International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
Vol 8, No 9 (2021) September 2021
https://www.ijcmph.com/index.php/ijcmph/issue/view/80
Original Research Articles
Programmatic evaluation of a school-based typhoid vaccination campaign: findings of qualitative research
Farhana Tabassum, Shanila Nooruddin, Atif Habib, Noshad Ali, Imtiaz Hussain, Alfred Pach, Zahid Memon, Sajid Soofi, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
DOI: 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20213526
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
Vol 8, No 9 (2021) September 2021
https://www.ijcmph.com/index.php/ijcmph/issue/view/80
Knowledge and perceptions towards candidate COVID-19 vaccines among practicing physicians of Tamil Nadu: a cross-sectional pilot study
K. R. S. Sivapriya, A. Keerthana, Balaji Arumugam, R. Nivetha
DOI: 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20213548
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
August 2021 Volume 109 p1-324
https://www.ijidonline.com/current
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Collection
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Health Care Workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Jad A. Elharake, Bayan Galal, Saleh A. Alqahtani,…Kaveh Khoshnood, Saad B. Omer, Ziad A. Memish
Published online: July 06, 2021
p286-293
JAMA Network
COVID-19 Update September 4, 2021
These articles on COVID-19 were published across the JAMA Network in the last week.
Journal of Adolescent Health
October 2021 Volume 69 Issue 4 p533-682
https://www.jahonline.org/current
Original Articles
Centralized Reminder/Recall for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Findings From Two States—A Randomized Clinical Trial
Dennis Gurfinkel, Allison Kempe, Christina Albertin,…Heather Roth, Shivani Arora, Peter Szilagyi
Published online: April 09, 2021
p579-587
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved (JHCPU)
Volume 32, Number 2, May 2021 Supplement
https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/44396
Table of Contents
Overview of the Issue
Kevin B. Johnson, Tiffani J. Bright, Cheryl R. Clark
…The importance of techquity—defined as the strategic development and deployment of technology in health care and health to advance health equity—was even more apparent after the events of 2020. COVID-19 upended access to care and illuminated the impact of structural racism as a cause for a widening gap of access during the pandemic. Black Lives Matter became more than a trending hashtag on Twitter, or a movement resulting in peaceful protests and calls for policy reform: it put additional focus on the issue of race as a social and not a biological construct and called into question the rationale for common practices in health care that were triggered by race. A notable example was the emerging realization that kidney function assessment was tied to race and hardwired into many of our electronic health records. The real-world evidence around our lack of techquity was incontrovertible.
This Supplemental Issue of JHCPU provides articles that describe challenges to techquity, frameworks to improve the role of technology in care, and examples of how technology can transform health, public health, and health care…
Journal of Medical Ethics
September 2021 – Volume 47 – 9
http://jme.bmj.com/content/current
Extended essays
Justice in COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation: rethinking the approach (9 June, 2021) Free
Rosamond Rhodes
Abstract
Policies for the allocation of COVID-19 vaccine were implemented in early 2021 as soon as vaccine became available. Those responsible for the planning and execution of COVID-19 vaccination had to make choices about who received vaccination first while numerous authors offered their own recommendations. This paper provides an account of how such decisions should be made by focusing on the specifics of the situation at hand. In that light, I offer an argument for prioritising those who are likely vectors of the disease and a criticism of the victim-focused priority proposals put forward by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the UK National Health Service, and others. I also offer thoughts on how those authors may have gone astray.
Journal of the Royal Society – Interface
September 2021 Volume 18 Issue 182
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rsif/current
Research articles
Comparison between one and two dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine prioritization for a fixed number of vaccine doses
Edward M. Hill and Matt J. Keeling
Published:01 September 2021Article ID:20210214
The swift development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has been met with worldwide commendation. However, in the context of an ongoing pandemic there is an interplay between infection and vaccination. While infection can grow exponentially, vaccination rates are …
The Lancet
Sep 04, 2021 Volume 398 Number 10303 p817-930, e12-e13
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current
Comment
Optimising SARS-CoV-2 vaccination schedules
Cristobal Belda-Iniesta
… In summary, the question to be answered is whether the data published by Liu and colleagues, in combination with those previously published by Borobia and colleagues,3 are enough evidence to initiate the modification of vaccination schedules. Alternatively, large academic phase 3 clinical trials could explore the protection against severe disease, intensive care unit admission, and SARS-CoV-2 mortality using heterologous schedules, but the time and effort that this work would entail should be carefully balanced against the potential benefits.
The Lancet
Sep 04, 2021 Volume 398 Number 10303 p817-930, e12-e13
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current
Articles
Safety and immunogenicity of heterologous versus homologous prime-boost schedules with an adenoviral vectored and mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Com-COV): a single-blind, randomised, non-inferiority trial
Xinxue Liu, et al. with the Com-COV Study Group
Nature Human Behaviour
Volume 5 Issue 8, August 2021
https://www.nature.com/nathumbehav/volumes/5/issues/8
Article | 22 June 2021 | Open Access
Despite vaccination, China needs non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent widespread outbreaks of COVID-19 in 2021
Using data-driven epidemiological modelling, Yu et al. estimate that, even with increasing vaccine availability, China will have to maintain stringent non-pharmaceutical interventions for at least a year to prevent new widespread outbreaks of COVID-19.
Juan Yang, Valentina Marziano, Hongjie Yu
New England Journal of Medicine
September 2, 2021 Vol. 385 No. 10
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal
Perspective
Fundamentals of Public Health: Population Health and Human Rights J. Frenk and O. Gómez-Dantés
The way a society protects and promotes human rights shapes public policies, determines the distribution of resources and access to services, and ultimately affects population health. Scholarship and action on human rights have been foundational to the public health field.
