletop exercise and roundtable discussion on greatly accelerating the development and equitable availability of vaccines against future pandemic threats.
The virtual event, Every Day Counts: A Pandemic Vaccine Exercise, was hosted within the framework of the German G7 Presidency and as an official side event of the 2022 Munich Security Conference. The meeting was a closed-door event for government officials and technical advisors…

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Hosts Southeast Asia Strategic Multilateral Biosecurity Dialogue to Explore Lessons from National Pandemic Responses
February 16, 2022
 
 
MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements]
Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
Protecting people with comorbidities with COVID-19 vaccinations in Khayelitsha
Press Release 17 Feb 2022
A new vaccination support approach has proven to protect people with comorbidities at higher risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms.
The targeted approach has seen a significant increase in vaccinations among the community in Khayelitsha.
MSF has recommended its vaccination support programme to the National Department of Health in order to protect more vulnerable people.
 
 
National Academy of Sciences – USA [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
Upcoming Meetings/Latest Updates
No new digest content identified.
 
 
NIH [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
News Releases
Scientists pinpoint mechanisms associated with severe COVID-19 blood clotting
February 17, 2022 — Researchers found circulating antiphospholipid antibodies, which can be more common among people with autoimmune disorders.

National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity to convene
February 16, 2022 — Meeting will take place on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. EST NIH Videocast

Researchers document third known case of HIV remission involving stem cell transplant
February 15, 2022 — Woman has remained without detectable HIV for 14 months.
 
 
OECD [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/publicationsdocuments/bydate/
Newsroom
No new digest content identified.
 
 
PATH [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Press Releases
Study confirms genetic stability of nOPV2
February 11, 2022 by PATH
nOPV2 is designed to hasten polio eradication
A new study published in npj Vaccines confirms that the novel oral polio vaccine against type 2 polio (nOPV2) is more stable against virulent mutations than the licensed oral polio vaccine against type 2 (OPV2). This is the first study that directly assesses shed nOPV2 virus against shed OPV2 virus in comparable groups. It adds to the evidence base that the attenuated nOPV2 vaccine is more resistant to reversion than OPV2.
“These findings represent a key milestone in the development of nOPV2,” says John Konz, nOPV project director at PATH, which serves as the convener of the nOPV development efforts. “They provide further proof that the designed modifications are working as intended, preventing the primary route by which the currently licensed OPV2 virus becomes more virulent.”..
 
 
Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
UNAIDS [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
18 February 2022
Stronger Africa–Europe partnerships key to advancing education and health rights of adolescent girls in Africa

18 February 2022
UNAIDS saddened by the death of Joe Muriuki

17 February 2022
UNAIDS saddened by the death of Leonora Mathe

15 February 2022
Investments in HIV, health and pandemics are vital for economic recovery in Africa

15 February 2022
Towards a life of dignity for people living with disabilities

14 February 2022
Parental consent laws leave adolescents vulnerable to HIV

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/media-centre.htmlS
Selected News Releases, Announcements
Thousands of Eritrean refugees displaced in clashes in Ethiopia’s Afar region
18 Feb 2022

 
 

UNHCR alarmed by rising violence against displaced civilians in eastern DR Congo
18 Feb 2022

 
 

UNHCR Deputy calls for enhanced access to education and livelihoods for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
18 Feb 2022
 
 
UNICEF [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Press Releases, News Notes, Statements [Selected]
Statement
02/17/2022
Children in eastern Ukraine must have access to safe education and childhood –UNICEF

Remarks
02/16/2022
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell’s remarks at the 2nd Global Disability Summit
As prepared for delivery

Remarks
02/16/2022
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell’s remarks at High-Level Briefing on the Secretary-General’s Report on the Global Compact for Migration
As prepared for delivery

Press release
02/15/2022
Urgent support needed for 1.4 million children likely to suffer from acute malnutrition in Somalia
Funding immediately needed to procure nutrition supplies and avert deaths

Unitaid [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://unitaid.org/
Featured News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
USAID [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/2021
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Announcements
News
USAID Supports Diaspora-Led Initiatives to Help Address Global Humanitarian Crises
February 17, 2022
Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it provided nearly $2.9 million in FY 2021 funding to support two projects that leverage the unique role of diaspora communities in responding and building resilience to the world’s largest humanitarian crises. During a time when humanitarian needs continue to grow globally, USAID recognizes the importance of supporting diaspora-led innovations that bring in new voices, skills, and abilities to save and improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people.

