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The president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) issued a statement today 'strongly urging all states to strengthen their vaccine outreach efforts to ensure that all citizens have access to evidence-based vaccine information.'

'Vaccines and related outreach should not be politicized regardless of the type of vaccine,' stated Ann Marie Pettis, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC; President, APIC.

'In the absence of credible vaccine information, citizens are forced to rely on less accurate means of obtaining information such as social media and the internet.'

'As an organization dedicated to preventing the spread of infection, APIC encourages all states to support public health officials in their goal of educating and protecting the public. The health of our nation depends on it,' concluded Pettis.

APIC’s nearly 16,000 members develop and direct infection prevention and control programs that save lives and improve the bottom line for healthcare facilities.

Vaccine Treats: 
COVID-19
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Don Hackett
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Virginia
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In a commentary published by The Lancet on July 14, 2021, two immunization experts, one from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the other from the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul, stated the indirect effects from the COVID-19 pandemic on health services have been very negative.

These indirect effects include the disruption to childhood immunization services in at least 85 countries during 2020, which has affected around 80 million children younger than 1 year of age.

Furthermore, the authors estimated that, from January to December 2020, about 30 million children missed DTP3 doses and 27.2 million children missed MCV1 doses.

Globally, vaccination disruptions were the highest in April 2020.

'We recommend national immunization programs to act upon this evidence for planning and implementing catch-up vaccination services to close the immunity gaps, to avoid reversing the substantial gains from childhood immunization in reducing mortality and morbidity globally,' concluded Kaja Abbas and Vittal Mogasale.

Vaccine Treats: 
Measles
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Karen McClorey Hackett
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Global
Vaccine: 
M-M-R II Vaccine
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Biopharmaceutical company Biofabri and IAVI announced on July 14, 2021, their intention to partner on efficacy trials of the tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate MTBVAC.

Designed by the Spanish researcher Dr. Carlos Martin from the University of Zaragoza, MTBVAC was in-licensed by Biofabri in collaboration with the University of Zaragoza, IAVI, and the Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI). TBVI will also support the ongoing clinical trial preparations.

MTBVAC intends to complete Phase II evaluation in 2021.

The only available TB vaccine is the 100-year-old bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), which does not prevent primary infection and has limited effectiveness at preventing pulmonary TB in adults, who, along with adolescents, are mainly responsible for spreading TB.

A study published by the journal Nature in January 2021 showed that a single dose of MTBVAC provides significantly better protection against aerosol exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in rhesus macaques compared to BCG at the same dose.

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) has committed to supporting a Phase III trial of MTBVAC in newborns, scheduled to begin in several African countries in 2021.

IAVI will support the development and further resource mobilization for MTBVAC, including for an adolescent/adult trial.

TB has been the biggest infectious disease killer globally, killing an estimated 1.4 million people each year, 10% of whom are children. Around 10 million people fell ill with TB in 2019, says the WHO.

Furthermore, drug-resistant/multi-drug resistant TB is becoming an increasing problem, with about 465,000 cases confirmed in 2019.

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization with headquarters in the U.S. and locations in Europe, Africa, and India that develops vaccines and antibodies for HIV, tuberculosis, emerging infectious diseases, and neglected diseases, with the goal of global access.

Biofabri is a Spain-based biopharmaceutical company created in 2008 to research, develop, and manufacture vaccines for humans. 

Vaccine Treats: 
Tuberculosis
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Staff Review
Reviewer: 
Robert Carlson, MD
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Spain
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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health in Hong Kong issued a press statement on July 14, 2021, confirming it is monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Sichuan Province, China. The patient had contact with live domestic poultry before the onset of symptoms.

The Zoonotic Influenza case involves a 55-year-old man who is in critical condition.

"All novel influenza A infections, including H5N6, are notifiable infectious diseases in Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CHP commented.

From 2014 to date, there have been thirty-two human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) reported by the Mainland China health authorities.