New England Journal of Medicine
September 2, 2021 Vol. 385 No. 10
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal
Original Articles
Effectiveness of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Chile A. Jara and Others
Mass vaccination campaigns to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are occurring in many countries; estimates of vaccine effectiveness are urgently needed to support decision making. A countrywide mass vaccination campaign with the use of an inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine (CoronaVac) was conducted in Chile starting on February 2, 2021
New England Journal of Medicine
September 2, 2021 Vol. 385 No. 10
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal
Editorials
Effectiveness of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine A. Wilder-Smith and K. Mulholland
Pediatrics
Vol. 148, Issue 3 1 Sep 2021
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/
Articles
Maternal Vaccination and Infant Influenza and Pertussis
Stacey L. Rowe, Karin Leder, Kirsten P. Perrett, Nicole Romero, Terry M. Nolan, Nicola Stephens, Benjamin C. Cowie, Allen C. Cheng
Pediatrics, Sep 2021, 148 (3) e2021051076
PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 04 Sep 2021)
Building global health research capacity to address research imperatives following the COVID-19 pandemic
Peter H. Kilmarx, Roger I. Glass
Perspective | published 31 Aug 2021 PLOS Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003753
PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 04 Sep 2021]
Health care workers intention to accept COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors in southwestern Ethiopia, 2021
Abiy Tadesse Angelo, Daniel Shiferaw Alemayehu, Aklilu Mamo Dachew
Research Article | published 03 Sep 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257109
PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 04 Sep 2021]
Effective vaccine allocation strategies, balancing economy with infection control against COVID-19 in Japan
Satoshi Sunohara, Toshiaki Asakura, Takashi Kimura, Shun Ozawa, Satoshi Oshima, Daigo Yamauchi, Akiko Tamakoshi
Research Article | published 02 Sep 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257107
Science Translational Medicine
Volume 13| Issue 609| 1 Sep 2021
https://www.science.org/toc/stm/current
Reports
Two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine enhance antibody responses to variants in individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection
Richard A. Urbanowicz et al.
05 Aug 2021
Open Access
Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants increase after two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine in both previously infected and naïve individuals.
Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 34 Pages 4759-4920 (9 August 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/34
Conference info Abstract only
Implementation strategies for the first licensed dengue vaccine: A meeting report
Noah Fongwen, Isabelle Delrieu, Leong Hoe Ham, Duane J. Gubler, … Annelies Wilder-Smith
Pages 4759-4765
Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 34 Pages 4759-4920 (9 August 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/34
Discussion Full text access
Marketing the COVID-19 vaccine and the implications for public health
Emmanuel Mogaji
Pages 4766-4768
Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 34 Pages 4759-4920 (9 August 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/34
Discussion Full text access
COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in middle-income countries: Lessons learned from the Jordan experience
Ala’a Al-Shaikh, Nazeema Muthu, Chinara Aidyralieva, Maria Cristina Profili, Saverio Bellizzi
Pages 4769-4771
Vaccine
Volume 39, Issue 34 Pages 4759-4920 (9 August 2021)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine/vol/39/issue/34
Research article Open access
Reasons why children miss vaccinations in Western Kenya; A step in a five-point plan to improve routine immunization
Mary Agócs, Amina Ismail, Kenneth Kamande, Collins Tabu, … Karen Hennessey
Pages 4895-4902
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…
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/about-medrxiv
[Accessed 04 Sep 2021]
Selected Content
Characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among adults in England (08 December to 17 May 2021)
Elise Tessier, Yuma Rai, Eleanor Clarke, Anissa Lakhani, Camille Tsang, Ashley Makwana, Heather Heard, Tim Rickeard, Shreya Lakhani, Partho Roy, Michael Edelstein, Mary Ramsay, Jamie Lopez Bernal, Joanne White, Nick Andrews, Colin Campbell, Julia Stowe
medRxiv 2021.08.27.21262422; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.27.21262422
The impact of mental health and substance use issues on COVID-19 vaccine readiness: a cross sectional community-based survey in Ontario, Canada
Kamna Mehra, Roula Markoulakis, Sugy Kodeeswaran, Donald Redelmeier, Mark Sinyor, James MacKillop, Amy Cheung, Emily E Levitt, Tracey Addison, Anthony J Levitt
medRxiv 2021.08.30.21262844; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.30.21262844
Projected resurgence of COVID-19 in the United States in July—December 2021 resulting from the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant and faltering vaccination
Shaun Truelove, Claire P. Smith, Michelle Qin, Luke C. Mullany, Rebecca K. Borchering, Justin Lessler, Katriona Shea, Emily Howerton, Lucie Contamin, John Levander, Jessica Salerno, Harry Hochheiser, Matt Kinsey, Kate Tallaksen, Shelby Wilson, Lauren Shin, Kaitlin Rainwater-Lovett, Joseph C. Lemaitre, Juan Dent, Joshua Kaminsky, Elizabeth C. Lee, Javier Perez-Saez, Alison Hill, Dean Karlen, Matteo Chinazzi, Jessica T. Davis, Kunpeng Mu, Xinyue Xiong, Ana Pastore y Piontti, Alessandro Vespignani, Ajitesh Srivastava, Przemyslaw Porebski, Srinivasan Venkatramanan, Aniruddha Adiga, Bryan Lewis, Brian Klahn, Joseph Outten, James Schlitt, Patrick Corbett, Pyrros Alexander Telionis, Lijing Wang, Akhil Sai Peddireddy, Benjamin Hurt, Jiangzhuo Chen, Anil Vullikanti, Madhav Marathe, Stefan Hoops, Parantapa Bhattacharya, Dustin Machi, Shi Chen, Rajib Paul, Daniel Janies, Jean-Claude Thill, Marta Galanti, Teresa Yamana, Sen Pei, Jeffrey Shaman, Nicholas G. Reich, Jessica M. Healy, Rachel B. Slayton, Matthew Biggerstaff, Michael A. Johansson, Michael C. Runge, Cécile Viboud
medRxiv 2021.08.28.21262748; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.28.21262748
Psychological antecedents towards COVID-19 vaccination using the Arabic 5C validated tool: An online study in 13 Arab countries
Marwa Shawky Abdou, Khalid A. Kheirallah, Maged Ossama Aly, Ahmed Ramadan, Yasir Ahmed Mohammed Elhadi, Iffat Elbarazi, Ehsan Akram Deghidy, Haider M. El Saeh, Karem Mohamed Salem, Ramy Mohamed Ghazy
