Cancer Vaccine Breaking News

The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today published an analysis focused on the resurgence of mpox in England.

As of May 24, 2023, the UKHSA reported 20 new cases of mpox.

 Of these, 19 were in England (10 cases were presumed to have acquired mpox in the U.K., eight were acquired outside the U.K., and one was waiting for classification), and one was in Scotland.

The UKHSA did not disclose the vaccination status of the mpox cases.

During 2022, there were 3,732 confirmed and highly probable mpox cases reported in the U.K. Of these, 3,553 were in England.

Before 2022, cases diagnosed in the U.K. had been imported from countries where mpox is endemic or contacts with documented epidemiological links to imported cases. Between 2018 and 2021, there were 7 cases of mpox in the U.K. 

Anyone eligible for mpox vaccination in the U.K. is urged to come forward for the vaccine in the coming months to protect themselves before the summer of 2023.

Steve Russell, NHS director of vaccinations and screening, stated in March 2023, "There is still time to get your first and second doses if you haven't already, which will provide long-term protection against the virus and any possible future outbreaks, so please do book an appointment while the offer is available on the NHS."

Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN) vaccine is offered in the U.K. as well as in the U.S.

Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a cluster of mpox infections in mostly vaccinated men in the Chicago, Illinois area.

Mpox is a sexually transmitted disease, similar to HPV and hepatitis, that is vaccine-preventable.

Are you an international traveler looking for an undiscovered, safe destination to visit? According to the U.S. Department of State, the Republic of the Marshall Islands could be an option.

With about six thousand annual visitors in 2019, these Pacific Islands are undiscovered.

This U.S. Territory includes 29 atolls and over 1,200 islands, famous for its numerous shipwrecks.

On May 23, 2023, the State Department's Level 1 travel advisory confirmed without COVID-19 restrictions, visitors to this Oceanic retreat should exercise standard precautions.

Should Americans need assistance, the U.S. Embassy in the Marshall Islands is located at Mejen Weto, Ocean Side, Majuro, Marshall Islands.

However, non-emergency consular services were recently suspended indefinitely. For questions and inquiries, call 247- 4011 or email [email protected].

From a health perspective, there was a shortage of necessary medical supplies and medications in April 2023.

And the U.S. CDC suggests various routine vaccinations before visiting the Marshall Islands.

The WHO's Weekly Epidemiological Update #144 provides an overview of the global, regional, and country-level COVID-19 cases and related fatalities.

As of May 25, 2023, nearly 2.3 million new cases and almost 15,000 fatalities were reported in the last 28 days, a decrease of 21% and 17%, respectively, compared to the previous 28 days.

The global situation is mixed at the regional level, with increases in reported cases seen in the WHO African and Western Pacific Regions and increases in fatalities in the African, the Americas, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific Regions. 

Disaggregated data are still accessible on the WHO COVID-19 dashboard, where the entire dataset is available for download.

Biofabri and IAVI recently announced signing an agreement for the end-to-end development of tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate MTBVAC. This agreement provides a framework for the future collaboration that the partners first announced in 2021.

After securing sufficient funding, IAVI plans to begin an efficacy clinical trial in 2024. 

MTBVAC is a highly promising vaccine candidate that has the potential to be used as an alternative to BCG vaccination in infants and for the prevention of TB disease in adolescents and adults. 

"The world urgently needs a new, effective vaccine that can prevent TB disease in adults, adolescents, and infants," said Dr. Mark Feinberg, president, and CEO of IAVI, in a press release on May 17, 2023.

"We are honored to work with Biofabri and our other collaborators to advance MTBVAC."

"In addition, we are actively seeking the support of global health funders and other partners, public and private, to ensure that this promising vaccine candidate has the potential to be part of a solution to ending the TB epidemic." 

Should MTBVAC be safe and efficacious, Biofabri will ensure that the TB vaccine is manufactured and supplied in sufficient quantities globally and is accessible at affordable prices in low- and middle-income countries.

Precision Vaccinations post other TB vaccine and outbreak news.

The U.S. State Department announced on May 22, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum has suspended its operations and issued a Level 4, Do not travel to Sudan due to extensive civil unrest.

As a result, the embassy cannot provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Sudan.

Currently, there are no U.S. consular officers in Sudan.

However, consular services are available in neighboring countries for those who depart independently.

In addition, the U.S. government is providing information for U.S. citizens in Sudan, including exit options.  

Specifically, U.S. citizens should not visit the Hotel Coral in Port Sudan or the Fenti Golf in Khartoum. The U.S. government is no longer present to assist in these locations.

We understand that border crossings into neighboring countries, such as Egypt, may be possible.

However, if you can travel to a border crossing and believe it is safe, please be aware that wait times and conditions at crossing points vary widely and could change quickly, wrote the State Department.

And enroll in the Smart Traveler Program to receive security updates.

U.S. citizens in Sudan who need assistance should contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Prensa Latina recently reported Cuba's COVID-19 vaccines, Soberana 02, Soberana Plus, and Abdala, received the sanitary registration granted by the Center for State Control of Medicines, Medical Equipment, and Devices for their proven efficacy.

The experts and scientists ratified the safety that characterizes Cuba's COVID-19 vaccines, firstly due to the very nature of the technological platforms used and secondly, because they have high thermo-stability.

Unlike others requiring special storage conditions, Cuba's vaccines can be stored between two and eight degrees Celsius at freezing temperatures.

During the clinical studies, vaccine efficacy was higher than 90%.

As of May 24, 203, Cuba is among the world's top 10 countries with most citizens immunized against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which raises the level of protection to more than 90% of Cuban inhabitants.