New Case Studies Show Significant Rise in Vaccination Rates in Sub-Saharan Africa Following U.S. Government’s Targeted ‘Global VAX’ Interventions
February 17, 2022
New case studies from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) show recent targeted efforts to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations in sub-Saharan Africa are making significant progress. In Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and Zambia, United States support contributed to a steady rise in vaccinations–with the most notable increase in Uganda, which in just 6 weeks experienced a 33 percent increase in first-dose shots among the eligible population.

USAID Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Faiths4Vaccines to promote a COVID-19 Year of Action
February 14, 2022
Today, Administrator Samantha Power signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Faiths4Vaccines, an inclusive, multifaith movement comprised of local and national religious leaders and medical professionals throughout the United States working together to identify and resolve current gaps in vaccine mobilization, outreach, uptake and ensure equitable distribution. The MOU launches a Year of Action working with civil society, including faith and community partners, on COVID-19 response efforts supported by USAID’s Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (FBNP) around the world.
 
 
Vaccine Equity Cooperative [nee Initiative] [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://vaccineequitycooperative.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Vaccination Acceptance & Demand Initiative [Sabin) [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.vaccineacceptance.org/
Announcements
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Vaccine Confidence Project [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
News, Research and Reports
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
Wellcome Trust [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News. Opinion, Reports
Explainer
From epidemics to eradication: how the world is ending polio
16 February 2022
 
 
The Wistar Institute [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News – Blog
No new digest content identified.
 
 
World Bank [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
Selected News, Announcements
Keynote Remarks by World Bank Group President David Malpass to the European Union-African Union Summit on Peace, Security and Governance
Thank you, Prime Minister Sanchez, and to the EU and AU for your continued efforts to promote stability and security. The outlook for people in developing countries around the world remains grim – with…
Date: February 17, 2022 Type: Speeches and Transcripts
 
 
World Customs Organization – WCO [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.wcoomd.org/
Latest News – Selected Items
15 February 2022
The HS 2022 version of the COVID-19 reference lists for medical supplies, priority medicines, vaccines and related equipment are now available!
The following lists are available on the COVID-19 dedicated webpage under WCO instruments and tools:
:: NEW! – INN List 124 COVID-19 (Special Edition)
:: NEW! – HS Classification reference for COVID-19 medical supplies 3.01 Edition (2 June 2020) [es] [ar] [pt] [ru]
:: NEW! – List of priority medicines for customs during COVID-19 pandemic [ar] [es] [pt] [ru]
The following list is available on the COVID-19 vaccines distribution webpage under WCO tools and guidance materials:
:: NEW – HS classification reference for vaccines and related supplies and equipment [ar] [es] [pt] [ru]
 
 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.oie.int/en/media/news/
Press Releases, Statements
No new digest content identified.
 
 
WTO – World Trade Organisation [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
WTO News and Events
WTO members look at how trade can help LDCs recover from COVID-19
16 February 2022
WTO members noted the sharp decline in least-developed countries’ (LDCs) participation in world trade since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at a meeting of the Sub-Committee on LDCs on 16 February. The chair, Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi (Finland), underlined the need for the international community to work together to promote trade opportunities in LDCs.

WTO, WHO, WIPO to hold workshop on access, use of pandemic-related information resources
14 February 2022
A virtual workshop jointly organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WTO on 28 February will provide an overview of particular COVID-19-related information resources.

The workshop aims to enhance understanding of the characteristics, potential uses and limitations of particular information sources related to COVID-19. A range of experts will discuss information resources containing the following types of data: epidemiological and other health-related issues; clinical trials; technological developments; intellectual property rights (IPRs); and manufacturing and distribution of and access to technologies. Experts will also look at vaccination, diagnostics, treatment rates and cross-border flows of technology.

The workshop responds to the needs of policymakers and other stakeholders working on health, intellectual property and trade issues related to the pandemic, and is specifically targeted at them. The aim of these workshops is to strengthen the capacity of policymakers and experts in members of the three organizations to address the pandemic accordingly. The first in the series of workshops was held on 27 September 2021.