medRxiv 2021.08.31.21262917; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.31.21262917
BNT162b2 vaccine booster dose protection: A nationwide study from Israel
Yinon M. Bar-On, Yair Goldberg, Micha Mandel, Omri Bodenheimer, Laurence Freedman, Nir Kalkstein, Barak Mizrahi, Sharon Alroy-Preis, Nachman Ash, Ron Milo, Amit Huppert
medRxiv 2021.08.27.21262679; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.27.21262679
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Algerian medical students: a cross-sectional study in five universities
Mohamed Amine Kerdoun, Abdellah Hamza Henni, Assia Yamoun, Amine Rahmani, Rym Messaouda Kerdoun, Nazia Elouar
medRxiv 2021.08.29.21261803; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.29.21261803
COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among vaccinated and unvaccinated adults ≥18 years – COVID-NET, 13 states, January 1 – July 24, 2021
Fiona P. Havers, Huong Pham, Christopher A. Taylor, Michael Whitaker, Kadam Patel, Onika Anglin, Anita K. Kambhampati, Jennifer Milucky, Elizabeth Zell, Shua J. Chai, Pam Daily Kirley, Nisha B. Alden, Isaac Armistead, Kimberly Yousey-Hindes, James Meek, Kyle P. Openo, Evan J. Anderson, Libby Reeg, Alexander Kohrman, Ruth Lynfield, Kathryn Como-Sabetti, Elizabeth M. Davis, Cory Cline, Alison Muse, Grant Barney, Sophrena Bushey, Christina B. Felsen, Laurie M. Billing, Eli Shiltz, Melissa Sutton, Nasreen Abdullah, H. Keipp Talbot, William Schaffner, Mary Hill, Andrea George, Bhavini Patel Murthy, Meredith McMorrow
medRxiv 2021.08.27.21262356; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.27.21262356
Think Tanks et al
Brookings [to 04 Sep 2021]
http://www.brookings.edu/
Upcoming Event
Accelerating COVID-19 vaccinations in Africa
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT Sep 15
Center for Global Development [to 04 Sep 2021]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Accessed 04 Sep 2021
[No new digest content identified]
Chatham House [to 04 Sep 2021]
https://www.chathamhouse.org/
Accessed 04 Sep 2021
[No new digest content identified]
CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 04 Sep 2021
Podcast Episode
Larry Gostin – “Mandates May Be The Only Way Out of This”
September 2, 2021 | By J. Stephen Morrison, H. Andrew Schwartz
Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org/search/?post_type=press-release
August 27, 2021 News Release
[No new digest content identified]
Urban Institute [to 04 Sep 2021]
https://www.urban.org/publications
Publications
[No new digest content identified]
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.
.
– 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.
.
David R. Curry, MS
Executive Director
Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
COVID
Editor’s Note:
As is obvious to all, the sheer volume of strategic announcements, regulatory actions, country program decisions, commentary, and, indeed, misinformation around COVID response continues at extraordinary levels. Our weekly digest strives to present a coherent and comprehensive snapshot, but cannot be exhaustive, If you recognize a missed strategic development, a new source of rigorous analysis, or an insight/commentary that would benefit our common understanding, please advise me…we will review all suggestions and consider for inclusion in a subsequent edition: david.r.curry@ge2p2global.org
We are seeking access to modelling which engages scenarios and articulates imperatives around a pandemic end-game through at least a 2025 horizon. We assess that WHO must be conducting or contracting for such modeling – or should recognize an imperative to be doing so in its global health governance role. If we have missed such modeling in progress, we would be delighted to be advised of it and will include it in our coverage.
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
Joint Statement of the Multilateral Leaders Taskforce on Scaling COVID-19 Tools
A Crisis of Vaccine Inequity [Editor’s text bolding]
WASHINGTON, 27 August 2021—At its third meeting, the Multilateral Leaders Taskforce on COVID-19 (MLT) – the heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization -met with the leaders of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), Africa CDC, Gavi and UNICEF to tackle obstacles to rapidly scale-up vaccines in low- and lower middle-income countries, particularly in Africa, and issued the following statement:
“The global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is progressing at two alarmingly different speeds. Less than 2% of adults are fully vaccinated in most low-income countries compared to almost 50% in highincome countries.
These countries, the majority of which are in Africa, simply cannot access sufficient vaccine to meet even the global goals of 10% coverage in all countries by September and 40% by end 2021, let alone the African Union’s goal of 70% in 2022.
This crisis of vaccine inequity is driving a dangerous divergence in COVID-19 survival rates and in the global economy. We appreciate the important work of AVAT and COVAX to try and address this unacceptable situation.
However, effectively tackling this acute vaccine supply shortage in low- and lower middle-income countries, and fully enabling AVAT and COVAX, requires the urgent cooperation of vaccine manufacturers, vaccine-producing countries, and countries that have already achieved high vaccination rates.
To ensure all countries achieve the global goals of at least 10% coverage by September and 40% by end-2021:
We call on countries that have contracted high volumes of vaccines to swap near-term delivery schedules with COVAX and AVAT.
We call on vaccine manufacturers to immediately prioritize and fulfill their contracts to COVAX and AVAT, and to provide regular, clear supply forecasts.
We urge G7 and all dose-sharing countries to fulfill their pledges urgently, with enhanced pipeline visibility, product shelf life and support for ancillary supplies, as barely 10% of nearly 900 million committed doses have so far been shipped.
We call on all countries to eliminate export restrictions and any other trade barriers on COVID-19 vaccines and the inputs involved in their production.
We are in parallel intensifying our work with COVAX and AVAT to tackle persistent vaccine delivery, manufacturing and trade issues, notably in Africa, and mobilize grants and concessional financing for these purposes. We will also explore financing mechanisms to cover future vaccine needs as requested by AVAT. We will advocate for better supply forecasts and investments to increase country preparedness and absorptive capacity. And we will continue to enhance our data, to identify gaps and improve transparency in the supply and use of all COVID-19 tools.
The time for action is now. The course of the pandemic—and the health of the world—are at stake.”