As of July 8, 2021, a total of 239 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus have been reported from four countries within the WHO's Western Pacific Region since January 2003. Of these cases, 134 were fatal, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 56%. The last case was reported from Lao PDR.

Travelers to the Mainland or other affected areas must avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets, or farms. In addition, they should be alert to the presence of backyard poultry when visiting relatives and friends. They should also avoid purchasing live or freshly slaughtered poultry and avoid touching poultry/birds or their droppings.

And, they should strictly observe personal and hand hygiene when visiting any places with live poultry.

Furthermore, travelers returning from affected areas should consult a doctor promptly if symptoms develop and inform the doctor of their travel history for prompt diagnosis and treatment of potential diseases.

The WHO says Zoonotic influenza refers to diseases caused by animal influenza viruses, such as Bird Flu and Swine Flu. People can be infected with influenza viruses such as avian influenza virus subtypes A(H5N1) and A(H9N2) and swine influenza virus subtypes A(H1N1) and (H3N2). 

Previous Zoonotic Influenza reports are listed on this webpage.

Note: annual flu shots do not prevent Zoonotic influenza, says the U.S. CDC.

Vaccine Treats: 
Avian Flu
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Don Hackett
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China
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The UK's National Health Service published 'National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses on July 15, 2021. Through Respiratory Datamart, there were no influenza-positive samples detected in the UK during week #27.

Other indicators for influenza outbreaks such as hospital admissions and GP Influenza-like Illness (ILI) consultation rates remained low.

A total of 2,690 participants completed the weekly influenza surveillance survey in week #27, of which 74 (2.8%) reported fever or cough and 27 (1.0%) reported ILI. Previous UK flu season annual reports are listed on this webpage.

An updated listing of influenza vaccines available in the USA for the 2021-2022 flu season is listed on this webpage.

Vaccine Treats: 
Influenza
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Staff Review
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United Kingdom
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The US Department of State issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory for Mexico on July 12, 2021, stating, 'Some areas of Mexico have increased risk of violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread in Mexico.

And, the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. For example, U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber and regulated taxi stands.

U.S. government employees may not drive from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior parts of Mexico, except for daytime travel within Baja California, between Nogales and Hermosillo on Mexican Federal Highway 15D, and between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey on Highway 85D.

Furthermore, U.S. government employees should avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas of Mexico.

In many Mexican states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities. Such as in Colima state, Guerrero state, Michoacan state, Sinaloa state, and Tamaulipas state.

Additional State Department notices are listed on this webpage. 

And visitors to Mexico are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive security messages and make it easier to be located in an emergency.

From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC has identified various vaccinations visitors to Mexico should consider before traveling.

Vaccine Treats: 
COVID-19
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Karen McClorey Hackett
Location Tags: 
Mexico
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San Francisco-based Vir Biotechnology, Inc. announced that the first patient had been dosed in the Phase 2 MARCH clinical trial evaluating the combination of VIR-2218 and VIR-3434 for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and to achieve a functional cure.

VIR-2218 is an investigational small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) designed to inhibit the production of all HBV proteins (X, polymerase, S, and core), which may be acting as immune tolerogens.

While VIR-3434 is an investigational HBV-neutralizing monoclonal antibody designed to block entry of all 10 genotypes of HBV into hepatocytes and reduce the level of virions and subviral particles in the blood. It has also been Fc engineered to include the XX2 “vaccinal mutation,” allowing it to potentially function as a therapeutic T cell vaccine against HBV. 

“HBV infection remains an urgent global public health challenge associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and we believe that a combination approach focused on immune restoration will be critical to achieving a functional cure,” commented Phil Pang, M.D., Ph.D., Vir’s chief medical officer, in a related press statement.

“We are excited about the potential of VIR-2218 to serve as the cornerstone of that approach. We believe that combining it with VIR-3434, which has already demonstrated the ability to markedly lower hepatitis B surface antigen at low doses in an ongoing Phase 1 trial, and, most importantly, has the potential to function as a therapeutic T cell vaccine, could be a game-changer.”