The event is part of the existing collaboration framework between the three organizations, as first highlighted by their Directors-General on 15 June 2021. WIPO Director-General Daren Tang, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala agreed that the three agencies will collaborate on the organization of practical capacity-building workshops at the technical level to enhance the flow of updated information on current developments in the pandemic and responses to achieve equitable access to COVID-19 health technologies.
Registration for the workshop is required and is available here.
The programme of the workshop is available here.

 

::::::

ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://alliancerm.org/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
 
 
BIO [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases, Letters, Testimony, Comments [Selected]
BIO Encourages Science-based Oversight for Animal and Plant Biotech as Dr. Califf Takes Helm at FDA
February 15, 2022
The following statement may be attributed to BIO’s Vice President for Agriculture and Environment Sarah Gallo:  “BIO looks forward to working with a proven leader like Dr. Califf as he takes the helm at FDA. Dr. Califf will lead an agency that contributes to the oversight of animal and plant biotechnology and is indispensable for the safety of our food system…

New BIO Report Examines the State of Antibacterial Innovation
February 14, 2022
Current pipeline “insufficient” to meet the threat of AMR, policy reforms critically needed   The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today released a new report examining antibacterial innovation and the current pipeline for new…
 
 
DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News; Upcoming events
No new digest content identified.
 
 
ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://internationalbiotech.org/news/
News
Website in “maintenance mode”
 
 
IFPMA [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
No new digest content identified.

 
 

International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association [IGBA]
https://www.igbamedicines.org/
News
No new digest content identified.
 
 
International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations – IAPO [to 19 Feb 2022]
https://www.iapo.org.uk/news/topic/6
Press and media [Selected]
Metrodora Awards Nominations Start – Empower Women Leaders in Science & Medicine
Monday, 14 February 2022
We are delighted to announce the return of the Metrodora Awards, an initiative designed to recognise women leaders and innovators in science and medicine, following the success of the inaugural event in 2020. Women continue to play a leading role in driving scientific and medical breakthroughs…
 
 
PhRMA [to 19 Feb 2022]
http://www.phrma.org/
Latest News [Selected]
No new digest content identified.

Journal Watch

Journal Watch
Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review continues its weekly scanning of key peer-reviewed journals to identify and cite articles, commentary and editorials, books reviews and other content supporting our focu-s on vaccine ethics and policy. Journal Watch is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of themes and issues the Center is actively tracking. We selectively provide full text of some editorial and comment articles that are specifically relevant to our work. Successful access to some of the links provided may require subscription or other access arrangement unique to the publisher.
If you would like to suggest other journal titles to include in this service, please contact David Curry at: david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 106 (2022): Issue 2 (Feb 2022)
https://www.ajtmh.org/view/journals/tpmd/106/2/tpmd.106.issue-2.xml

 

Perspective Pieces
Resilient Clinical Trial Infrastructure in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned from the TOGETHER Randomized Platform Clinical Trial
Jamie I. Forrest, Angeli Rawat, Felipe Duailibe, Christina M. Guo, Sheila Sprague, Paula McKay, Gilmar Reis, and Edward J. Mills
Volume/Issue: Volume 106: Issue 2
Article Category: Perspective
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.21-1202

Immunogenicity of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine in Vietnamese Health-Care Workers

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 106 (2022): Issue 2 (Feb 2022)
https://www.ajtmh.org/view/journals/tpmd/106/2/tpmd.106.issue-2.xml

 

Articles
Immunogenicity of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine in Vietnamese Health-Care Workers
Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Lam Anh Nguyet, Nguyen Thanh Truong, Le Mau Toan, Nguyen Thanh Dung, Le Manh Hung, Mai Thanh Nhan, Dinh Nguyen Huy Man, Nghiem My Ngoc, Huynh Phuong Thao, Tran Nguyen Hoang Tu, Huynh Kim Mai, Do Thai Hung, Nguyen Thi Han Ny, Le Kim Thanh, Nguyen To Anh, Nguyen Thi Thu Hong, Le Nguyen Truc Nhu, Lam Minh Yen, Marc Choisy, Tran Tan Thanh, Guy Thwaites, Le Van Tan, and for the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit COVID-19 Research Group
Volume/Issue: Volume 106: Issue 2
Article Category: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.21-0849

Characteristics and Outcomes of Hospitalized Pregnant Women With Influenza, 2010 to 2019 – A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

Annals of Internal Medicine
February 2022 Volume 175, Issue 2
http://annals.org/aim/issue

 

Original Research
Characteristics and Outcomes of Hospitalized Pregnant Women With Influenza, 2010 to 2019 – A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Rachel Holstein, MPH, Fatimah S. Dawood, MD, Alissa O’Halloran, MSPH, Charisse Cummings, MPH, … et al.

Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Transplant Recipients After Two and Three Doses of mRNA-1273 Vaccine

Annals of Internal Medicine
February 2022 Volume 175, Issue 2
http://annals.org/aim/issue

 

Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Transplant Recipients After Two and Three Doses of mRNA-1273 VaccineSecondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial
FREE

 

Deepali Kumar, MD, Victor H. Ferreira, PhD, Victoria G. Hall, MBBS, Queenie Hu, PhD, … et al.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among different population groups in China: a national multicenter online survey

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 19 Feb 2022)

 

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among different population groups in China: a national multicenter online survey
COVID-19 vaccine has been available in China since the beginning of the 2021, however, certain numbers of people are reluctant for some reasons to vaccinate. The high vaccine coverage is crucial for controllin…
Authors: Yiman Huang, Xiaoyou Su, Weijun Xiao, Hao Wang, Mingyu Si, Wenjun Wang, Xiaofen Gu, Li Ma, Li Li, Shaokai Zhang, Chunxia Yang, Yanqin Yu and Youlin Qiao
Citation: BMC Infectious Diseases 2022 22:153
Content type: Research article
Published on: 14 February 2022

Mitigating the SARS-CoV-2 Delta disease burden in Australia by non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccinating children: a modelling analysis

BMC Medicine
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/content
(Accessed 19 Feb 2022)

 

Mitigating the SARS-CoV-2 Delta disease burden in Australia by non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccinating children: a modelling analysis
In countries with high COVID-19 vaccination rates the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant resulted in rapidly increasing case numbers. This study evaluated the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) coupled with …
Authors: George J. Milne, Julian Carrivick and David Whyatt
Citation: BMC Medicine 2022 20:80
Content type: Research article
Published on: 18 February 2022

Stakeholders’ hopes and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines in Southeastern Nigeria: a qualitative study

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 19 Feb 2022)

 

Stakeholders’ hopes and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines in Southeastern Nigeria: a qualitative study
Equitable access and high uptake of safe and effective vaccines is critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the success of these vaccines, particularly in many developing and under-developed parts o…
Authors: Uchechukwu Madukaku Chukwuocha, Chiagoziem Ogazirilem Emerole, Greg Ndubeze Iwuoha, Ugonma Winnie Dozie, Princewill Ugochukwu Njoku, Chidinma Onyebuchi Akanazu, Precious Okechukwu Eteike and Charlotte Hemingway
Citation: BMC Public Health 2022 22:330
Content type: Research
Published on: 16 February 2022

The lived experiences of a COVID-19 immunization programme: vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 19 Feb 2022)

 

The lived experiences of a COVID-19 immunization programme: vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global health emergency and lock-down measures to curb the uncontrolled transmission chain. Vaccination is an effective measure against COVID-19 infections. In Malaysia …
Authors: Nee Nee Chan, Khang Wei Ong, Ching Sin Siau, Kai Wei Lee, Suat Cheng Peh, Shakila Yacob, Yook Chin Chia, Vei Ken Seow and Pei Boon Ooi
Citation: BMC Public Health 2022 22:296
Content type: Research
Published on: 14 February 2022

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination elicits a robust and persistent T follicular helper cell response in humans

Cell
Feb 17, 2022 Volume 185 Issue 4 p579-746
https://www.cell.com/cell/current

 

Articles
SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination elicits a robust and persistent T follicular helper cell response in humans
Philip A. Mudd, et al.
Analysis of draining lymph nodes of individuals vaccinated with BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 identifies viral-spike-specific follicular helper CD4+ T cells that persist for months and contribute to long-term immunity.