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
COVID Origin[s]
Editor’s Note:
We include the full text of the U.S. Intelligence Community Assessment, the associated White House statement, and the response by the Chinese Embassy in Washington. We assess that successful completion of a robust and transparent investigation of COVID-19 origins is critical to effective and coherent global response to the current pandemic as well as the effective functioning of the IHR for future pandemics, PHEICs, and health emergencies generally.
Unclassified Summary of Assessment on COVID-19 Origins :: Intelligence Community Assessment [USA]
August 27, 2021
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) today released an unclassified summary of the Intelligence Community assessment on COVID-19 origins:
UNCLASSIFIED
Key Takeaways [Editor’s text bolding]
The IC assesses that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, probably emerged and
infected humans through an initial small-scale exposure that occurred no later than November
2019 with the first known cluster of COVID-19 cases arising in Wuhan, China in December
2019. In addition, the IC was able to reach broad agreement on several other key issues. We
judge the virus was not developed as a biological weapon. Most agencies also assess with low confidence that SARS-CoV-2 probably was not genetically engineered; however, two agencies believe there was not sufficient evidence to make an assessment either way. Finally, the IC assesses China’s officials did not have foreknowledge of the virus before the initial outbreak of COVID-19 emerged.
After examining all available intelligence reporting and other information, though, the IC
remains divided on the most likely origin of COVID-19. All agencies assess that two hypotheses
are plausible: natural exposure to an infected animal and a laboratory-associated incident.
:: Four IC elements and the National Intelligence Council assess with low confidence that the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection was most likely caused by natural exposure to an animal infected with it or a close progenitor virus—a virus that probably would be more than 99 percent similar to SARS-CoV-2. These analysts give weight to China’s officials’ lack of foreknowledge, the numerous vectors for natural exposure, and other factors.
:: One IC element assesses with moderate confidence that the first human infection with SARS-CoV-2 most likely was the result of a laboratory-associated incident, probably involving experimentation, animal handling, or sampling by the Wuhan Institute of Virology. These analysts give weight to the inherently risky nature of work on coronaviruses.
:: Analysts at three IC elements remain unable to coalesce around either explanation without additional information, with some analysts favoring natural origin, others a laboratory origin, and some seeing the hypotheses as equally likely.
:: Variations in analytic views largely stem from differences in how agencies weigh intelligence reporting and scientific publications, and intelligence and scientific gaps.
The IC judges they will be unable to provide a more definitive explanation for the origin of
COVID-19 unless new information allows them to determine the specific pathway for initial
natural contact with an animal or to determine that a laboratory in Wuhan was handling SARS-
CoV-2 or a close progenitor virus before COVID-19 emerged.
:: The IC—and the global scientific community—lacks clinical samples or a complete
understanding of epidemiological data from the earliest COVID-19 cases. If we
obtain information on the earliest cases that identified a location of interest or
occupational exposure, it may alter our evaluation of hypotheses.
China’s cooperation most likely would be needed to reach a conclusive assessment of the origins of COVID-19. Beijing, however, continues to hinder the global investigation, resist sharing information and blame other countries, including the United States. These actions reflect, in part, China’s government’s own uncertainty about where an investigation could lead as well as its frustration the international community is using the issue to exert political pressure on China.
::::::
Statement by President Joe Biden on the Investigation into the Origins of COVID-19
August 27, 2021 :: Statements and Releases
This week, I received the report on the 90-day sprint I asked our intelligence community to conduct into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am grateful for the thorough, careful, and objective work of our intelligence professionals, and while this review has concluded, our efforts to understand the origins of this pandemic will not rest. We will do everything we can to trace the roots of this outbreak that has caused so much pain and death around the world, so that we can take every necessary precaution to prevent it from happening again.
Critical information about the origins of this pandemic exists in the People’s Republic of China, yet from the beginning, government officials in China have worked to prevent international investigators and members of the global public health community from accessing it. To this day, the PRC continues to reject calls for transparency and withhold information, even as the toll of this pandemic continue to rise. We needed this information rapidly, from the PRC, while the pandemic was still new. Since taking office, my administration has renewed U.S. leadership in the World Health Organization and rallied allies and partners to renew focus on this critical question. The world deserves answers, and I will not rest until we get them. Responsible nations do not shirk these kinds of responsibilities to the rest of the world. Pandemics do not respect international borders, and we all must better understand how COVID-19 came to be in order to prevent further pandemics.
The United States will continue working with like-minded partners around the world to press the PRC to fully share information and to cooperate with the World Health Organization’s Phase II evidence-based, expert-led determination into the origins of COVID-19 – including by providing access to all relevant data and evidence. We will also continue to press the PRC to adhere to scientific norms and standards, including sharing information and data from the earliest days of the pandemic, protocols related to biosafety, and information from animal populations. We must have a full and transparent accounting of this global tragedy. Nothing less is acceptable.
::::::
Statement by the Chinese Embassy in the United States on the “COVID-19 Origin-Tracing” Report of the U.S. Side
2021/08/27
On August 27, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence of the United States released a summary of the intelligence community assessment on COVID-19 origins, which does not rule out either natural exposure or laboratory accident as the origin of SARS-CoV-2. The report wrongly claims that China “continues to hinder the global investigation, resist sharing information and blame other countries”. The statement by the White House issued on the same day also purported that China tries to hold back international investigation and rejects calls for transparency. It urges like-minded partners to exert pressure on China. The Chinese side expresses its firm opposition and strong condemnation to this.
First, a report fabricated by the U.S. intelligence community is not scientifically credible. The origin-tracing is a matter of science; it should and can only be left to scientists, not intelligence experts. There has been no lack of “masterpieces” by the U.S. intelligence community, such as using a tube of laundry powder to convict Iraq of possessing weapons of mass destruction, or staging the “white helmets” video as evidence for chemical weapon attack in Syria. Now, the US side is using its old trick again. Ignoring the Report by the WHO-China joint mission, it chooses to have its intelligence community put together a report instead. How can this possibly be science-based and reliable origin-tracing?
