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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) announced on June 12, 2023, new mpox patients and outbreaks are possible, as demonstrated by three recent mpox cases.
Unfortunately, two of the three Colorado patients involve people fully vaccinated with two doses of the JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN) vaccine.
“While (mpox) cases remain low in Colorado and nationally compared to last year’s outbreak, now is a great time to get vaccinated if recommended for you,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorado state epidemiologist, in a press release.
“Vaccination provides the best protection against illness and hospitalizations, and we want Coloradans to know about available testing and treatment options if they get mpox.”
CDPHE confirmed it would resume updating mpox case counts weekly but will not release any additional demographic information about individual cases at this time to protect patient privacy.
Other sexually transmitted disease news is posted by Precision Vaccinations.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced today London had reported 11 new mpox cases within the past few weeks.
Most of these cases were in unvaccinated individuals. However, three were in those who had only received one dose of Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN) vaccine.
In response to London's mpox outbreak, the UKHSA vaccinations would be offer in London to qualifying men beyond July 2023.
After the end of July, people who regularly travel to London or abroad to have sex and are eligible for the JYNNEOS vaccine are empowered to schedule a London-based appointment using the vaccine finder.
Dr. Claire Dewsnap, President of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, commented in a related press release, "We strongly encourage all those eligible to book an appointment to receive a mpox vaccination, especially given the worrying recent spike in cases."
"One dose of the vaccine protects against the virus, and the second dose can further prevent severe symptoms and transmission."
"This is particularly important as we move into the summer months, during which festivals and events are more common, increasing the likelihood for people to have multiple sexual partners."
As of June 16, 2023, 21 mpox cases have been reported in the UK.
Other mpox outbreaks are posted by Vax-Before-Travel.
The Global Vaccine Impact Conference in Madrid evaluated the past two years of implementation of the Vaccine Alliance's five-year strategy.
As of June 15, 2023, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, confirmed it surpassed 1 billion children vaccinated since its founding in 2000.
This announcement came as Gavi published its new Mid-Term Review report, Raising Generation ImmUnity, which looked at data from the first two years of the Alliance's 2021-2025 strategic period.
In June 2019, the Gavi Board approved a new five-year strategy ("Gavi 5.0") with a vision of "Leaving no one behind with immunization" and a mission to save lives and protect people's health by increasing the equitable and sustainable use of vaccines.
Novavax, Inc. today announced it participated in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee's (VRBPAC) meeting.
This VRBPAC meeting resulted in a unanimous vote recommending updating the current COVID vaccine composition to a monovalent XBB-lineage.
"Novavax expects to be ready for the commercial delivery of a protein-based monovalent XBB COVID vaccine this fall in line with today's VRBPAC recommendation," said John C. Jacobs, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax, in a press release on June 15, 2023.
"In partnership with regulators and public health authorities, Novavax has been developing and manufacturing this vaccine candidate, and now that we are nearing harmonization on guidance from the FDA, the World Health Organization, and European Medicines Agency, we believe we are in a better position to offer an alternative vaccine choice for individuals worldwide."
Novavax presented data at the VRBPAC meeting that supports the recommendation to vaccinate this fall (2023) with a monovalent XBB strain.
Novavax data showed that its XBB.1.5 COVID vaccine candidate induced functional immune responses for XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, and XBB.2.3 variants, indicating a broad response that could be applicable for forward-drift variants.
The journal Vaccine published study results on June 2, 2023 that found correlates of protection imply a fourth (5 µg SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein + 50 µg Matrix-M™ adjuvant) post-boost efficacy of ≥ 82% for Omicron variants and did not increase local/systemic reactogenicity in those aged 18–84 years.
Novavax COVID-19 vaccine brands include Nuvaxovid, CovoVax, NVX-CoV2373, and TAK-019, and are available in about 40 markets globally.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently confirmed local transmission of Zika in countries and territories in the Region of the Americas.
As of June 10, 2023, up to EW 21, 8,758 Zika cases were reported in the Region of the Americas.
The highest proportion of Zika cases were reported in Brazil (7,352), followed by Bolivia and Belize.
Furthermore, per Brazilian authorities, over 1,638 babies have been born with microcephaly-related health issues since 2014.
Previously, the U.S. CDC stated that because the mosquitoes that spread the Zika virus are found throughout Puerto Rico, people living on the island who have not already been infected are at risk for infection.
Puerto Rico's Weekly Arboviral Diseases Report #22 shows 26 probable Zika cases as of June 13, 2023.
As of June 15, 2023, the U.S. FDA has not approved a Zika vaccine candidate.
The U.S. Department of State today announced it had issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel for the Republic of Uganda.
As of June 12, 2023, the State Department suggested reconsidering visiting Uganda due to civil unrest and anti-LGBTQI+ legislation.
Violent crime, such as armed robbery, home invasion, and sexual assault, presents a serious, random threat to those visiting and residing in Uganda, especially in larger cities, including Kampala and Entebbe, in the Karamoja region, and along Uganda’s western and northern borders.
And the May 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act raises the risk that LGBTQI+ persons, and those perceived to be LGBTQI+, could be prosecuted and subjected to life imprisonment or death based on provisions in the law and may be subject to mandatory reporting to the police if they are suspected of committing or intending to commit acts in violation of the law, and could face harassment or attacks by vigilantes.
From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC suggests various travel vaccines before visiting Uganda. Furthermore, proof of a yellow fever vaccination is required for most people visiting Uganda in 2023.