From research ‘on’ to research ‘with’ children about their family lives: A scoping review of ethical and methodological challenges

Child Care, Health and Development
Volume 48, Issue 2, Pages: 177-357 March 2022
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/13652214/current

 

REVIEW ARTICLES
From research ‘on’ to research ‘with’ children about their family lives: A scoping review of ethical and methodological challenges
Anne-Catherine Dubois, Magali Lahaye, Isabelle Aujoulat
Pages: 203-216
First Published: 02 December 2021

Design and implementation of an international, multi-arm, multi-stage platform master protocol for trials of novel SARS-CoV-2 antiviral agents: Therapeutics for Inpatients with COVID-19 (TICO/ACTIV-3)

Clinical Trials

Volume 19 Issue 1, February 2022
https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/ctja/19/1

Design
Design and implementation of an international, multi-arm, multi-stage platform master protocol for trials of novel SARS-CoV-2 antiviral agents: Therapeutics for Inpatients with COVID-19 (TICO/ACTIV-3) Daniel D Murray, Abdel G Babiker, Jason V Baker, Christina E Barkauskas, Samuel M Brown, Christina C Chang, Victoria J Davey, Annetine C Gelijns, Adit A Ginde, Birgit Grund, Elizabeth Higgs, Fleur Hudson, Virginia L Kan, H Clifford Lane, Thomas A Murray, Roger Paredes, Mahesh KB Parmar, Sarah Pett, Andrew N Phillips, Mark N Polizzotto, Cavan Reilly, Uriel Sandkovsky, Shweta Sharma, Marc Teitelbaum, B Taylor Thompson, Barnaby E Young, James D Neaton, Jens D Lundgrenon behalf of the TICO Study Group
First Published October 10, 2021; pp. 52–61

Rapid research response to the COVID-19 pandemic: perspectives from a National Institute for Health Biomedical Research Centre

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 19 Feb 2022]

 

Rapid research response to the COVID-19 pandemic: perspectives from a National Institute for Health Biomedical Research Centre
With over 5 million COVID-19 deaths at the time of writing, the response of research leaders was and is critical to developing treatments to control the global pandemic. As clinical research leaders urgently r…
Authors: Lorna R. Henderson, Helen McShane and Vasiliki Kiparoglou
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems 2022 20:24
Content type: Commentary
Published on: 19 February 2022

Association Between 3 Doses of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine and Symptomatic Infection Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta Variants

JAMA
February 15, 2022, Vol 327, No. 7, Pages 605-693
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

Original Investigation
Association Between 3 Doses of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine and Symptomatic Infection Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta Variants
Emma K. Accorsi, PhD; Amadea Britton, MD; Katherine E. Fleming-Dutra, MD; et al.
free access has active quiz
JAMA. 2022;327(7):639-651. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.0470
This case-control study uses data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Increasing Community Access to Testing platform to estimate the association between receipt of 3 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 or Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine, compared with 2 doses or unvaccinated, and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, stratified by Omicron and Delta variant.

Comparison of mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 Vaccines on Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Hospitalizations, and Death During the Delta-Predominant Period

JAMA
February 15, 2022, Vol 327, No. 7, Pages 605-693
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

Research Letter
Comparison of mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 Vaccines on Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Hospitalizations, and Death During the Delta-Predominant Period
Lindsey Wang; Pamela B. Davis, MD, PhD; David C. Kaelber, MD, PhD, MPH; et al.
free access has active quiz
JAMA. 2022;327(7):678-680. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.0210
This study examines breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations, and mortality in March-August 2021, when the Delta variant predominated, among a general US cohort vaccinated with mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2.

COVID-19 Therapeutics for Nonhospitalized Patients

JAMA
February 15, 2022, Vol 327, No. 7, Pages 605-693
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/currentissue

 

Viewpoint
COVID-19 Therapeutics for Nonhospitalized Patients
Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD; Preeti N. Malani, MD, MSJ; Carlos del Rio, MD
JAMA. 2022;327(7):617-618. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.0335
This Viewpoint provides a summary of currently available therapeutics for nonhospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the setting of the Omicron variant including principles for equitable allocation.

Intellectual property rights trump the right to health: Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime and TRIPs flexibilities in the context of Bolivia’s quest for vaccines

Journal of Global Ethics
Volume 17, Issue 3, 2021
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rjge20/current

 

Article
Intellectual property rights trump the right to health: Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime and TRIPs flexibilities in the context of Bolivia’s quest for vaccines
James Crombie
Pages: 353-366
Published online: 16 Dec 2021

Describing the Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria: An Analysis of the First Year of the Pandemic

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved (JHCPU)
Volume 33, Number 1, February 2022
https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/47329

 

Table of Contents
Original Papers
Describing the Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria: An Analysis of the First Year of the Pandemic
Obinna Oleribe, Olatayo Olawepo, Oliver Ezechi, Princess Osita-Oleribe, Michael Fertleman, Simon D. Taylor-Robinson
pp. 33-46
DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2022.0005