Second, the assertion of lack of transparency on the part of China is only an excuse for its politicizing and stigmatizing campaign. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has taken an open, transparent and responsible attitude. We have released information, shared the genome sequencing of the virus, and carried out international cooperation to fight the disease, all done at the earliest possible time. On December 27, 2019, Wuhan authorities made the first reporting of suspected cases. On December 30, emergency notices were issued on the treatment of pneumonia of unknown cause. On December 31, China informed the WHO China Country Office of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan. On January 3, 2020, China began sending regular updates about the novel coronavirus to the WHO and other countries, including the United States. On origin-tracing, China has followed a science-based, professional, serious and responsible approach. We are the first to cooperate with the WHO on global origin-tracing, and we have invited WHO experts to conduct the investigations twice in China. We were completely open, transparent and cooperative when the experts were in China. They visited every site on their list, met every individual they asked for, and were provided with all the data they wanted. The formulation of the Report of the WHO-China joint mission issued on March 30, 2021 follows WHO procedures and adopts a scientific approach. It is authoritative and science-based. The openness and transparency China has displayed has won full recognition from international experts.
Third, the report by the U.S. intelligence community shows that the U.S. is bent on going down the wrong path of political manipulation. The U.S. has registered the most infections and death cases from COVID-19 in the world, and the American people have paid a heavy price. The report by the intelligence community is based on presumption of guilt on the part of China, and it is only for scapegoating China. Such a practice will only disturb and sabotage international cooperation on origin-tracing and on fighting the pandemic, and has been widely opposed by the international community. Over 300 political parties, social organizations and think tanks from more than 100 countries and regions have submitted a joint statement to the WHO Secretariat, firmly opposing politicization of origin-tracing. Doesn’t the U.S. side feel it necessary to listen to what they have to say?
Finally, the U.S. has been shying away from tracing the origin in the United States and closing the door on any such possibility. If the US.. side is “transparent and responsible”, it should make public and examine the data of its early cases. The timeline of the outbreak in the United States has been revised to earlier dates several times. In at least five American states, there had been infections before the first confirmed case in the U.S. was announced. According to a latest coverage from American media, the first COVID-19 death in the U.S. was in early January 2020, several weeks earlier than previously announced by the authorities, which was early February.
In addition, Wuhan Institute of Virology has received two visits from WHO experts and the WHO-China joint study report has reached the clear conclusion that introduction through a lab accident in Wuhan is “extremely unlikely”. If the US insists on the lab leak theory, isn’t it necessary for the U.S. side to invite WHO experts to Fort Detrick and the University of North Carolina (UNC) for investigation? Fort Detrick has long been engaged in coronavirus research and modification. After its shutdown in 2019 because of serious safety incidents, disease with symptoms similar to COVID-19 broke out in the U.S. The team of Professor Ralph Baric in the UNC possesses extremely mature capability in synthesizing and modifying coronavirus. From January 2015 to June 2020, the UNC reported to the National Institutes of Health 28 lab incidents involving genetically engineered organisms. Six of them involved coronaviruses including SARS, MERS and SARS-CoV-2. However, instead of finding out what happened in its own labs first, the U.S. keeps slinging mud at others.
China’s position on global origin-tracing is consistent and clear. This is a matter of science. China always supports and will continue to participate in science-based origin-tracing. What we are against is political manipulation, presumption of guilt and putting blame on others. Any Phase II origins study must be a comprehensive extension of Phase I and conducted in multiple places and countries to find out the truth.
The report by the U.S. intelligence community has not produced an exact answer the U.S. side wants. Continuing such an effort will also be in vain, because its subject is simply non-existent and anti-science.
::::::
Nature
Volume 596 Issue 7873, 26 August 2021
https://www.nature.com/nature/volumes/596/issues/7873
Comment | 25 August 2021
Origins of SARS-CoV-2: window is closing for key scientific studies
Authors of the March WHO report into how COVID-19 emerged warn that further delay makes crucial inquiry biologically difficult.
Marion Koopmans, Peter Daszak, John Watson
Our group was convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in October 2020. We have been the designated independent international members of a joint WHO–China team tasked with understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2. Our report was published this March1. It was meant to be the first step in a process that has stalled. Here we summarize the scientific process so far, and call for action to fast-track the follow-up scientific work required to identify how COVID-19 emerged, which we set out in this article.
The window of opportunity for conducting this crucial inquiry is closing fast: any delay will render some of the studies biologically impossible. Understanding the origins of a devastating pandemic is a global priority, grounded in science…
::::::
WHO: Call for experts to join Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens
20 August 2021 News release
Issued on: 20 August Deadline: 10 September
The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued an open call for experts to serve as members of the new WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO).
The SAGO will advise WHO on technical and scientific considerations regarding the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens of epidemic and pandemic potential, and will be composed of a wide range of experts acting in their personal capacity. SAGO will also guide WHO on next steps for understanding the SARS-CoV-2 origins…
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 [IMF, World Bank Group, WHO, WTO]
A joint initiative from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization, and World Trade Organization to accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics by leveraging multilateral finance and trade solutions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Data to help track, coordinate, and advance delivery of COVID-19 health tools to developing countries and to mobilize relevant stakeholders and national leaders to remove critical roadblocks – in support of the priorities set out by the WBG, IMF, WHO, and WTO.
Website accessed 28 Aug 2021: https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data The global view below is complemented by country-specific dashboards here.
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
World Bank Vaccine Operations Portal
https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/news/coronavirus-covid19/world-bank-support-for-country-access-to-covid-19-vaccines
As of July 29, 2021, the World Bank approved operations to support vaccine rollout in 54 countries amounting to $4.6 billion. See the latest project financing, project documents and procurement information in the list below:
Countries receiving World Bank support for vaccines
As of July 29, 2021
This list of countries, project documents, and procurement notices and contracts will be updated as data becomes available.
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
COVID Vaccines – OCHA:: HDX
COVID-19 Data Explorer: Global Humanitarian Operations
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out
Aug 21, 2021 | COVAX (WHO,GAVI,CEPI), UNDESA, Press Reports | DATA
Global COVID-19 Figures: 214M total confirmed cases; 4.5M total confirmed deaths
Global vaccines administered: 5.13B
Number of Countries: 26 [26]
COVAX Allocations Round 4-6 (Number of Doses): 120M
COVAX Delivered (Number of Doses): 68M [53M week ago]
Other Delivered (Number of Doses): 98M [93M week ago]
Total Delivered (Number of Doses): 170M [150M week ago]
Total Administered (Number of Doses): 140M [110M week ago]
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
::::::
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: 27 Aug 2021
Confirmed cases :: 214 468 601 [209 876 613 week ago]
Confirmed deaths :: 4 470 969 [4 400 284 week ago]
Vaccine doses administered: 4 953 887 422 [4 562 256 778 week ago]
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
27 August 2021 Speech
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at Member State Information Session on COVID-19 – 27 August 2021
…We are now seeing more than 650 thousand new cases a day.
