Search API
Preliminary data published today showed that Novavax's non-mRNA JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine induced a lower frequency and severity of short-term side effects and a less significant impact on daily life compared with an mRNA vaccine.
Announced on April 15, 2025, Novavax, Inc. announced preliminary results from the SHIELD-Utah study that showed Novavax's COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2024-2025 Formula) targeting the JN.1 strain resulted in fewer and less severe reactogenicity symptoms, when compared with the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA 2024-2025 vaccine.
This real-world study showed that the impact of symptoms on daily activities, including work and family responsibilities, was lower in recipients of Novavax's vaccine.
"The risk of side effects or reactogenicity is a major decision factor for those opting to get vaccinated. Our findings of lower frequency and intensity of reactogenicity symptoms from the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine observed in SHIELD-Utah add valuable insights to the public debate weighing choice and value of COVID-19 vaccination," said Sarang K. Yoon, DO, MOH, Principal Investigator, University of Utah Health, in a press release.
As in previous studies, the SHIELD study found health care workers who received the Novavax vaccine reported significantly fewer reactogenicity events than Pfizer-BioNTech recipients.
With over 13 million adults at increased risk in the United States, GSK plc announced that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted in favor of recommending the use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines, including AREXVY in adults aged 50-59 who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease.
This action expands on ACIP’s previous vote in June 2024 to recommend RSV vaccines for adults aged 60-74.
AREXVY is indicated for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV in individuals 60 years of age and older, as well as individuals 50 through 59 years of age who are at increased risk for LRTD caused by RSV.
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, commented in a press release on April 16, 2025, “RSV can have a significant impact for those with underlying medical conditions. We look forward to helping protect more people with RSV vaccination.”
The ACIP recommendations will be forwarded for review and approval by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Once approved, the final recommendations will be published to advise healthcare providers on the appropriate use of the vaccine and to inform insurance coverage.
Belize, a Central American country, recently reported cases of locally transmitted malaria in Santa Elena Town and Cristo Rey Village, both located in the Cayo District in the western area.
As of April 15, 2025, according to a Facebook post, these are the first instances of locally acquired malaria confirmed by Belize's Ministry of Health and Wellness in over six years.
In 2023, Belize joined El Salvador to become the second country in Central America to be certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as malaria-free.
To achieve this public health milestone, beginning in 2015, Belize's national malaria program and the Vector Ecology Center reoriented their malaria program to place a greater focus on enhanced surveillance among high-risk populations. This enabled the strategic targeting of interventions and available resources in priority areas to reduce the incidence of this mosquito-transmitted disease.
Eighteen countries, including one territory in the Region of the Americas, are currently at risk of malaria. In the Americas, over 500,000 cases of malaria and around 116 deaths were reported in 2023.
While the WHO has certified two malaria vaccines for use in Africa, neither is available in Belize or the United States.
In addition to malaria, there has been evidence of chikungunya virus transmission in Belize within the last 5 years. According to the U.S. CDC, chikungunya vaccination may be considered for specific travelers in 2025. Chikungunya vaccines are commercially available at travel clinics and pharmacies in April 2025.
Following yesterday's information session, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet today to discuss the final agenda items.
On April 16, 2025, H. Keipp Talbot, MD, MPH (ACIP Chair), Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, will lead discussions on chikungunya, meningococcal, and RSV vaccines. These presentations are available at this link.
The voting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine advisory committee will consider various votes on Meningococcal, RSV, and Chikungunya vaccines. All vote language is subject to change.
ACIP includes up to 19 voting members responsible for making vaccine recommendations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary selects these members.
Traditionally, the CDC's Director considers ACIP recommendations before making final determinations. However, the CDC's Chief of Staff, Matthew Buzzelli, will fill this role.
This is the updated link to today's ACIP meeting on the YouTube channel.
Upon today's conclusion, ACIP meeting minutes are posted on the CDC website within 90–120 days of the meeting date. The agenda and presentations for the October 23-24, 2024, ACIP meeting are available at this link.
Since Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services declared a dengue fever outbreak in the Western Division on February 3, 2025, over 5,100 cases have been reported.
As of April 8, 2025, the Ministry says the dengue serotypes causing the current outbreak are Type 2 (DENV-2) and 3 (DENV-3). The Government is maintaining a previously issued red alert for DENV-2 and DENV-3.
In 2014, the Fijian Government launched a cleanup campaign to reduce the number of mosquitoes transmitting dengue viruses. As of April 15, 2025, this public health effort is ongoing.
Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reissued a Global Travel Health Notice highlighting Fiji to alert international travelers intending to visit this Pacific Ocean vacation hotspot.