Parents’ Behaviors and Experiences Associated with Four Vaccination Behavior Groups for Childhood Vaccine Hesitancy

Maternal and Child Health Journal
Volume 26, issue 2, February 2022
https://link.springer.com/journal/10995/volumes-and-issues/26-2

 

Articles
Parents’ Behaviors and Experiences Associated with Four Vaccination Behavior Groups for Childhood Vaccine Hesitancy
Morgan E. Ellithorpe, Robyn Adams, Fashina Aladé
Content type: OriginalPaper
Published: 07 January 2022
Pages: 280 – 288

Pandemics disable people — the history lesson that policymakers ignore

Nature
Volume 602 Issue 7897, 17 February 2022
https://www.nature.com/nature/volumes/602/issues/7897

 

Comment | 16 February 2022
Pandemics disable people — the history lesson that policymakers ignore
Influenza, polio and more have shown that infections can change lives even decades later. Why the complacency over possible long-term effects of COVID-19?
Laura Spinney

Recent Orange and Purple Book legislation suggests a need to bridge drug and biologic patent regimes

Nature Biotechnology
Volume 40 Issue 2, February 2022
https://www.nature.com/nbt/volumes/40/issues/2

 

Patents | 15 February 2022
Recent Orange and Purple Book legislation suggests a need to bridge drug and biologic patent regimes
Additional changes could make the registries of drug patents published by the FDA, called the Orange and Purple Books, more useful and reduce barriers to effective competition from generic and biosimilar drugs.
Bryan S. Walsh, Jonathan J. Darrow, Aaron S. Kesselheim

Evaluating stability of attenuated Sabin and two novel type 2 oral poliovirus vaccines in children

njp Vaccines
https://www.nature.com/npjvaccines/
[Accessed 19 Feb 2022]

 

7, Article number: 19 (2022]
Open access
Evaluating stability of attenuated Sabin and two novel type 2 oral poliovirus vaccines in children
Rahnuma Wahid. Laina Mercer, John O. Konz
Abstract
Novel oral poliovirus vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) is being developed to reduce the rare occurrence of disease and outbreaks associated with the genetic instability of the Sabin vaccine strains. Children aged 1 to 5 years were enrolled in two related clinical studies to assess safety, immunogenicity, shedding rates and properties of the shed virus following vaccination with nOPV2 (two candidates) versus traditional Sabin OPV type 2 (mOPV2). The anticipated pattern of reversion and increased virulence was observed for shed Sabin-2 virus, as assessed using a mouse model of poliovirus neurovirulence. In contrast, there were significantly reduced odds of mouse paralysis for shed virus for both nOPV2 candidates when compared to shed Sabin-2 virus. Next-generation sequencing of shed viral genomes was consistent with and further supportive of the observed neurovirulence associated with shed Sabin-2 virus, as well as the reduced reversion to virulence of shed candidate viruses. While shed Sabin-2 showed anticipated A481G reversion in the primary attenuation site in domain V in the 5’ untranslated region to be associated with increased mouse paralysis, the stabilized domain V in the candidate viruses did not show polymorphisms consistent with reversion to neurovirulence. The available data from a key target age group for outbreak response confirm the superior genetic and phenotypic stability of shed nOPV2 strains compared to shed Sabin-2 and suggest that nOPV2 should be associated with less paralytic disease and potentially a lower risk of seeding new outbreaks.

Media attention and Vaccine Hesitancy: Examining the mediating effects of Fear of COVID-19 and the moderating role of Trust in leadership

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 19 Feb 2022]

 

Research Article
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

Infection and vaccination status of COVID-19 among healthcare professionals in academic platform: Prevision vs. reality of Bangladesh context

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 19 Feb 2022]

 

Infection and vaccination status of COVID-19 among healthcare professionals in academic platform: Prevision vs. reality of Bangladesh context
Bilkis Banu, Nasrin Akter, Sujana Haque Chowdhury, Kazi Rakibul Islam, Md. Tanzeerul Islam, Sarder Mahmud Hossain
Research Article | published 18 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263078

Hepatitis vaccination adherence and completion rates and factors associated with low compliance: A claims-based analysis of U.S. adults

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 19 Feb 2022]

 