Of course, the situation remains very different around the world, with steep increases and overwhelmed hospitals in some regions and countries, and welcome declines in others.
There are no shortcuts. The Secretariat continues to recommend a comprehensive, risk-based approach of proven public health and social measures, in combination with equitable vaccination.
Our global targets are to support every country to vaccinate at least 10% of its population by the end of September, at least 40% by the end of this year, and 70% of the world’s population by the middle of next year.
We are making progress. Globally, 140 countries have vaccinated at least 10% of their populations. But in many parts of the world, vaccination coverage is still under two percent. This is unacceptable.
That is why we have called for a global moratorium on booster doses at least until the end of September.
Our 10% target is still achievable, but only if all Member States work together in solidarity. The Secretariat is working directly with producers, countries with high vaccination levels, and producing countries, to solve this problem.
Between now and the end of the year, we expect the volume of vaccines to increase substantially. That makes it crucial that all countries step up their preparations to roll out vaccines.
Just as the pandemic has highlighted the need for improved mechanisms to share vaccines, it has also shown that the world needs better systems for collecting, analyzing and sharing information on pandemic and epidemic threats.
Currently, WHO assesses 4,500 events every month for epidemic and pandemic risk. With the availability of new technologies and the fast-moving global information landscape, we have an opportunity to identify and understand risks much more quickly and comprehensively…
25 August 2021 Speech
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 25 August 2021
24 August 2021 Remarks
Director-General’s opening remarks at the Seventy-first session of the Regional Committee for Africa
…But I don’t need to tell you that the distribution of vaccines has been terribly unfair. We’re all disappointed by the injustice.
More than 4.8 billion doses of vaccine have been administered globally. Just 87 million doses have been administered in the African region – less than 2 percent of the global total.
Globally, 140 countries have vaccinated at least 10% of their populations, but in our continent, only four countries have been able to reach that target, owing to the shocking disparity in access to vaccines.
WHO’s global targets are to support every country to vaccinate at least 10% of its population by the end of September, at least 40% by the end of this year, and 70% of the world’s population by the middle of next year.
WHO and our partners are doing everything we can to find ways of scaling up production as much as possible, as fast as possible, as Tshidi said.
More than 44 million doses have been distributed to 40 AFRO countries through COVAX, and we’re pleased to see that COVAX is picking up speed. More doses were shipped in July than in the previous 5 months. COVAX aims to deliver around 475 million more doses in the region by the end of December.
I also recognize and congratulate the African Union’s African Vaccine Acquisition Trust, AVAT, which was established under the leadership of President Ramaphosa. This will be a very innovative and important complement to COVAX for achieving our targets, and we are committed to working with African Union Special Envoy Strive Masiyiwa to make AVAT a success. Africa should invest in this continental initiative.
I’m pleased that the first shipments started this month, using Johnson & Johnson vaccines that were filled in Africa. We have also made progress towards increasing production in Africa, through the recent establishment of a technology transfer hub for mRNA vaccines in South Africa, and through our work with many countries including Rwanda and Senegal to boost local production.
Between now and the end of the year, we expect the volume of vaccines coming to Africa to increase substantially. That makes it crucial that all countries step up their preparations to roll out vaccines.
The vaccine crisis illustrates the fundamental weakness at the root of the pandemic: the lack of global solidarity and sharing – sharing of information and data, biological samples, resources, technology and tools.
That’s why there is now an emerging global consensus for the idea of an international treaty or other legal instrument, to provide the basis for improved international cooperation to prepare for, detect and respond to epidemics and pandemics. At the World Health Assembly in May, Member States agreed to discuss this idea at a Special Session of the Assembly in November.
We seek the support of all African Member States for this very important initiative….
Weekly operational update on COVID-19 – 23 August 2021
Overview
In this edition of the COVID-19 Weekly Operational Update, highlights of country-level actions and WHO support to countries include:
Restoring essential health services in Haiti post-earthquake
Strengthening Infection Prevention Control with the Georgian ambulance service
Delivering critical health services in Afghanistan
Lao People’s Democratic Republic receives 616,820 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX facility
All-women teams trek miles to vaccinate in Meghalaya, India
Progress on a subset of indicators from the SPRP 2021 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
Updates on WHO’s financing to support countries in SPRP 2021 implementation and provision of critical supplies
Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 – 24 August 2021
Overview
With over 4.5 million new cases reported this week (16-22 August), the number of new cases reported globally seems to be plateauing after increasing for nearly two months (since mid-June). The Regions of the Americas and Western Pacific reported an increase in new cases in the past week, 8% and 20% respectively. Globally, the number of deaths reported this week remained similar to last week, with over 68 000 new deaths reported. Two Regions, Europe and the Americas, reported an increase in new deaths, 11% and 10% respectively. As of the 22 August, the cumulative number of cases reported globally is now over 211 million and the cumulative number of deaths is just over 4.4 million.
In this edition, one special focus update is provided:
:: A detailed description of the phenotypic characteristics (transmissibility, disease severity, and vaccine effectiveness) of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. It also includes updates on the geographic distribution of VOCs.