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected, says the U.S. CDC.

Located in California, Vir Biotechnology is a clinical-stage immunology company focused on combining immunologic insights with cutting-edge technologies to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases.

As of July 15, 2021, there are various U.S. FDA Approved HVB vaccines and several vaccine candidates in a late-stage study.

Vaccine Treats: 
Hepatitis B
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Karen McClorey Hackett
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San Francisco
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The U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) announced the agenda for a digital meeting scheduled for July 22, 2021, from 11 am to 4 pm ET. The agenda for this ACIP meeting focuses on two items, which are:

  • Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) after Janssen COVID-19 vaccine,
  • Clinical considerations for additional doses in immunocompromised individuals

Registration is not required to watch the live, no-cost meeting webcast.

The ACIP provides advice and guidance to Dr. Rochelle Paula Walensky, the Director of the CDC, regarding the use of vaccines and related agents to control vaccine-preventable diseases in the civilian population of the USA. The CDC Director reviews recommendations made by the ACIP and, if adopted, are published as official CDC/HHS recommendations in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Vaccine Treats: 
COVID-19
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Staff Review
Location Tags: 
Atlanta

Rotasiil Rotavirus Vaccine

Rotasiil Rotavirus Vaccine

Rotasiil (bovine rotavirus pentavalent vaccine [BRV-PV]) is a live attenuated bovine–human (UK) reassortant thermostable rotavirus vaccine containing rotavirus serotypes G1, G2, G3, G4, and G9 (>5.6 log10 fluorescent focus units/serotype/dose) and is delivered in lyophilized form with 2.5 mL of citrate bicarbonate buffer added for reconstitution before oral administration.

Rotasiil Rotavirus Vaccine Indication

Rotasiil is indicated for active immunization of healthy infants from the age of 6 weeks for the prevention of gastroenteritis due to rotavirus infection when administered as a 3-dose series.

Rotasiil Rotavirus Vaccine Clinical Trial

Rotasiil has been tested in several clinical trials.

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Manufacturer: 
Serum Institute of India PVT.
Reviewer: 
Robert Carlson, MD
Holly Lutmer PharmD
Vaccine: 
Rotasiil Rotavirus Vaccine
Generic: 
BRV-PV
Drug Class: 
Live Attenuated Vaccine
Clinical Trial Phase III: 
Efficacy and Safety of a Pentavalent Rotavirus Vaccine (BRV-PV) Against Severe Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Niger (ROSE)
Condition: 
Rotavirus
Last Reviewed: 
Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 07:25
Brand: 
Rotasiil
Status: 
Approved
Manufacturer Country ID: 
IN
Countries: 
India
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The U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) confirmed a digital meeting had been scheduled for July 22, 2021, from 11 am to 4 pm ET. The agenda for this ACIP meeting has been published.

Registration is not required to watch the live, no-cost meeting webcast.

The ACIP provides advice and guidance to Dr. Rochelle Paula Walensky, the Director of the CDC, regarding the use of vaccines and related agents to control vaccine-preventable diseases in the civilian population of the USA. The CDC Director reviews recommendations made by the ACIP and, if adopted, are published as official CDC/HHS recommendations in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The ACIP includes 15 voting members responsible for making vaccine recommendations. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services selects these members following an application and nomination process. Fourteen members have expertise in vaccinology, immunology, pediatrics, internal medicine, nursing, family medicine, virology, public health, infectious diseases, and/or preventive medicine; one member is a consumer representative who provides perspectives on social and community aspects of vaccination.

In addition to the 15 voting members, the ACIP includes 8 ex officio members who represent other federal agencies with responsibility for immunization programs in the USA and 30 non-voting representatives of liaison organizations that bring related immunization expertise.

Previous ACIP meeting presentations are rendered on this CDC webpage.

Note: this post was updated on July 14th to include the meeting agenda.

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Staff Review
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Atlanta