Hepatitis vaccination adherence and completion rates and factors associated with low compliance: A claims-based analysis of U.S. adults
Joyce LaMori, Xue Feng, Christopher D. Pericone, Marco Mesa-Frias, Obiageli Sogbetun, Andrzej Kulczycki
Research Article | published 17 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264062

Determinants of vaccine coverage and timeliness in a northern Pakistani village

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 19 Feb 2022]

 

Determinants of vaccine coverage and timeliness in a northern Pakistani village
Alexandra F. Jamison, Benjamin J. J. McCormick, Ejaz Hussain, Elizabeth D. Thomas, Syed Iqbal Azam, Chelsea L. Hansen, Zeba A. Rasmussen
Research Article | published 17 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263712

To vax or not to vax: Predictors of anti-vax attitudes and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy prior to widespread vaccine availability

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 19 Feb 2022]

 

To vax or not to vax: Predictors of anti-vax attitudes and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy prior to widespread vaccine availability
Hannah A. Roberts, D. Angus Clark, Claire Kalina, Carter Sherman, Sarah Brislin, Mary M. Heitzeg, Brian M. Hicks
Research Article | published 15 Feb 2022 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264019

Global systemic risk and resilience for novel coronavirus in postpandemic era

Risk Analysis
Volume 42, Issue 1 January 2022
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15396924/current

 

Special Issue: Global Systemic Risk and Resilience for Novel Coronavirus in Post‐Pandemic Era
EDITORIAL
Free Access
Global systemic risk and resilience for novel coronavirus in postpandemic era
Desheng Dash Wu, Jade Mitchell, James H. Lambert
Pages: 1-4
First Published: 12 February 2022

Empower with evidence

Science
Volume 375| Issue 6582| 18 Feb 2022
https://www.science.org/toc/science/current

 

Editorial
Empower with evidence
Susan G. Amara
[Excerpt]
This week (17 to 20 February), the virtual annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, the publisher of Science) will address the challenges of building the public’s trust and understanding of science by illuminating both great science and innovative initiatives in advocacy, education, and policy. The theme, “Empower with Evidence,” speaks to the critical importance of decision-making, policy-making, and interventions that are grounded in knowledge and facts, not opinions—or worse, misinformation.
The ability of science to transform the world is increasingly threatened by misinformation that is jeopardizing trust in science. As highlighted in Science last week, the world’s information ecosystem is rapidly changing, and online environments have become a powerful open marketplace of facts, ideas, and opinions—where the meaningfulness of science is easily drowned out by the noise.
Solutions to this dilemma include training students and professional scientists to more effectively translate their work to the public, harnessing insights from the behavioral and social sciences to better engage with the public, and working with social media platforms to improve information delivery to a broader audience. These are important efforts, but do they get to the root of the problem?…

Sovereignty, sanctions, and data sharing under international law

Science
Volume 375| Issue 6582| 18 Feb 2022
https://www.science.org/toc/science/current

 

Policy Forum
Sovereignty, sanctions, and data sharing under international law
BY Michelle Rourke, Mark Eccleston-Turner, Stephanie Switzer
17 Feb 2022: 724-726
Pathogen samples and scientific data are bargaining chips in a global argument about who gets what in a pandemic
Abstract
In September 2021, after inaugurating the Berlin-based World Health Organization (WHO) Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, German Health Minister Jens Spahn indicated that sanctions might be an appropriate tool to deal with WHO member states that do not cooperate on data sharing during disease outbreaks. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, affirmed this, stating that “exploring the [idea of ] sanctions may be important” in cases where collaboration fails (1). Such comments indicate that the WHO Hub has been designed without much consideration of data sovereignty and “access and benefit sharing” (ABS) debates occurring across multiple United Nations (UN) bodies, including the WHO. Threats of sanctions do little to promote the ideals of equity and solidarity often touted as foundational to global health governance. They entrench the idea that pathogen samples and associated data are “bargaining chips” rather than vital inputs to public health research and pandemic response.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric and adolescent vaccinations and well child visits in the United States: A database analysis

Vaccine
Volume 40, Issue 5 Pages 691-832 (31 January 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/40/issue/5

 

Research article Open access
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric and adolescent vaccinations and well child visits in the United States: A database analysis
Stephanie A. Kujawski, Lixia Yao, H. Echo Wang, Cristina Carias, Ya-Ting Chen
Pages 706-713