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process 19 August 2021
For 22 vaccine candidates, presents Manufacturer, Name of Vaccine, NRA of Record, Platform, EOI Accepted Status, Pre-submission Meeting Held Status, Dossier Accepted for Review, Status of Assessment; Anticipated/Completed Decision Date
[No updates since 19 Aug 2021]
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COVID Vaccine Developer/Manufacturer Announcements
[relevant press releases/announcement from organizations from WHO EUL/PQ listing above]
AstraZeneca
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified
BioCubaFarma – Cuba
Últimas Noticias – [Website not responding at inquiry; receiving 403=Forbidden message]
CanSinoBIO
News – [Website not responding at inquiry]
Clover Biopharmaceuticals – China
News – No new digest announcements identified
Curevac [Bayer Ag – Germany]
News – No new digest announcements identified
Gamaleya National Center
Latest News and Events – No new digest announcements identified [See Russia/RFID below]
IMBCAMS, China
Home – – [Website not responding at inquiry; receiving 502 Bad Gateway]
Janssen/JNJ
Press Releases
Johnson & Johnson Announces Data to Support Boosting its Single-Shot COVID-19 Vaccine
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine booster, after single dose primary regimen, provided rapid and
robust increase in spike-binding antibodies
New studies build on data demonstrating strong durability through eight months after immunization
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., August 25, 2021 – Johnson & Johnson today announced data supporting the use of its COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot for people previously vaccinated with the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
In July, the Company reported interim Phase 1/2a data published in the New England Journal of Medicine that demonstrated neutralizing antibody responses generated by the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine were strong and stable through eight months after immunization.
In anticipation of the potential need for boosters, the Company conducted two Phase 1/2a studies in individuals previously vaccinated with its single-shot vaccine. New interim data from these studies demonstrate that a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine generated a rapid and robust increase in spike-binding antibodies, nine-fold higher than 28 days after the primary single-dose vaccination. Significant increases in binding antibody responses were observed in participants between ages 18 and 55, and in those 65 years and older who received a lower booster dose. The study summaries were submitted to medRxiv on August 24…
Moderna
Press Releases
August 25, 2021
Moderna Completes Submission of Biologics License Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its COVID-19 Vaccine
Final blinded analysis of Phase 3 COVE study of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shows 93% efficacy; efficacy remains durable through six months after second dose
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 25, 2021– Moderna, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, today announced it has completed the rolling submission process for its Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the full licensure of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older. As part of the completed BLA submission, Moderna has requested Priority Review designation…
Novavax
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified
Novavax to Participate in OCTAVE-DUO Study to Evaluate Third Dose of Vaccine in Participants with Impaired Immune Systems
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, today announced that Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle protein vaccine candidate is being studied in OCTAVE-DUO, now underway in the UK to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a third COVID-19 vaccine dose in participants with impaired immune systems.
Funded by the UK government’s Vaccines Taskforce and the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the study is being led by the University of Glasgow and University of Birmingham. It is a follow-on to OCTAVE (Observational Cohort Trial -T-cells Antibodies and Vaccine Efficacy in SARS-CoV-2), which evaluated the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines in participants with impaired immune systems due to cancer, inflammatory arthritis, kidney or liver diseases, or a stem cell transplant…
Pfizer
Recent Press Releases
08.26.2021
Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Collaboration With Brazil’s Eurofarma to Manufacture COVID-19 Vaccine Doses for Latin America
NEW YORK & MAINZ, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) today announced the signing of a letter of intent with Eurofarma Laboratórios SA, a Brazilian biopharmaceutical company, to manufacture COMIRNATY® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) for distribution within Latin America…
08.25.2021
Pfizer and BioNTech Initiate Rolling Submission of Supplemental Biologics License Application to U.S. FDA for Booster Dose of COMIRNATY® in Individuals 16 and Older
New Phase 3 data show booster (third) dose of COMIRNATY induces significant SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers and demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile
SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing titers against the wild-type strain one month after booster dose were 3.3 times the titers one month after the second dose
Pfizer and BioNTech intend to file these data with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities around the world in coming weeks
Sanofi Pasteur
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified
Serum Institute of India
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS – No new digest announcements identified
Sinopharm/WIBPBIBP
News – [Website not responding at inquiry]
Sinovac
Press Releases – No new digest announcements identified
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]
::::::
GSK
Press releases for media – No new digest announcements identified
SK Biosciences
Press releases – No new digest announcements identified
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
UNICEF COVID-19 Vaccine Market Dashboard :: Agreements Table Accessed 28 Aug 2021
An overview of information collected from publicly announced bilateral and multilateral supply agreements [agreements view since last week’s edition]
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
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
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
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 28 Aug 2021]: https://data.undp.org/vaccine-equity/
See also visualization on Vaccine Access and Vaccine Affordability
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
Our World in Data
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations [Accessed 28 Aug 2021]
33.2% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
5.18 billion doses have been administered globally, and 38.02 million are now administered each day.
Only 1.6% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
U.S.: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine
Approval Signifies Key Achievement for Public Health
August 23, 2021 [Text bolding from original]
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.
“The FDA’s approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Today’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.”
Since Dec. 11, 2020, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been available under EUA in individuals 16 years of age and older, and the authorization was expanded to include those 12 through 15 years of age on May 10, 2021. EUAs can be used by the FDA during public health emergencies to provide access to medical products that may be effective in preventing, diagnosing, or treating a disease, provided that the FDA determines that the known and potential benefits of a product, when used to prevent, diagnose, or treat the disease, outweigh the known and potential risks of the product…
Media Call Recording: https://youtu.be/aHAGnDz9F_w
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August 27, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: August 27, 2021
August 24, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: August 24, 2021
:: On Aug. 22, the FDA updated the Pfizer-BioNTech emergency use authorization (EUA) to support the extension of shelf-life of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine stored at -90 degrees to -60 degrees Celsius from 6 months to 9 months. The extension is also applicable to batches that might have expired prior to the EUA amendment, provided the product was stored at the same temperatures.
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Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee– FDA
:: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee September 30, 2021 Meeting Announcement – 09/30/2021 – 09/30/2021
No agenda or meeting materials posted as of 28 Aug 2021
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White House [U.S.]