The CDC has identified more than expected dengue cases among U.S. travelers returning from outbreak areas in 2025.
While second-generation dengue vaccines are offered in numerous countries, no vaccine is currently offered in the United States.
The rescheduled two-day meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the vaccine advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has published a final agenda for today's meeting.
On April 15, 2025, H. Keipp Talbot, MD, MPH (ACIP Chair), is scheduled to lead discussions on chikungunya, COVID-19, cytomegalovirus, Human papillomavirus, influenza, Lyme disease, meningococcal, mpox, pneumococcal, Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccines for adults, and maternal and pediatric populations.
There is also a session focused on the current multi-state measles outbreak.
On April 16, 2025, the ACIP voting members will vote on Meningococcal Vaccines, Meningococcal Vaccines VFC, RSV vaccine for adults, and Chikungunya Vaccines topics.
ACIP meetings are open to the public via live webcast.
In just the first three months of 2025, 131 cases and 53 related fatalities have been reported in the Region of the Americas, more than double the total for all of 2024.
According to the Pan American Health Organization, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru have been the most impacted countries.
Particularly concerning are the new cases reported since October 2024 in the department of Tolima, Colombia, which indicates the virus is appearing in areas not previously affected in past years.
What's driving this surge, and how can we protect ourselves?
Listen to the PAHO Let's Talk About Health podcast to discover the keys to confronting this growing threat.
While two approved yellow fever vaccines (YF-VAX, Stamaril) are available at travel clinics and pharmacies, maintaining high immunization rates is essential.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), yellow fever vaccination is recommended for people aged nine months or older who are traveling to or living in areas at risk for the YF virus.
A study published in April 2025 was the first to examine vaccination effectiveness in children.
These researchers wrote, 'Current recommendations assuming lifelong protection from a single dose of the YF vaccine do not appear to provide sufficient protection for children in high-risk areas.'
As of April 15, 2025, the CDC has issued Travel Health Advisories regarding yellow fever risks and recommends prospective travelers speak with a vaccine expert at least one month before visiting an at-risk area.
With over 1 million chikungunya cases reported over the last decade, the residents of the Federative Republic of Brazil have gained access to an effective vaccine that prevents this mosquito-transmitted disease.
Valneva SE today announced that the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency has granted marketing authorization to its single-dose vaccine IXCHIQ®.
This innovative and safe vaccine prevents disease caused by the chikungunya virus in individuals 18 and older.
Additionally, Valneva and Instituto Butantan confirmed they are working together to ensure fast access to chikungunya vaccines for the Brazilian market and other countries in the region as quickly as possible.
The Region of the Americas reported various outbreaks. Between 2013 and 2023, there were more than 3.7 million chikungunya cases in the Americas. Brazil has reported over 1 million cases in the past few years.
Juan Carlos Jaramillo, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, commented in a press release on April 14, 2025, "The ongoing outbreak in Brazil underscores the fact that containing chikungunya is an international public health priority."
Part of Valneva's endemic country strategy, this endeavor is supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, with co-funding from the European Union and Instituto Butantan to support broader access to a chikungunya vaccine in low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Esper Kallás, Director of Instituto Butantan, added, "The approval of the chikungunya vaccine is a great victory for Brazil, where over 150,000 people suffer from the disease yearly. It is an honor for Butantan to be able to contribute to ensuring that this vaccine reaches the population that needs it the most."
IXCHIQ® is the world's first licensed chikungunya vaccine. It is approved to prevent disease caused by the chikungunya virus in people aged 12 years and older in the EU and 18 years and older in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Label extension applications to adolescents were submitted in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
In the U.S., IXCHIQ is commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.
While Lyme borreliosis (LB) is Europe's most common tick-borne disease, the northeastern region has reported the most cases.
According to recent research, among all LB surveillance systems in Europe and considering any case definition for the most recently available years, national LB incidences were highest in Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Switzerland (>100 cases/100,000 PPY), followed by France, Poland, Finland, and Latvia.
Local media reported that the Baltic region's Republic of Lithuania recorded 15,254 cases of Lyme disease last year, a 500% increase from 2022.
On April 11, 2025, LRT reported that this increase is more likely to be tied to changes in reporting methods and diagnostic practices than to an increase in infected ticks.
"Since last year, we've been receiving disease registration data directly from an electronic system.... not just from health care providers."
Furthermore, previous LB infection does not confer immunity, which means a person can be reinfected multiple times.
Unlike tick-borne encephalitis, no vaccine for Lyme disease is currently available in the United States, where most cases are reported in the northeastern states, such as Pennsylvania.
However, an innovative Lyme disease vaccine candidate is conducting clinical research in 2025.
