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Increased rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are reported globally, and new interventions are needed, wrote researchers in a recent article published by The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
STIs continue to pose significant public health challenges, causing 2.5 million deaths each year, according to a new World Health Organization report.
On May 23, 2024, these France-based researchers wrote, 'We aimed to assess whether post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with doxycycline could reduce the incidence of chlamydia or syphilis (or both) and whether the meningococcal group B vaccine (4CMenB) could reduce the incidence of gonorrhea in this population.
Results from the ANRS 174 Doxyvac phase 3 clinical trial concluded Doxycycline PEP strongly reduced the incidence of chlamydia and syphilis.
These researchers said it did not show the efficacy of the 4CmenB vaccine for gonorrhea.
Still, doxycycline PEP should be assessed in other broader populations, and its effect on antimicrobial resistance carefully monitored.
Nationally, outpatient respiratory illness remained stable and is below baseline for the seventh week in a row, according to Key Updates for Week #20 of the 2023-2024 flu season in the United States.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on May 24, 2024, that all ten regions are below their region-specific baselines.
Unfortunately, two influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported last week, increasing this season's total to 169 pediatric deaths.
Last season, the CDC reported 185 pediatric deaths from influenza infections.
The CDC continues to encourage most children over six months of age to get an annual flu shot, either cell, egg, or nasal, which is offered at most clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.
A new framework was recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO) that will guide health authorities, communities, and other stakeholders in preventing and controlling mpox outbreaks, eliminating human-to-human transmission of the disease, and reducing spillover of the virus from animals to humans.
Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV).
There are two different clades of the MPXV: clade I and clade II. Clade I outbreaks are deadlier than clade II outbreaks.
In the United States, clade II cases were reported to have a fatality rate of .002%.
A significant outbreak of the clade I virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues today, where cases have been detected for decades. Since the beginning of 2024, over 6,500 cases and 345 deaths have been reported in the DRC.
This data reflects a fatality rate of .05%.
As of May 26, 2024, most U.S. mpox cases continue to be in people who are not vaccinated or have only received one dose of the JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccine. The U.S. CDC recommends that persons at risk for mpox exposure complete the 2-dose vaccination.
In the U.S., the JYNNEOS vaccine is offered at clinics and pharmacies in select cities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that UNICEF successfully delivered over 43,000 doses of the R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine to Bangui, Central African Republic.
As of May 24, 2024, 122,000 additional R21 doses are scheduled for delivery, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The Central African Republic, with a population of over 5 million, is the first country to receive the R21 vaccine for routine childhood immunization. This marks another step forward in preventing the disease and saving children's lives.
The WHO says that along with the earlier WHO recommendation of the RTS,S vaccine, there is now sufficient vaccine supply to scale up malaria vaccination in Africa.
Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda are preparing to receive R21 shipments.
Director of UNICEF Supply Division Leila Pakkala commented in a press release, "Previous concerns about supply meeting demand are firmly behind us. Our priority is for the vaccines to reach every child at risk."
The Central African Republic has one of the highest rates of malaria incidence globally. In 2022, an estimated 1,733,000 malaria cases were reported in the country, averaging about 4747 cases a day.
The disease also claimed around 5180 lives over the year, or 14 deaths each day.
Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, stated, "That is what matters most – that countries, where our vaccines can be most impactful, can access them, saving thousands of lives each year and offering relief to families, communities, and entire health systems."
On October 2, 2023, the WHO recommended R21 vaccination to prevent malaria in children. R21 is a protein-based vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, using Novavax AB's Matrix-M™ adjuvant technology.
"The R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine is a vital new tool to help stop the devastating health and economic impact of malaria on nearly half of the world's population, including the tragic loss of 1,300 children every single day," said John C. Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax, on May 20, 2024.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that three additional measles cases were confirmed in 2024.
As of May 23, 2024, the CDC confirmed a total of 142 measles cases were reported by 21 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Recently, the city of Philadelphia reported another measles case after managing an outbreak earlier in 2024.
About 44% of these cases are in unvaccinated children under five years of age, with 63% hospitalized.
Ten measles outbreaks (3+) were reported in 2024, compared to four outbreaks in 2023.
Globally, about 50 countries have reported measles outbreaks in the past year.
The CDC says it is uncommon for someone fully vaccinated to develop measles. In 2024, the number of breakthrough infections (approximately 5%) was consistent with previous years' reports.
Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is 93% effective. Measles vaccines are available at most clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) eliminated cost sharing for vaccines covered by Part D beginning in January 2023 to improve the affordability of vaccines for Medicare beneficiaries.
To help determine if the impact matches the IRA's intent, a team led by Dima Qato—Hygeia Centennial Chair and Associate Professor at the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences—evaluated the policy removing patient out-of-pocket costs for the uptake of shingles vaccinations, the most commonly administered vaccine covered by Part D.
A Research Letter published by the JAMA Network evaluated the association of this zero cost-sharing policy on the use of shingles vaccinations, which account for more than 90% of Part D vaccinations.
Following the implementation of the new policy, total Part D shingles vaccinations dispensed increased by 46%.
Between January 2022 and December 2023, 16.3 million shingles vaccines (8.3 million to individuals with Part D and 8 million to those with commercial insurance) were dispensed at retail pharmacies.
These researchers wrote, 'The implementation of the IRA policy eliminating out-of-pocket costs for Part D–covered vaccinations was associated with substantial increases in shingles vaccinations dispensed to Part D enrollees compared with commercially insured individuals at retail pharmacies.'
"Policy matters," said Qato in a press release on May 23, 2024, who also directs the Mann School's Program on Medicines and Public Health and is a senior fellow at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics. "And when these policies eliminate the costs, they remove barriers in accessing essential medications and preventive services, including vaccinations."
Recently, a long-term study revealed that the leading shingles vaccine delivers extensive value.
In April 2024, GSK plc announced that data from a long-term follow-up phase III trial showed that the Shingrix® vaccine, also known as Recombinant Zoster Vaccine, remained effective against shingles for more than a decade in adults over 50.
As of May 24, 2024, the Shingrix vaccine is available at most pharmacies in the U.S.
According to the U.S. CDC's MMWR 73(20);460–466, JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccination does prevent mpox; however, infection in fully vaccinated persons can occur.
On May 23, 2024, the CDC disclosed that mpox virus infection after receipt of two JYNNEOS doses is estimated to have occurred in <1% of fully vaccinated persons.
Among persons who experienced infection after having received a complete 2-dose series and for whom complete data were available, mpox infections have been milder than those among unvaccinated persons.
In 2024, mpox cases have been reported in urban centers such as New York City, which confirmed 42 mpox cases from April 7, 2024, to May 4, 2024.
The CDC says that to optimize protection, persons recommended to receive mpox vaccination should complete Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS vaccination series. Estimates suggest that about two million U.S. individuals are eligible for mpox vaccination.
Furthermore, the CDC does not recommend additional vaccine doses at this time.
Regarding the current clade 1 mpox outbreak in Africa, on March 14, 2024, Agam Rao, MD CAPT, US Public Health Service, stated, 'JYNNEOS vaccination is expected to be effective regardless of mpox clade.