Briefing Room – Selected Major COVID Announcements
Statement by President Joe Biden on the Investigation into the Origins of COVID-19
August 27, 2021 • Statements and Releases
[See full text of statement above]
Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
August 27, 2021 • Press Briefings
Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
August 24, 2021 • Press Briefings
Remarks by President Biden on the COVID-19 Response and the Vaccination Program
August 23, 2021 • Speeches and Remarks
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
Europe: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
European Medicines Agency
News & Press Releases
News: Increase in vaccine manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines from BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna (new)
CHMP, Last updated: 24/08/2021
Additional manufacturing site and scaled-up process for Comirnaty
CHMP has approved an additional manufacturing site for the production of Comirnaty, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer. The site, located in Saint Rémy sur Avre, France, is operated by Delpharm and will manufacture finished product. The site will allow to provide approximately up to 51 million additional doses in 2021.
EMA has also approved a new manufacturing line at BioNTech’s manufacturing site in Marburg, Germany which increases the active substance manufacturing capacity by approximately 410 million doses in 2021.
Additional manufacturing site for Spikevax
CHMP has also approved an additional manufacturing site for the production of Spikevax, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna.
The site, located in Bloomington, Indiana, United States (US), is operated by Catalent. The site will perform finished product manufacturing.
In addition to the new manufacturing facility for this vaccine, CHMP has also approved several alternative sites responsible for batch control/testing and packaging of the finished product manufactured by Catalent…
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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en
Latest Updates
News
Communicable disease threats report, 22-28 August, week 34
Publication
27 Aug 2021
::::::
–
Data as of 2021-08-27
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
No new digest content identified.
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
Africa: COVID-19 – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Current at 08/25/2021 Full scale, interactive dashboard available at:
https://africacdc.org/covid-19-vaccination/
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
Russia: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Russia: Sputnik V – “the first registered COVID-19 vaccine”
https://sputnikvaccine.com/newsroom/pressreleases/
Press Releases
A new study in Argentina on Sputnik V: “Our observations suggest that protection increases over 6 months following vaccination as a consequence of antibody maturation, resulting in improved potency of antibodies to viral escape mutations.”
Press release, 25.08.2021
Indonesia becomes the 70th country to approve the Sputnik V vaccine
Press release, 25.08.2021
The single-component Sputnik Light vaccine authorized in Philippines
Press release, 23.08.2021
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
India: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/
Latest Updates
No new digest content identified
Government of India – Press Information Bureau
Latest Press Releases
PM lauds record vaccination numbers today
Posted on: 27 Aug 2021
Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR)
https://www.icmr.gov.in/media.html
Press Releases
No new digest content identified
Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research
China: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment
Xi eyes deeper vaccine cooperation with Russia
2021-08-26
BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that China is ready to work with Russia to deepen cooperation on vaccine development and production and ensure the safety and stability of the global supply chain for vaccines…
[Also see China CDC below]
Emergencies
POLIO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
No new digest content identified
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WHO/OCHA Emergencies
Editor’s Note:
WHO has apparently reorganized and fundamentally shifted how it judges and tracks “emergencies”. We found no announcement of descriptive information to share and present the webpage structure as encountered below. Obviously, the dates associated with some of these emergencies suggest that this is an archival platform as well as a current emergencies resource.
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.”
Crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia [Last apparent update: 5 Aug 2021]
Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021
:: 17 August 2021 News release Cote d’Ivoire starts Ebola vaccination of frontline workers
Ebola outbreak outbreak, N’Zerekore, Guinea, 2021
:: 17 August 2021 News release Cote d’Ivoire starts Ebola vaccination of frontline workers
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic [See COVID above]
Ebola outbreak, Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2020
:: 17 August 2021 News release Cote d’Ivoire starts Ebola vaccination of frontline workers
Ebola outbreak, North Kivu, Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018 – 2020
:: 17 August 2021 News release Cote d’Ivoire starts Ebola vaccination of frontline workers
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: 9 May 2018]
Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2017 [Last apparent update: 3 May 2021]
:: 17 August 2021 News release Cote d’Ivoire starts Ebola vaccination of frontline workers
Zika virus disease outbreak, 2015-2016 [Last apparent update: 24 Jan 2020]
Ebola outbreak: West Africa, 2014-2016
:: 17 August 2021 News release Cote d’Ivoire starts Ebola vaccination of frontline workers
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: 21 May 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
Northern Ethiopia
Ethiopia – Tigray Region Humanitarian Update Situation Report, 26 August 2021
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CDC-ACIP
Meeting – August 30-31, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. is a virtual COVID-19 meeting.
No registration is required.
Webcast [No agenda identified on ACIP pages]
Draft Agenda – August 30, 2021 pdf icon
:: VOTE – Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals ≥16 years of age
MMWR News Synopsis Friday, August 27, 2021
:: Recommendations and Reports: Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2021–22 Influenza Season
:: Progress Toward Polio Eradication — Worldwide, January 2019–June 2021
:: Mental Health and Substance Use Among Adults with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, February–March 2021
:: New COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Among Adults, by Vaccination Status — New York, May 3–July 25, 2021 (Early Release August 18, 2021)
:: Sustained Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines Against COVID-19 Associated Hospitalizations Among Adults — United States, March–July 2021 (Early Release August 18, 2021)
:: Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Nursing Home Residents Before and During Widespread Circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant — National Healthcare Safety Network, March 1–August 1, 2021 (Early Release August 18, 2021)
:: Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Frontline Workers Before and During B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant Predominance — Eight U.S. Locations, December 2020–August 2021 (Early Release August 24, 2021)
:: SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Hospitalizations Among Persons Aged ≥16 Years, by Vaccination Status — Los Angeles County, California, May 1–July 25, 2021 (Early Release August 24, 2021)
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)– CDC
Approximately 50 announcements/reports/data summaries.
8/28/21
Africa CDC [to 28 Aug 2021]
http://www.africacdc.org/
News
Press Releases
Africa CDC and the IFRC ramp up COVID-19 response in Africa
25 August 2021
Addis Ababa, 25 August 2021 – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) today launched a new collaboration to strengthen community resilience and response to public health emergencies at community level. The two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ramp up pandemic response—including testing support to countries; community mobilization; advocacy and scaling up of contact tracing. In addition to COVID-19, the collaboration includes other areas of public health.
Africa CDC and IFRC will strengthen investments in locally-led action—for prevention and response purposes—while working with governments to ensure they intensify efforts to roll out the COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, Africa CDC and IFRC will scale up advocacy against vaccine wastage…
vaccines and global health :: ethics and policy 